Neighborhood Committee of Care 2026

Artistic residency in the Gräfekiez and at TATWERK

For the artistic residency within the framework of the Neighbourhood Committee of Care, we are looking for projects that engage directly with the Gräfekiez and have a participatory character. A strong connection to neighbourhood life and a willingness to engage with the inherent diversity of the area and to enter into dialogue with the people who live and work there are essential.

The residency will primarily take place in public spaces or in so-called third places within the neighbourhood. It is explicitly encouraged that proposed projects already have contact with a local cooperation partner, or are designed in such a way that they can be invited by initiatives, shops, cafés, etc., to be realized in their premises.

There are no restrictions regarding artistic discipline or language.
Free from the pressure to “produce,” the artist may use the residency period to further deepen and consolidate already tested practices or to explore new approaches.

The Neighbourhood Committee of Care (NCC) is composed of residents of the Gräfekiez neighbourhood. During regular meetings, the NCC discusses their neighbourhood, the issues that concern people in the area, and the kind of artistic project they would like to see realized there.
For this open call, this means: residents of the Gräfekiez will read your application and decide whether they want your project to take place in their neighbourhood.

What are the important issues being negotiated within the microcosm of the Gräfekiez?
How can your artistic work become a forum for discussion, reveal unexpected ways of identifying critical issues, or even help find possible solutions?

The idea of the Neighbourhood Committee of Care was originally developed by our long-term cooperation partner Milano Mediterranea in Milan. In 2025, through an international collaboration between TATWERK in Berlin, Szendvicsbár in Budapest, and Milano Mediterranea in Milan, neighbourhood committees were formed in all three cities. These committees met regularly to exchange perspectives about their neighbourhoods and each selected an artistic residency project.
The three selected projects were presented in October 2025 at the Twiza Festival in Milan. This year, TATWERK continues the Neighbourhood Committee of Care in Berlin.

Residency period: September 21^st to October 09^th 2026

Who we are looking for

• An individual artist
• An artist who lives and works in Berlin
• An artist with a research interest in public space, participatory processes, and power relations within the urban fabric
• Preferably an artist who has not yet collaborated with TATWERK but is interested in building a long-term relationship with the organization
• Preferably an artist who is often excluded from funding opportunities due to discrimination

Artists who are enrolled at a university at the time of the residency are not eligible to apply.

What we offer

• A stipend of € 2000 for the entire residency period
• A kick-off meeting with the NCC in the Gräfekiez (early July) as well as regular mentoring and dramaturgical guidance by the curatorial team
• Access to the TATWERK studio during the residency period (by arrangement and subject to availability)
• One-time professional photo and video documentation of the residency for further use
• Connection to TATWERK’s networks to support the continuation of the research

How we select

The resident artist will be selected by the NCC. The process will be facilitated by the residency’s curatorial team, Aurora Kellermann and Aru Ray Tormann.
The main selection criteria are:

• Relevance of the project to the neighbourhood and its inhabitants (represented by the NCC)
• Accessibility of the process
• Artistic concept for implementing the proposed research project, as well as a realistic reflection on the applicant’s ability to address the proposed questions
• Ability to engage in dialogue with different communities
• Overall feasibility of the concept
• Resource awareness

Checklist

• You are registered as a resident in Berlin.
• The focus of your artistic work is in Berlin.
• You are not enrolled at a university.
• You are available for the entire residency period, including the kick-off meeting with the NCC.

Only complete applications will be considered in the selection process.

Application deadline: April 12^th 2026

For questions please write to: aru@tatwerk-berlin.de

All artists will receive feedback by the end of June as to whether they have been selected for the residency.

Apply now!

Funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion of the State of Berlin.