FUNDED RESIDENCIES (ENG)
GuestRoomMaribor 2026
GuestRoomMaribor is a Maribor-based artist-in-residency programme established by the NGO Pekarna Magdalenske mreže, which has been hosting international and Slovenian artists continuously since 2011. The programme focuses on contemporary visual art practices, with an emphasis on socially engaged, hybrid, and experimental projects, as well as works that engage with the local social, cultural, historical, or political context. Its aim is to open up creative processes, foster dialogue and direct contact with local communities, challenge conventional modes of presenting artworks, and encourage collaboration with local artists and producers.
In 2026, the programme will host five production-based visual arts residencies.
Open Call for Art Residencies GuestRoomMaribor 2026
Deadline: 1. 3. 2026 (midnight, CET)
Pekarna Magdalenske mreže invites artists to apply for the GuestRoomMaribor residency programme. This fully funded programme offers artists a one-month stay in apartment studios at Vetrinjski Mansion in the historic city centre, along with access to our working spaces at the former squat Cultural Centre Pekarna. The residency provides space for research, experimentation, artistic production, and includes presentation of newly developed work at OBRAT – Space for Art and Participation or another suitable venue.GuestRoomMaribor is a Maribor-based artist-in-residency programme established by the NGO Pekarna Magdalenske mreže, which has been hosting international and Slovenian artists continuously since 2011. The programme focuses on contemporary visual art practices, with an emphasis on socially engaged, hybrid, and experimental projects, as well as works that engage with the local social, cultural, historical, or political context. Its aim is to open up creative processes, foster dialogue and direct contact with local communities, challenge conventional modes of presenting artworks, and encourage collaboration with local artists and producers.
In 2026, the programme will host five production-based visual arts residencies.
We offer:
- Accommodation in a centrally located studio apartment (96 m² or 76 m²; each apartment includes a kitchenette, bathroom, internet access, and access to a shared laundry room)
- Artist fee of €1,000 (gross 2 / BRUTO 2)
- Coverage of production costs up to €450
- Production support, professional and curatorial assistance
- Organizational support
- Promotion and communication support
- Organization of a public presentation event and a guided thematic walk
- Public presentation of the produced work
We expect from the applicant:
- To deliver a public presentation of their artistic practice and proposed project at the beginning of the residency
- To participate in the conception and implementation of the public event Interest Safari (a guided thematic walk linked to the theme of the proposed project)
- To present a final production or exhibition showcasing the work developed during the residency
- To be present in Maribor for at least 80% of the residency period
- Upon selection, to pay a security deposit of €100 to confirm commitment to the residency. The deposit must be transferred to the host organization within 30 days after the artist is informed about the granted residency. In case of non-compliance, the next artist on the shortlist will be selected. The security deposit will be reimbursed upon arrival at the residency.
Selection criteria:
- A complete application submitted on time, in English or Slovenian
- A detailed project proposal
- Originality of the project
- Feasibility of the project
- Applicant’s references
In terms of content, priority will be given to projects that:
- (Self)critically reflect on the role of contemporary art within social, economic, technological, and environmental processes and power relations
- Propose non-normative ways of thinking about and engaging with social and/or natural phenomena
- Are research-oriented or treat research as an integral part of the artistic and creative process, without reducing it to technical medium research or simple data visualization
- Demonstrate a reflective approach to the environment in which they are situated, particularly the specific social, cultural, historical, or political context of the local community
- Engage with and respond to the space in which the project is created or presented
Available dates:
- 4. 5. - 1. 6. 2026
- 11. 5. - 8. 6. 2026
- 8. 6. - 6. 7. 2026
- 27. 7. - 24. 8. 2026
- 5. 10. - 2. 11. 2026
Application process and important dates:
Applications must be submitted in English or Slovenian language by 1. 3. 2026 (midnight, CET)
- Shortlist notification: 15. 3. 2026
- Shortlist interviews: 15. – 20. 3. 2026
- Final selection notification: 20. 3. 2026