To mark its 20th anniversary in Cyprus, the Austrian Embassy in Nicosia launches
an open call for a project-based artist residency. In collaboration with CYENS WIP Lab and the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the residency invites proposals for a public installation in central Nicosia. Selected artists will realize their
work in the lively setting of Town Hall Square.
The residency offers a unique
opportunity to engage with the city’s dynamic urban context and its diverse communities, fostering dialogue through contemporary
public art. The selected artist will have the creative freedom to conceive and produce a work that resonates with the square’s
atmosphere and the conceptual framework of the WIP Lab.
WIP Lab under the theme “Invisible Waters” welcomes creative
practitioners working at the intersection of art, design, technology and science, to engage with one of the most pressing
environmental issues of the region: water.
Cyprus faces acute challenges related to water – from recurring droughts
and pressure on groundwater reserves, safeguarding water quality and upgrading irrigation systems. In stark contrast, Austria
is a country rich in freshwater resources, which play a vital role in shaping its landscape, culture and environmental identity.
This residency invites artists to critically and creatively engage with water’s materiality, its absence or abundance,
its sociopolitical dimensions and the narratives it carries across different geographies. By bridging the perspectives of
water-scarce and water-rich localities, the residency shall foster a dialogue on sustainability, adaptation and the shifting
meanings of water in the face of the climate crisis.
Residency Details
- Location: CYENS Thinker
Maker Space (Platia Dimarchias, Downtown Nicosia, Cyprus)
Please see specifications attached.
- Residency Duration:
4 - 6 weeks
- Budget: A fixed production budget will be provided by the Austrian Embassy Nicosia and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus.
- Curatorial Oversight: WIP Festival team
- Project Context: The residency
and resulting artwork will run in parallel with other WIP Festival activities, under the same curatorial concept and context.
And will remain to the municipality and people of Nicosia.
Who can apply
- Emerging and young artists working
in sculpture, installation, or related disciplines
- Individuals or collectives
- Nationals of Austria or artists
permanently residing in Austria, Austrian artists living in Cyprus.
What we offer
- Artist Fee: € 2000
- Travelling & Accommodation Fee: € 900
- Production cost (materials, fabrication, and installation): € 1500
Material available at the CYENS Thinker Maker space: makerspace.cyens.org.cy/services/
- Curatorial support and mentoring by WIP Festival
- Promotion through WIP Festival and Austrian Embassy channels
Submission requirements
- Project proposal with brief statement of interest (max. 1 pages): Concept, materials,
technical requirements, and how it responds to the site/context
- Portfolio (up to 10 images, with captions)
- CV
(max. 2 pages)
How to apply
Please send your application as a single PDF file to Nikosia-ob@bmeia.gv.at with the subject line: “WIP
Residency 20 Years – Your Name”
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 1 September 2025
- Notification of
Results: Mid-September 2025
- Residency Period: Suggest a period of 4 to 6 weeks between 1rst October and end of November
2025
