V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media - Summer Sessions

What Summer Sessions gives you

You will receive a funded art-and-technology residency abroad. A residency programme means that you will live and work at a host institution for a set period – in this case, around eight weeks between July and September. The budget covers your travel and accommodation costs as well as project materials; you will also receive a grant (a fixed sum to provide financial support; the exact amount is not disclosed). You will work in the host institution’s studios and workshops, receive specialist support in carrying out your project, and present the finished work at a public event. The programme is run by a network of cultural organisations across Europe and beyond, and is coordinated by the V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media in Rotterdam.

Who can apply

• What you do: You are an up-and-coming artist or designer who works at the intersection of art and technology.
• Career stage: You are under 35, or you graduated within the last five years.
• Where you live: You live in a partner country. For 2026, these are the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Slovenia, Austria and Romania.
• Your project: You have a project idea that you can develop during your stay, from the initial concept through to a finished piece ready for presentation. Any topic is permitted.

How to apply

Record a two-minute video in which you present your project and explain how you would carry it out during your stay. Upload it to YouTube or Vimeo (it can be set to ‘unlisted’ or password-protected) and submit the link via the online form on the Summer Sessions website. The deadline is at the end of April. All applicants will be notified in early May, and shortlisted candidates may be invited to an online interview during the second week of May.

How realistic are your chances?

Selection is based solely on your two-minute video; therefore, a clear, original project that meets the criteria on the theme of art and technology counts for more than a lengthy CV. Only people living in one of the seven partner countries may apply, and each funding partner carries out a pre-selection process amongst its own applicants. This means that the national pool of applicants remains smaller than it would be in an open, global call for applications. With a strong, feasible idea and a compelling video, your chances are good. Apply early, as the residency places are only allocated after the selection process.