Resisting Waters

Last year, we explored Islands of Change, rooted in an understanding of local change for wider impact. We presented sound artists who each, in their own local context, (re)claimed agency within their relationship to water. This year, we continue this line of thought, focusing on the agency of water itself. Resisting Waters explores the agency of water in resisting current oppressive conditions of life. This open call calls for proposals that explore new ways of relating to water’s agency: in the context of floods and drought, within intimate and spiritual relations with water, or by resisting neoliberal and colonial exploitation of (ground)water resources.

Gaudeamus Festival, in collaboration with Residenties in Utrecht and University Museum Utrecht, invites artists to connect current research or projects with the local context of Utrecht. Within a two-week residency, we offer the possibility to develop a site-specific response to one of the greenhouses of the Oude Hortus of the University Museum Utrecht. This can take the shape of an installation or performance. Depending on the specific project and questions of the artist, we offer guidance by a network of water experts and researchers to delve into questions embedded in the local context of Utrecht.

We are looking for projects by sound artists and musicians that center the agency of water. This can be broadly understood and can range from the agency of one single drop to a body of water, or agency within broader ecosystems. Topics can include, but are not limited to, a political ecology or economy of water, ecology of resistance, spiritual relations to water, critical engagement with techno-fix solutions, histories of water infrastructure, speculative futures, or natureculture relations. Taking into consideration the budget and scope of the residency, we are not looking for to-be-developed works. We aim to facilitate existing projects and research that can be deepened by connecting them to the local context of Utrecht, inspired by a network of experts.

Eligibility & Submission Details
The stipend is offered within the framework of the In Situ-programme by the Ulysses Platform, designed to support emerging artists in developing their skills and exploring innovative practices. We welcome proposals from individual artists as well as collaborative teams and collectives.

• One spot is available
• Artist receive a stipend of €3000
• 14 days of accommodation are covered (this can be a consecutive residency or can be split in two, a first leg in the Spring and a second during Gaudeamus Festival in September).
• Travel is covered
• Per diem (if food and drinks are not offered on location)
• The artist has to be EU-based, but an EU-passport is not required

What and Where?
The residency and presentation of the work will take place in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The residency is set to take place in the end of May or early June, but the specific dates are still flexible. The performance or installation will be part of the Gaudeamus Festival, 9 -13 September 2026.

How to apply?
Send a proposal of maximum 1 page accompanied by an artistic CV including links to videos or recordings of previous works. Please address the following points in your proposal.
1. Please describe your idea, concept, urgency or response to the topic of the call. (approximately 200 words)
2. Please describe your practice as an artist. (approximately 100 words)
3. As this call is aimed at supporting emerging artists, how will this project benefit your practice? Do you have any specific learning goals or skills you aim to develop? (approximately 100 words)

Applications are evaluated with the following questions in mind:

Does the project address the notion of the agency of water in an original, creative or critical way?
Is the project feasible within the framework of this residency? (i.e. not too productionally complex, or reliant on an advanced infrastructure; can it fit the greenhouse of the museum?)
In what way can the artist benefit from the residency? Is the proposal embedded within a longer interest in water? Is there a clear and feasible learning goal that can be supported by Gaudeamus?

Deadline and procedure
Send your application by 12 April 23:59. The first 50 proposals will be viewed. The selection will be made by Matthijs Mantel (Gaudeamus) and Lidy Ettema (Residenties in Utrecht). Results will be announced in early May. For questions, you can send an e-mail to matthijs@gaudeamus.nl.

We recognize the competitive nature of open calls and the unpaid labour that goes into them. Yet, we think it is important to offer these possibilities, as it creates an equal playing field opening up transparent opportunities for artists outside of our network. We encourage you to use existing texts and prepare this application in a way that is not too labour intensive. However, we prefer to read texts that are personal and maybe a bit messy over texts that are clearly written or edited with AI.