Home News

Open call

Deadline: Closed (Selection completed)
Guide for Applicants: DOWNLOAD GUIDE

The Call

SOLAR FUTURES invites 3 individual artists to create new works exploring Solarpunk, a movement envisioning optimistic, ecologically harmonious futures where humans, technology, and nature coexist sustainably.

SOLAR FUTURES is a Creative Europe-supported collaboration bringing together four leading cultural organizations working at the intersection of art, science, and technology: OHME (Belgium) together with Electroni[k] (France), iii (The Netherlands), and LEV Festival (Spain), in partnership with two associated universities, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), to support transdisciplinary artistic practices that imagine alternative, desirable futures.


Three Works, Three Formats, Three Themes

Each artist will create one work choosing a specific format linked to a thematic pathway:

Physical Installation, on Renewable Energy and Circular Resources

Explore energy autonomy, decentralized infrastructures, recycled materials, bio-based design, and circular economy principles.

Screen-Based Experience, on Permacomputing and Digital Sobriety

Engage with low-impact digital creation, energy-efficient code, open-source tools, and alternatives to extractive tech models.

Live Performance, on New Imaginaries for Political and Societal Organisation

Envision post-capitalist, inclusive futures through alternative governance, care economies, community resilience, and prefigurative politics.

The Residency Programme

A year-long journey across three European cities with comprehensive support at every stage:

Phase 1: Research & Contextualization (2 weeks, Brussels, May 4-18, 2026)

Hosted by OHME with ULB and VUB. Interdisciplinary research with scientists, local artists, and cultural operators. Build your conceptual foundation.

Phase 2: Development (2 weeks, Rennes, June 1-15, 2026)

Hosted by Electroni[k]. Focus on audience engagement, mediation strategies, workshop design, and the French digital creation ecosystem.

Phase 3: Production (1 month, The Hague, Aug 2026 or Oct 2026 or Feb 2027)

Hosted by iii. Access to production facilities, technical support, and a creative community. Finalize your work with professional documentation.

Phase 4: Distribution Mentoring (online, throughout)

Led by LEV. Ten sessions covering distribution strategies, tech riders, communication, and professional development.

Info Session

The recording of the info session:

WATCH HERE

Selected Artists

SOLAR FUTURES invites three individual artists to create new works exploring Solarpunk, a movement envisioning optimistic, ecologically harmonious futures where humans, technology, and nature coexist sustainably.

The selected projects explore how bodies, technologies and energy systems shape shared futures, addressing questions of ecological transition, digital infrastructures and collective organisation from complementary perspectives.

Physical Installation — Renewable Energy and Circular Resources

Selected artist: Jin Lee
Title: Syn-thesis: Autonomy Flag
Premiere: @ iii in The Hague - Spring 2027
Link to the project: Syn-thesis: Autonomy Flag

Screen-Based Experience — Permacomputing and Digital Sobriety

Selected artist: David Lazar
Title: interference_commons
Premiere: @ Maintenant Festival in Rennes - October 2026
Link to the project: interference_commons

Live Performance — New Imaginaries for Political and Societal Organisation

Selected artist: Carolin Schnurrer
Title: Orbiting Other Rhythms
Premiere: @ OHME in Brussels - December 2026
Link to the project: Orbiting Other Rhythms

Ecosystem

Here are other artists working on the themes, topics and values of Solar Futures.