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What You See, together with Aluin/Villa Concordia, invites self-taught and non-self-taught Utrecht artists and performers for the What You See Research: summer edition! Here, as a maker, you get the space to explore and experiment with new ideas without pressure to create.
What You See is an international and multidisciplinary arts festival exploring gender and identity. A key component of our festival is What You See Research. This is our paid residency program, in which artists are given two weeks to work on an artistic research question without the pressure to perform.
This year’s theme touches on our relationship with time. We live in times of crisis and change. When you open the news, the combination of climate crises, geopolitical tensions and social polarisation paints an apocalyptic picture of the current world. You might think the real apocalypse is yet to come, but what if it has already happened? How, then, do we consciously shape what is now?
We are actively inviting artists who engage with the concept of time. How can we make time tangible? How do you imagine the end of time? How can we visualise a different notion of the present, past and future?
FOR WHOM?
The research is for Utrecht-based makers of all disciplines with an idea! We will select three makers and give them the space to dissect and investigate their research question. The emphasis is on experimentation, where we try to postpone decisions as much as possible. The residency is intended to keep you curious for two weeks and to follow your impulses.
WHEN?
This summer residency takes place from July 6 to 10 en and from 17 to 21 August in the studios of Theater Utrecht. It is important that you are available these days!
AND THEN?
Prior to the festival, a follow up day (Sat 21 Nov)will take place to prepare for the encounter with the public. This encounter will be during the festival on Sunday, Nov. 22 Then, there will then be an opportunity to involve the public in your research and reflect on it together.
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
– two weeks of studio space: from July 6 to 10 and from August 17 to 21. It's important that you are available on those dates.
– substantive and dramaturgical guidance in shaping your research.
– peer-to-peer community building
– a spot at What You See Festival 2026 (18 – 22 Nov) for a meeting with the audience
– a participation fee and a small production budget
Respond to the Open Call? Send before May 20 Interested in responding to the Open Call? Send a short CV and motivation outlining what you would like to explore to programmering@whatyouseefestival.nlWe are specifically inviting creators from Utrecht to apply. Not keen on written text? Feel free to send a video of up to XNUMX minutes, or choose another format! Utrecht makers open to respond. Not so much into written text? Feel free to send a video of max 3 minutes, or choose another format!
The selection will be made by Andre Damian (Utrecht Ballroom Scene), director WYS Annette van Zwoll and festival dramaturge WYS Vera Bonder.
We’ll let you know if your’e selected on June 5th the latest.
