East Call Curatorial Residency

EAST CALL CURATORIAL RESIDENCY

Period: 11 – 24 May 2026

Length: 2 weeks

Location: Budapest, Ljubljana

Application deadline: 27 March 2026

East Call Curatorial Residency offers a unique opportunity for emerging curators to gain a comprehensive insight in the Hungarian and Slovenian contemporary art scene by examining its characteristics and understanding them in a broader, regional context.

East Call is an intensive 2-week program that focuses on the status and practice of artists, contemporary curatorial conditions, institutional situations and the understanding of issues affecting contemporary art, with a focus on the roles and responsibilities of curators as mediators between audiences and artists, and researchers as theoretical transmitters of knowledge, interpretation and contextualization. 

East Call aims to foster dialogue on issues surrounding curation and to interrogate what constitutes “the curatorial” in the Central Eastern European region. The East Call program focuses on open, horizontal and conversation-based transfers of knowledge and experience.

The program is designed for emerging curators and curators-to-be still involved in their studies who expect to work in the field of contemporary art. It intends to introduce participants to current and relevant practices as well as to the mechanisms of curating in relation to exhibitions, institutions, audiences, aesthetics and cultural political discourse.

Throughout the two-week program, participants intensively expand their professional knowledge and practice by conducting in-depth investigation of contemporary exhibitions, getting introduced to case studies of leading curators’ engagements, taking part in curatorial workshops, visiting artist studios, and exchanging, discussing with each other during these meetings. By sharing the experiential and theoretical best practices of leading contemporary art museums, galleries, the program offers a unique chance to the participants to develop project ideas, conduct research of their particular interests, enrich connections and networks internationally as well as elaborate discussions with contemporary art professionals active in Budapest.

Participation fee: 1000 EUROS

The fee includes the use of office facilities, participation in workshops, guest lectures, entry fees of museums and special events, the use of public transport in Budapest, inland transport for provincial venues and regional transport for Bratislava.​

Travel to Budapest for the start of the program and back at the end of the program, as well as accommodation expenses are NOT included.

Please fill the application form: https://forms.gle/iK4qbDuEgXQzc9Fg9 

Application deadline: 27 March 2026

Selection process: 28 March 2026.

For additional information, please contact us at: easttopics@gmail.com, www.easttopics.com  

FAQ
What is the East Call Curatorial Residency Program?

The East Call Curatorial Residency Program is a curatorial residency organized by Easttopics since 2019. It is among the first residency programs to focus specifically on the contemporary art scene of the Central Eastern European (CEE) region. The program offers emerging curators an opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the region’s contemporary art practices by examining their characteristics within a broader regional context.

What makes the program unique?

The residency has a unique structure and strong professional stakes. It combines intensive research, practice-based learning and critical reflection, while providing access to a strong international network of diverse, visionary and agile practitioners in exhibition making and institution building. The program is shaped by Easttopics’ alumni and advisors and emphasizes peer learning, collaboration and exchange across social and cultural contexts.

How long is the residency and how is it structured?

The program unfolds as a two-week intensive residency. During this period, participants take part in workshops, discussions, studio visits, case studies and collective learning activities, while also developing their own research and project ideas.

What kind of professional opportunities does the program offer?

Participants gain access to a strong network of artists, curators, art critics, exhibition makers and institution leaders active in the CEE region. The program enables participants to expand their professional knowledge through in-depth investigations of contemporary exhibitions, institutional practices and curatorial methodologies, while also enriching their international connections.

What learning methods are used during the residency?

Curatorial workshops
Case studies of leading curators and their professional engagements
Self-reflexive discussions and debates focusing on professional development
Visits to artists’ studios
Exchanges and discussions among participants
Presentations of experimental and theoretical best practices from leading contemporary art museums, galleries and research centres

What topics does the program focus on?

Core topics of the residency include:
The contemporary art scene and its key players in Budapest and other CEE countries
Emerging and established curatorial practices and the issues they address
Cultural, historical and political contexts shaping contemporary artistic production
The art market and collecting practices in the region
Professional networking with artists, curators, critics and directors

Who is the program designed for?

The program is designed for emerging curators who engage with art and contemporary culture and wish to approach contemporary curating as an artistic, social and critical commitment.

What academic or professional background is required to apply?

Curatorial studies
Art history, art theory and philosophy
Art management and art production
Visual arts and fine arts
Cultural studies
Candidates who have acquired curatorial skills through practical experience in public institutions, commercial galleries or independent practice are also encouraged to apply.

What opportunities are there for individual research and project development?

Participants are encouraged to develop project ideas, conduct research related to their individual interests, and elaborate these through discussions with peers and contemporary art professionals active in the CEE region. The residency supports both collaborative and individual modes of working.

How many participants will be selected?

A limited number of participants will be selected to ensure an intensive and dialogue-based learning environment.

Is the program full-time? What level of commitment is expected?

The residency is a full-time, intensive program. Participants are expected to be available for all scheduled activities throughout the two-week period.

Does the program provide accommodation?

Accommodation is not provided as part of the residency. Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation in Budapest and Ljubljana.

When will applicants be notified about the results?

Applicants will be notified of the selection results shortly after the application deadline.

Are there any scholarships, fee reductions or funding opportunities?

The East Call Curatorial Residency does not offer its own scholarships or fee reductions. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for external mobility and cultural funding schemes, in particular those available in their country of residence.
We especially recommend the Culture Moves Europe – Individual Mobility Grants, a Creative Europe funding programme specifically designed for curators and cultural professionals undertaking international mobility projects.
Culture Moves Europe – Individual Mobility Grants provide:
support for travel costs
daily living expenses
additional top-ups (e.g. green travel, visa costs, special needs)
The scheme supports mobility projects lasting 7 to 60 days in another Creative Europe country, which makes it well suited to the East Call residency.
Application period:
Applications are open from 1 October 2025 to 30 April 2026, with monthly rolling deadlines.