KAIR Košice Artist in Residence invites applications from professional visual artists for residency opportunities in 2026.

Residency Periods:

·   Two 1-month residencies: February 2026

·   Two 2-3 month residencies: June–September 2026

Application Deadline: January 1, 2026
Results Announced: January 9, 2026

ABOUT KAIR

Since 2011, KAIR Košice Artist in Residence has provided a platform for international artistic exchange and critical inquiry into urgent contemporary issues. Located in Košice’s dynamic cultural landscape, the program supports artists, curators, and researchers across disciplines to develop work that engages with complex social, ecological, and political realities.

KAIR’s programming has consistently focused on environmental justice, human rights, democratic values, and care as both concept and practice—recognizing artistic and curatorial research as vital spaces for collective imagination and critical reflection in times of crisis.

The residency provides accommodation in a shared apartment, individual studio/workspace (approx. 20 m²), and direct connection to Šopa Gallery, where many residency activities take place.

Website: www.kair.sk/en
Instagram: @kair.residency
Facebook: KAIR Košice Artist in Residence

THEMATIC FRAMEWORK

We welcome applications from artists, curators, and researchers whose practice engages with one or more of the following themes that have shaped KAIR’s long-term programming:

Environmental Questions
Climate crisis, ecological fragility, extraction and its legacies, relationships between humans and non-humans, care for damaged landscapes, environmental justice

Human Rights & Social Justice
Marginalized communities, displacement and migration, social equity, collective memory, decolonial perspectives

Democratic Values
Civic engagement, public space and the commons, resistance to authoritarianism, solidarity, participatory practices

Care as Practice
Practices of care in times of uncertainty, interdependence and vulnerability, attention and presence, community building, mutual aid

While we encourage engagement with these themes, we remain open to diverse approaches and methodologies.

ELIGIBILITY

Open to professional visual artists, interdisciplinary artists, curators, and researchers based in Europe with a sustained practice in contemporary art and culture. No age limit.

RESIDENCY FEE & SUPPORT

Fee: €950/month

Due to recent cuts in cultural funding in Slovakia, we are currently unable to offer fully funded residencies. However, KAIR remains committed to providing substantial professional support to all participants.

The fee includes:

• Accommodation in a shared two-bedroom apartment

• Individual studio/workspace in the city center (approx. 20 m²)

Additional support:

• Assistance with grant applications and funding strategies

• Guidance on funding opportunities (national arts councils, bilateral programs)

• Letters of support for grant applications

We encourage participants to apply for funding and are happy to assist in this process. Please reach out early if you need support with fundraising.

WHAT WE OFFER

During the residency:

• Production and curatorial support

• Connection to local cultural institutions and professional networks

• Support with public programming

• Mentoring and professional development

• Access to local networks and resources

Public engagement:

• Meet & Greet event (optional) – An informal introductory event at the beginning of the residency where participants present their practice and research interests to the local community, creating connections with the audience and fellow artists

• Final presentation at the end of residency (required) – Open Studio, public lecture, or research presentation depending on your practice

• Workshop or lecture for students/community (optional)

Beyond the residency: In case of successful collaboration, we can offer inclusion in Šopa Gallery’s exhibition or public program in 2027.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Submit the following documents in English (PDF format):

1. CV (max. 2 pages)

2. Portfolio/documentation of work clearly articulating your practice and research interests (max. 10 pages)

3. Motivation letter describing:Your connection to KAIR’s thematic framework
   What you hope to develop during the residency
   Your funding strategy (if applicable)
   

TO APPLY, PLEASE FILL OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM

CONTACT

For questions about the program, funding assistance, or application process:

Petra Housková
petra.houskova@kair.sk