Open call 2025

Moving Identities is a residency exchange programme led by performing arts venues and organisations across Europe, with the goal of encouraging cross-cultural collaboration and exploring themes of diversity, inclusion, and contemporary European identities.

The programme is made possible with support from Creative Europe to open a new international network for artists and connecting people across borders in an eco-friendly way.

The aim of the programme is to help you develop your career internationally and to strengthen diversity and inclusion in artist development organisations across Europe.

We want to learn from you and be inspired by your practice.

The programme involves one group of artists from each Moving Identities country who will embark on a one-year-long journey including:

• A total fee of €4000 per artist in your group, as well as per diems for all international residencies.
• Three residencies of 10 days each, one in your country of residence, and two at Moving Identities international partner venues.
• A work-sharing event at each of your residencies where you can share your work in a suitable way to an audience of local performing arts professionals.
• An exchange with a host artist at each of your international residencies to help you network with local artists and organisations.
• Mentoring from your choice of the Moving Identities partners.
• Online seminars and artist meetings throughout the year, including networking and skills-exchange.
• A strategy facilitator at the end of your residency year who will support you in planning the future of your work/project.
• Dialogue and exchange with your residency venues about your work and ambition.
• Promotional material for your use, including professional photos, an interview video, and a promo video.

• Companies/groups (minimum two people) with a strong artistic vision and/or practice related to the themes of contemporary European identities, inclusion, and diversity.
• This call is for performing artists working in the fields of performance, dance and theatre.
• All artistic approaches are accepted (research based, artistic activism, production, social engagement etc.).
• Not all venues are equipped for productions, so projects in the research phase are prioritised.
• All company/group members must be residents of the country they are applying from with a valid work permit – but you do not need to be citizens of your country of residence. The country must be one of the Moving Identities’ countries (Denmark, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Spain, or Latvia).
• You must be minimum 18 years old upon applying. There is no upper age limit.
• Artists who are underrepresented in the performing arts across Europe are prioritised.
• We encourage artists of all abilities to apply. If you have accessibility needs for your participation in the programme, or for completing this application, please let us know.
• We strongly recommend that each group includes a producer/a self-producing artist, as there will be administrative tasks connected to the residencies, which the group will be responsible for. Please include this person at the application stage. 

That depends on which country you are based in. The minimum number of members in a group is two, and the maximum number of members per group varies. This is due to a maximum number of artists allocated each country across the entire project funding period. You can only apply from your country of residence.

The maximum number of members in a group is:

• Artists based in Spain: Maximum 3 group members
• Artists based in Germany: Maximum 3 group members
• Artists based in Denmark: Maximum 5 group members
• Artists based in Norway: Maximum 5 group members
• Artists based in Belgium: Maximum 5 group members
• Artists based in Latvia: Maximum 5 group members

• The residency year runs from September 2025 to June 2026.
• Residencies are scheduled for October, November and March.
• Meetings and seminars are scheduled for September, February and May.
• Mentoring sessions run throughout the year.
• We cover international travel, accommodation and insurance expenses and coordinate these together with you.
• All group members must participate in the full residency year.
• We are committed to slow travel where possible – and we expect the same of you. Part of the programme is to research and map the journeys of the artists and partners.
• You commit to a total of three residencies of 10 days at the venues and dates below. All international residencies include an additional 2 travel days on top of the residency workdays.
• You commit to meetings with your local venue, online meetings, feedback sessions, and ongoing dialogue with the programme coordinators.
• We are hoping to learn and work together with you to develop our practices to become more inclusive and sustainable, and we ask for your feedback throughout the programme.

Please note: The countries, dates and venues are fixed in advance.

Please note: You must be able to join all three residencies on these specific dates.

• You must apply on behalf of your group through this application form.
• Application deadline: April 24 2025, 23:59 CET.
• You may submit your application and attachments in your own language or English. The programme language is English. Please note that we may use a translation app if your application is not in English.
• Selection process: We select artists through a 2-stage selection. First stage: The Moving Identities venue in your country selects a shortlist of 2-4 groups with an external curator. Second stage: The 6 venues meet and select one group from each country. This stage happens in June 2025.
• You will hear back from us no later than 1st of July 2025.

1. Your CV as a pdf-file. Please include all group members in one pdf.
2. A pdf-file or a link to a video (YouTube, Dropbox, or the like) in which you explain your artistic vision, and the project or research you would like to work on and develop during this programme.

If you choose to send a pdf-file, max. 1 page per group member.

If you link to a video, max. 2 – 6 minutes.

What language is used in the programme?

The administrative language is English, but you can submit your application in any of the local languages. Please note that we may use a translation app if you do not submit your application in English. This is because team members across the 6 countries will read the applications. When you travel to the other countries, we will communicate in English, but you can develop your project in any language. If you have translation needs during your time with us, please let us know.

How do you interpret ‘European Identities and the themes of diversity and inclusion’?

We are interested in promoting artists from diverse backgrounds and artists who explore these themes. The artistic interpretation is up to you.

Which nationalities can apply?

All nationalities can apply, but you must have current residency and work permit in one of the included countries: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Spain, or Latvia. This includes every artist in your company/group. None of the participants can reside in other countries at the time of your application. Please note that you should all reside in the country you apply from – ex. if you apply from Denmark, then you should all be residents in Denmark. Unfortunately, we cannot support applications from groups where group members reside across different countries.

Is the programme accessible?

We do our best to ensure our venues and practices are inclusive and accessible to all and we work hard to make sure accessibility is not a barrier to artists who take part.

If you are in doubt that a venue fits your needs, please get in touch with us.

You can read about each venue here.

 How do you interpret ‘professional artists’?

We understand that the term professional means different things in different countries and that the route to becoming professional varies. In the Moving Identities programme, the term categorises artists for whom artistic practice in the performing arts is their primary occupation. The aim of the programme is to support the artists selected in their international career – we therefore prioritise artists who have worked professionally in their country of residence for some time.

The programme is not for artists who are in full-time education.

Do I have to take part in all residencies and activities?

Yes. We have tailored the activities to make sure you get the most out of your time with us, which is why we ask you to attend them all.

Can we change group members throughout the year?

No. Once you are offered a place, we contract all the members of your group and expect you to take part in the whole programme.

Who are the partners?

The programme consists of venue partners who host the residencies, and advisory partners who oversee the mentoring and support the programme with their expertise.

Partners: UP (Denmark), DAVVI (Norway), Nau Ivanow (Spain), HELLERAU (Germany), Kunstplaats VONK (Belgium), INITIUM Foundation (Latvia), CKI (Denmark), Sustainable Culture NOW (Denmark), ITI (Germany), Himherandit Productions (Denmark), The Danish Cultural Institute (Denmark/the Baltics).

If you have any questions regarding the residencies or your application, you can reach out to your local venue or project manager.

Under Residencies on our website, you can find information on the venues in the different cities, get to know the places and contexts a bit better and find information on accessibility and physical facilities etc.

You can also read about the previous artists here.

Online info sessions

Each venue will host a 1-hour session online where artists interested in applying can ask questions and get more information.

You can find the information on the online info sessions here.

If you have any accessibility requirements for this meeting, please let us know in advance.