ARCHAIVE International Open Call for Artists 2026/27: Media Art Archives and Generative AI

About this call

ARCHAIVE invites emerging and mid-career artists to critically engage with generative AI through the lens of cultural memory, working with six media art archives held by five European partners: MEET Digital Culture Center (Italy), NewArt Foundation (Spain), Museu Zer0 (Portugal), Sound & Vision (the Netherlands) and Public Art Lab (Germany). Eighteen artists will be selected for in-person or hybrid residencies, beginning between March and June 2027 depending on the host. Each host offers curatorial support, at least 10 hours of technical mentoring per artist and mediated access to archival materials. Applicants choose one of eight challenges in four clusters (conceptual and artistic, technical, ethical and legal, preservation and documentation) and rank their preferred hosts. Every selected artist completes a documented digital artwork and takes part in the Translocal Placemaking showcase. Results are communicated by 26 February 2027.

Who can apply

• Limited by country or region
• Medium: New Media / Video / Installation
• Entry fee: See official site
• For emerging and mid-career artists working across digital and analogue media. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and nationals of, or resident in, a country participating in the Creative Europe Programme, and must propose an artistic project involving critical or creative engagement with AI. All application materials must be in English. Submit through the CMT platform: a written proposal (PDF, maximum 2 pages, including a Statement on the use of AI of up to 300 words identifying the AI tools, models or datasets used and describing your own contribution), up to 4 previous works as files or links, a video presentation (maximum 1 minute, in English, maximum 100 MB; on-screen text in English or sign language with English subtitles is accepted for applicants whose accessibility needs make speaking on camera difficult), a one-page CV, and declarations of a primary (and optional secondary) challenge, ranked first, second and third host choices, availability for an on-site visit or residency and ability to travel. Name each file with your first and last name, without accents, spaces or special characters, followed by the document type (for example MariaSilva_proposal.pdf). Hybrid residencies include on-site visits of at least three days; where an artist cannot travel, the residency may take place remotely with one short visit to the host. Selected artists must clarify rights, licensing and consent for archival material with the host before production, document the AI component (models, versions, parameters, dependencies and workflow), write a statement of variability, and produce a technical dossier, audiovisual documentation and a short reflective text. Participation in the Translocal Placemaking showcase is mandatory, with a version of the work for a screen, projection, façade or immersive space (a trailer of 1 to 3 minutes, or a 20 second plug-and-play version for commercial screens). The artist fee is paid in instalments linked to the stages of the residency. Information on travel and accommodation will be provided once officially confirmed. The page does not state an application fee.