OPEN CALL

The call is open to professional artists, collectives, choreographers, performers, and makers based in Greece who work in contemporary dance, performance, and interdisciplinary performing arts.

• A prerequisite is prior experience of creating at least one work in collaboration with communities, as well as an interest in the further development of artistic practices that encourage civic participation and create spaces for encounter, dialogue, and exchange. Applicants are welcome to submit proposals relating to works in progress or new iterations of previous works.
• In addition, artists responding to the open call must be professionally registered either as a sole trader or as a legal entity, and be able to issue invoices.

The residency programme includes:

• access to rehearsal and presentation spaces, according to an agreed schedule,
• use of available basic sound and lighting equipment,
• the possibility of advisory support and feedback from festival collaborators during their stay,
• the amount of €4,000, total cost inclusive of VAT and all taxes and legal deductions, covering remuneration, travel expenses (transport, accommodation, and subsistence), as well as any production costs, during the residency. In case of group participation, the total sum and residency provisions are distributed among the group members.

The two-week residency will take place in Kalamata during the following periods:

Week 1: Monday 19 October to Sunday 25 October 2026 (Main Stage)

Week 2: Monday 23 November to Sunday 29 November 2026 (Main Stage & Alternative Stage)

The selected proposal will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

• artistic quality of the proposal,
• prior experience,
• clarity and coherence of the artistic vision and research methodology,
• meaningful engagement with the local community and the social context of Kalamata,
• feasibility of realising the work within the residency’s time and production framework,
• the participatory, collaborative, or social dimension of the proposed practice.

The selected artist or group will be required to:

• be present in Kalamata for the duration of the residency,
• meaningfully integrate the local community into the creative or research process,
• present the outcome of the research or creative process through an open showing, discussion, workshop, or talk that highlights the methodology, research questions, or artistic practice developed during the residency,
• produce a creative documentation of the process (blog, working diary, video logs, or other appropriate form of record-keeping).

Applications are to be submitted to: kidf@kalamatadancefestival.gr

Applicants are invited to submit:

• a description of the proposed work (up to 300 words),
• a description of the methodology and connection to the community (up to 300 words),
• a brief CV (up to 300 words),
• an indicative research timeline,
• a sample of relevant prior work.

 
All of the above must be included in a single PDF of no more than 5 MB.
 
Application deadline: Monday 31 August.
 
Results will be announced no later than Friday 18 September.
 
Through this programme, we wish to create the conditions for a meaningful encounter between artists, the city, and its people.

We are looking for makers who see the artistic process as an open exchange and wish to develop works that emerge from dialogue, participation, and collective experience.
 
We look forward to receiving your proposals.