Art Senses: Sensing the Invisible - Mentorship Programme Open Call

About the Open Call

Art Senses is a new mentorship programme exploring the sensory dimensions in artistic practice. Conceived by Therme Art, it supports works that engage the senses, alone or in combination, unlocking cross-modal pathways of perception and inspiring wellbeing and new ways of experiencing the world. Each edition of Art Senses explores a specific theme in the sensory field guided by an invited artist-mentor and distinguished jury, who offer curatorial insight, mentorship, and professional guidance. The programme is founded on three core principles: wellbeing, immersion, and expanded communities. The 2025/26 edition of Art Senses explores how art can extend perception beyond the predominance of sight, embracing the full spectrum of our sensory experience. This focus highlights ephemeral, interactive, and time-based artworks that exist in the moment of encounter. A.A.Murakami, Tokyo/London-based artist duo, is the 2025/26 mentor-artist. Applicants are invited to expand their sensory vocabulary and investigate the ephemerality of light, sound, vibration, scent, air, or bodily interaction, celebrating works that dissolve boundaries between the senses, between self and environment, and between the visible and the invisible.

What is Offered

From all submissions, three artists will be shortlisted and awarded a €1,000 artist fee to develop a project proposal. They will also receive consultation with the jury and mentor, and an announcement on Therme Art’s online platforms. One of them will be chosen as the Art Senses Artist of the Year, receiving a €10,000 financial award as an artist fee and project development budget, up to six months of tailored remote mentorship with A.A.Murakami, curatorial guidance from the jury, technical and feasibility consultations from Therme Group experts, international visibility through Therme Art’s online platforms, opportunities to present the artistic outcome at Therme Art partner venues, and the possibility to realise the project as a permanent site-specific artwork with Therme Art.

Requirements

Artists working across all mediums and disciplines are welcome. Participants must be 18 years or older at the time of submission. Artists from all nationalities, based anywhere globally, are invited to apply. Applications are open to individual artists as well as collectives; collectives will be considered a single applicant. AI-generated works are eligible if they align with the program's curatorial theme and demonstrate a clear artistic vision. All application materials must be submitted in English.

How to Apply

Artists are invited to submit a CV, portfolio, and letter of interest responding to the edition’s curatorial theme: Sensing the Invisible. Please download the full Application Guidelines for detailed information via the provided link.