Open call – Residency: schrit_tmacher X Greylight Projects / 2026

About the Open Call

We are delighted and very curious about a new collaboration with the schrit_tmacher Festival. For the upcoming edition, we are jointly creating a residency for a creator or artist. This collaboration offers space for exploratory work at the intersection of visual arts and dance, with a focus on reflection, movement and space. The resident or artist will present their practice within the framework of the festival, thereby contributing to an in-depth dialogue between both disciplines. This open call is for one residency of three months (1 January – 30 March 2026), organized by Greylight Projects (Heerlen, NL) in collaboration with the international dance festival schrit_tmacher. The residency offers space for visual artists, dancers, choreographers and performers to deepen their practice and expand their network. Guided by open curiosity, Greylight Projects and schrit_tmacher Festival invites makers to reflect on relationships within themes like: technology, humanity, environment and society. The residency is aimed at artists whose work engages with these questions through forms such as research, dance, performance, installation or other media. The residency encourages interdisciplinary approaches and forms that expand conventional boundaries of art and performance and practices that explore storytelling, personal or collective narratives, untold stories, revealing experiences that are often overlooked or unspoken. We welcome artists who are open to sharing their process with peers and the public. There are no restrictions in discipline or medium, as long as the practice resonates with the context of the program. The residency takes place at Greylight Projects in Heerlen, the Netherlands. At the beginning of schrit_tmacher Festival, the artist will give a public presentation or talk as an introduction to their practice. At the end of the festival, the residency will culminate in a final presentation of the developed work or research, either at Greylight Projects or at another suitable location in Heerlen. Greylight Projects and schrit_tmacher Festival collaborate to explore the relationship between visual arts and dance. Through this partnership, the residency offers a space for investigative practices that contribute reflection and added value to the festival program. Artists in the residency present their practice and work at the festival, connecting their research to a broader discourse. schrit_tmacher is a leading international dance festival in the south of the Netherlands, at the gateway to Europe. The festival provides a sustainable platform for experiencing and developing contemporary dance. With an adventurous mix of interdisciplinary crossovers, challenging performances, and virtuosic dance from diverse cultural perspectives, schrit_tmacher annually organizes, presents, and (co-)produces a program that pushes boundaries and creates opportunities for new artistic encounters. The festival places contemporary productions within a historical, social and/or cultural framework; this framework highlights developments and traditions, provides scope for deeper understanding and, at the same time, ensures coherence. The theme of the upcoming edition in 2026 will be “embodiment”. Greylight Projects is a platform for contemporary and visual art, dedicated to fostering collaboration, dialogue, and creative exchange between artists, makers, and the public. The organization aims to create opportunities for artistic experimentation, research, and presentation, while encouraging connections across disciplines and regions. Since 2020, Greylight Projects has been based in a former school building in the heart of Heerlen. The building offers a dynamic and versatile environment, including dedicated studios for resident artists, guest ateliers, a multifunctional exhibition space, a workshop, a shared kitchen, and a spacious garden. This combination of spaces allows for both individual artistic practice and collaborative projects.

What is Offered

The residency provides a studio space of approximately 40m² at Greylight Projects in Heerlen, which also serves as the living space. Shared kitchen, shower, and toilet facilities are available. A fee of €1,000 per month is provided as a contribution towards living and other expenses, plus an additional fee of €500 for the two presentation moments during the festival. The residency duration is 3 months.

Requirements

This open call is for visual artists, dancers, and choreographers. Applicants are expected to be on site and actively engaged throughout the residency period. Expected outcomes include a presentation or other results developed during the residency, and participation in two presentation moments at schrit_tmacher Festival in Heerlen: an introductory talk at the start of the festival and a final presentation at the end. Insurances, travel expenses, and food are paid by the artist.

How to Apply

To apply, send us the following documents (in English or Dutch) in ONE SINGLE PDF FILE (10 Mb max.) by email to: opencall@greylightprojects.org. The document must contain the following information: a short text about your motivations for the residency (500 words max); a short text describing your artistic practice. (500 words max); a curriculum vitae with your contact details (email, telephone, address, website); images of recent works (with captions). For new media, please insert links to look at videos or to listen to sound tracks within the pdf.