We invite visual artists working with/at the intersection of land art, textiles and/or performing arts to participate in an art residency in collaboration with a South African artist in July 2025, with the possibility of creating a joint project. Applications are open to artists and creative tandems from Ukraine.   

The residency aims to facilitate a dialogue and work in collaboration between South African and Ukrainian artists and to explore the theme of human impact on the environment.  Considering that, the artists are invited to work either on their individual projects or combine their ideas on one project. 

Without limiting artists’ freedom, we encourage artists to immerse themselves in joint reflections on the topic of “SOIL & WATER”. How do water and soil conditions in South Africa and Ukraine reflect broader environmental issues? How do soil and water embody cultural history and collective memory? How do ecological systems respond to human conflicts and interventions?   

We offer: 

• Fee for the artists and covering travel costs; 

• Fully serviced accommodation costs at the Kromdraai Impact Hub, South Africa, during 15-27 July, including self-service breakfast, prepared lunches and dinners; 

• A working studio space during the stay in South Africa;  

• Opportunity for remote dialogue from May to July 2025 with a South African artist selected by the NIROX Foundation;  

• Coverage of the costs of creating a work;  

• Opportunity to communicate with other artists in residency, visiting guests, and local community; 

• Access to NIROX Sculpture Park, Villa-Legodi Centre for Sculpture and to the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site. 

As a result of the residency, the artists’ project has the opportunity for submission to be included in the international exhibition “SOIL & WATER”, opening in the fall of 2025 at NIROX. Residents are encouraged to leave an artwork for the NIROX Foundation’s archival collection.   

Key Dates 

• Application process: 21 March – 20 April 2025  

• Successful candidate notification: 5 May 2025  

• Visa application process: May-June 2025  

• Remote creative pre-interaction process between artists: May-July 

• Start of residency: 15 July 2025 

• End of residency: 27 July 2025 

Eligibility: 

• Minimum age of 18 years    

• English language skills (B2 level and above);   

• Openness to public communication and presentation of their practices during the residency;   

• Professional experience, preferably with a demonstrated interest in environmental themes and cross-cultural dialogue;   

• Specialized professional education and/or other professional training is desirable, but not required.  

• Readiness for the visa procedure, which will require a separate visit to Warsaw in May or June 2025.   

How to apply: 

• A written proposal (250-400) outlining your interests and intentions for the residency, and how this fits into the “SOIL & WATER” exhibition framework. The proposal can be submitted in Microsoft Word or PDF format;   

• A CV detailing recent projects, exhibitions, workshops and residencies (up to 2 pages) in PDF format;  

• An up-to-date portfolio in English of up to 10 pages (pdf-file up to 10 MB, named in the format “LastName_FirstName_portfolio_EXTER4”), which could include unrealised proposals and / or preparatory illustrations of the proposed work. 

Please send all documents in one letter to [email protected] by April 20, 2025, with the subject “Application for EXTER_SA Residency.” 

The selected candidates will be announced on May 5, 2025. The selection committee will include experts from the NIROX Foundation and the Ukrainian Institute.