OPEN CALL: KUNST IM ÖFFENTLICHEN RAUM FÖRDERSCHWERPUNKT 2026 – SEELENSCHWITZEN

About the Open Call

Current and archived calls for 'Art in Public Space Tirol'. OPEN CALL: KUNST IM ÖFFENTLICHEN RAUM FÖRDERSCHWERPUNKT 2026 - SEELENSCHWITZEN 'Seelenschwitzen' describes the tension between physicality, emotional transformation, collective experience, and individual processing. How can social, psychological, and political tensions be made visible? Who sweats – and why? Where do anger, fear, confidence, and hope simmer? What remains when emotion evaporates? And how can we come closer as a society through shared 'sweating'? 'Kunst im öffentlichen Raum Tirol' invites artistic works of all disciplines – intervention, sculpture, sound, or performance – to transform public space into a playground of diverse emotional and physical processes. General Information: The 'Kunst im öffentlichen Raum' funding scheme has been run since 2008 in cooperation between the State of Tyrol and the Artists' Association Tyrol, funded by the State of Tyrol. For 2026, it is being advertised for the sixth time with a thematic focus written by the Artists' Association Tyrol, which is intended to serve as a thematic framework for drafting concepts and implementing projects. The aim of the funding focus is to promote contemporary art and cultural projects in public space, thereby making the engagement with current social issues accessible to a broad public and initiating a dialogue on cultural, social, and political topics. 'Kunst im öffentlichen Raum' should trigger discussions and be an integral part of developing perspectives. Artistic formats are unlimited. Both permanent sculptural art projects, temporary interventions, as well as participatory, performative, and dialogic formats in public rural and urban spaces are supported. Particular attention is paid to project submissions that are site-specific, consider mediating formats, and inherently sustainable in their implementation. To reach the most diverse audience possible, projects should represent a synergy between artistic practice and everyday culture. In this sense, the venues for the projects are as diverse as the projects themselves and offer the opportunity to make art accessible beyond the boundaries of cultural institutions. Formal Criteria: • The call for proposals text should serve as the starting point and thematic framework for the submitted project. • Projects must be implemented in Tyrol, in public rural or urban spaces, and engage with the specific conditions of the chosen location. • Selected projects must be realizable between March and November 2026. • After jury approval, the prerequisite for state funding is the availability of any necessary permits for realization and approval from the relevant municipality(ies) for the submitted project. The project applicant is responsible for obtaining official permits. • Excluded are retroactive funding or the purchase of an already realized artwork, classic 'art in architecture' projects, publications not part of a project, and public events such as concerts or theatre performances without thematic connection to the funding action. Jury: Three independent expert jurors, appointed jointly by the State of Tyrol and the Artists' Association Tyrol, select from the submitted projects and prepare a funding proposal. The decision on funding is made by the member of the Tyrolean provincial government responsible for cultural affairs. Jury Members: Sarah Decristoforo (Artist, Linz), Ingrid Mayrhofer-Hufnagl (Artist, Architect, Researcher, Salzburg), Peter Kozek (Artist, Vienna). Legal Basis: Submission does not create a legal right to funding. The jury's decision cannot be appealed. The allocation of funding and the processing of the funding procedure are the responsibility of the State of Tyrol within the framework of the applicable subsidy guidelines. The realization of the funded projects must take place according to the project timeline. Note on Project Calculation: Own contributions can be listed in the calculation at an hourly rate according to the fee mirror of the Fair-Pay Guidelines in Austria (www.kuveti.at/kulturpolitik-paytheartistnow/) and invoiced according to the performance sheet of the 'Kunst im öffentlichen Raum' action. This guideline only applies to funding procedures within the framework of the 'Kunst im öffentlichen Raum' action. The applicant agrees that their name and submitted image material, sketches, or other visualizations may be published, e.g., for media reports or the homepage of the State of Tyrol, as well as the website www.koer-tirol.at. Attention: Sensitivity regarding gender issues and social exclusion mechanisms in the conception and implementation of the project is expected. Barrier-free access to the respective project should already be considered in the concept.

What is Offered

The 'Kunst im öffentlichen Raum' action of the State of Tyrol is endowed with EUR 80,000 in 2026. The amount of state funding for projects recommended for implementation can be up to 100% of the eligible total costs, as recommended by the jury. Two to four projects will be selected for realization. The Artists' Association Tyrol provides curatorial and production-technical support for the selected projects.

Requirements

The call is open to artists, artist collectives, architects, and curators active in contemporary art, who have their residence in the EEA (European Economic Area) or EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries. Projects must be implemented in Tirol, in public rural or urban spaces, and engage with the specific conditions of the chosen location. Selected projects must be realizable between March and November 2026. After jury approval, the availability of any necessary permits for realization and approval from the relevant municipality(ies) for the submitted project are prerequisites for funding. The project applicant is responsible for obtaining official permits. Excluded are retroactive funding or the purchase of an already realized artwork, classic 'art in architecture' projects, publications not part of a project, and public events such as concerts or theatre performances without thematic connection to the funding action.

How to Apply

Submissions are exclusively via email to koer-tirol@kuveti.at with the subject: Einreichung KOER 2026. Required documents include: • Detailed project description including mediation formats (max. 8 pages, DIN A4): Text, visualization in the form of sketches, renderings, or model photos. • Cost and financing plan (material and production costs, travel and accommodation costs, fees, research costs, costs for on-site production assistance, costs for technical implementation, setup and dismantling or maintenance, mediation formats, project-related communication means. Daily allowances and meal costs cannot be reimbursed). • Project implementation schedule. • Completed data sheet (available for download). • Information about the project applicant(s). • Documentation of previous artistic activities.