Deadline: 01-Sep-2025
The Austrian Embassy in Nicosia, in collaboration with CYENS WIP Lab and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, is delighted to announce an open call for a project-based artist residency in the heart of Nicosia, Cyprus.
They invite artists to propose and realize a free-standing or projected installation to be placed in the vibrant public space of Platia Dimarchias (Town Hall Square), downtown Nicosia. The residency offers a unique opportunity to engage with the city’s dynamic urban context and its diverse communities, fostering dialogue through contemporary public art. The selected artist will have the creative freedom to conceive and produce a work that resonates with the square’s atmosphere and the conceptual framework of the WIP Lab.
WIP Lab under the theme “Invisible Waters” is welcoming creative practitioners working at the intersection of art, design, technology and science to engage with one of the most pressing environmental issues of our region. The residency invites artists to critically and creatively engage with water’s materiality, its absence or abundance, its sociopolitical dimensions and the narratives it carries across different geographies.
Cyprus faces challenges related to water, including recurring droughts, pressure on groundwater reserves, safeguarding water quality, and upgrading irrigation systems. In contrast, Austria is a country rich in freshwater resources. This residency aims to bridge the perspectives of water-scarce and water-rich localities to foster a dialogue on sustainability, adaptation, and the shifting meanings of water in the face of the climate crisis.
This residency is a collaborative effort with a fixed production budget provided by the Austrian Embassy Nicosia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus. The residency and resulting artwork will run parallel with other WIP Festival activities and will remain with the municipality and people of Nicosia. Curatorial oversight and mentoring will be provided by the WIP Festival team.
The residency is open to emerging and young artists working in sculpture, installation, or related disciplines, as individuals or collectives. Applicants must be nationals of Austria or artists permanently residing in Austria, or Austrian artists living in Cyprus. The residency will last for four to six weeks and will be held at the CYENS Thinker Maker Space in downtown Nicosia, Cyprus.
The opportunity offers an artist fee of €2000, a travel and accommodation fee of €900, and a production cost budget of €1500 for materials, fabrication, and installation. Additionally, artists will have access to materials available at the CYENS Thinker Maker space. Promotion will be provided through WIP Festival and Austrian Embassy channels.
To apply, interested artists must submit a project proposal with a brief statement of interest, a portfolio with up to ten images, and a CV. The project proposal should include the concept, materials, technical requirements, and how it responds to the site and context. The deadline for applications is 1 September 2025.
For more information, visit Austrian Embassy Nicosia.
