OASis – Open Call for Artists

About the Open Call

Today Art Initiative (TAI) is pleased to announce an open call for international artists to participate in the first edition of the OASis Residency in Talin, Armenia, taking place in autumn 2025. We invite 5 artists, researchers, and interdisciplinary practitioners working across ecology, visual culture, community practices, and traditional knowledge to explore the intersection of ecological memory, disappearing flora, and cultural heritage in the Aragatsotn region as part of the Rural Art Residency Armenia program, launched in 2019. Residency Concept: Talin, once rich in wildflowers, herbs, and traditional ecological knowledge, is now witnessing the quiet disappearance of these species, mirroring a broader erosion of cultural memory. Plants that were once central to healing, dyeing, food, and ritual are now endangered. Today, climate change, soil degradation, rural depopulation, and the decline of traditional crafts threaten both the plants and the knowledge they carry. This residency invites participants to explore these vanishing elements through sensory engagement including textiles, sound, visual art (bio art, eco art, food based practices, street art, painting, installation, textile art, sculpture, and mixed media) and collaborative practices. In partnership with local communities, artists will reanimate these stories and reimagine new ways of preserving ecological and cultural memory. About the Location – Talin, Aragatsotn: Located at the foot of Mount Aragats, about 63 km from Yerevan, Talin is a historic town with deep-rooted traditions and ecological richness. Its landscapes ranging from steppe grasslands to volcanic soils, host endemic and culturally significant plants now at risk. The town is known for its 7th-century cathedral and a strong sense of rural resilience, making it an ideal place for artists interested in site-specific and community-based practice. About Today Art Initiative: Today Art Initiative (TAI) is an independent Yerevan based cultural organization working across art, ecology, and community. Founded by artist Lilit Stepanyan in 2014, TAI emerged from grassroots youth movements and has since supported creative projects in post-industrial towns, remote villages, and rural ecosystems. Its work is embedded in the social and environmental realities of Armenia and the wider South Caucasus.

What is Offered

€1300 gross artist fee; Travel budget up to €300; Accommodation in Talin (private or shared); Access to studio / workspaces; Curatorial support throughout the residency; Materials and production support (agreed upon in advance).

Requirements

Applicants must reside in an EU Member State or country eligible under the Creative Europe programme. We’re Looking For Proposals That: Address ecology and disappearing flora of Aragatsotn; Co-creation through community engagement or participatory practices; Are site-specific or research-driven, rooted in local context; Strong artistic quality and clear relevance to the theme.

How to Apply

Please send the following materials to todayartinitiative@gmail.com by 17 August 2025: CV or detailed bio (link or PDF, max 10 MB); Portfolio or website; Artistic proposal (max 300 words or 10 slides PDF) outlining: Your motivation to participate, How you will engage with the local community, Your concept, materials, and methods, Production needs (if any); (Optional) Short video/audio (max 3 minutes) elaborating on the proposal; One clear photo with a visible face (for communication purposes).