Open Call

1 February – 1 April 2021

For whom?

Professional artists (all disciplines)
Final-year Bachelor or Master students who follow a national or foreign art program (all disciplines)
Individual or collective (maximum 4 people)

Candidate participants from all countries are welcome.

Timing

Two research periods are foreseen. You must select one or both periods upon registration. You will have to stay at least 3 nights in Watou, but you can also add the weekend (maximum 5 nights). These are the periods:

Tuesday, 20 July, to Sunday, 25 July 2021
Tuesday, 17 August, to Sunday, 22 August 2021

Offer

You will get sleeping accommodation for four days (three nights). This is the minimum period of stay (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). You can also stay for five nights.
We keep it basic: a camping bed in the meeting centre of Watou, or you bring your own little tent. Sanitary and kitchen, Wi-Fi, workspace, tables and chairs are available.
You will receive a fee of 300 Euro to cover your costs.
You can enter into dialogue/a debate with the curator/inspirer Koen Vanmechelen.
You can come as an individual, or as a collective (maximum 4 people).
You can share your thoughts in the Watou notebook, or on our inspiration wall.
You will stand a chance to be selected with your project proposal for the Arts Festival in 2022.
Has the jury selected your project proposal? Then you will receive a budget of 5.000 Euro to work out the project in concrete terms.

Terms and Conditions

You must register with a motivation letter, CV and portfolio. The number of places is limited. The jury will select and confirm your participation.
You are prepared to sleep in Watou for three nights. It could also be for five.
You would like to enter into dialogue with Koen Vanmechelen, the Watou community, the festival goers, artists, passers-by, …
You have a healthy dose of empathy and guts.
You must feel at liberty to share your thoughts, sketches and impressions on the inspiration wall during the camp.
You will have to work out a project proposal after the Watou immersion.
You must submit the proposal by 1 November.

Practical

The open call will run from 1 February to 1 April 2021.
The selection of the participants will be done by a jury, chaired by Koen Vanmechelen.
The selection will be announced on 1 May 2021.
The final registrations will be finalised on 15 May 2021.
The research periods will run from 21/07 – 25/07/2021 and from 17/08 – 22/08/2021.
Project proposals for the Art Festival 2022 can be submitted until 1 November 2021.
The winning project proposals will be announced on 15 December 2021.

Registration

Your application must contain: name and/ or studio, address details, motivation letter, CV and relevant portfolio. You must supply this in Dutch and in English (synopsis).