UNFOLD: Fellowship Program for Artistic Interventions in Public Space & Community Contexts
In a world marked by alienation, deepening class divides, and the centralization and commodification of culture, UNFOLD offers a counter-narrative—rooted in radical pedagogy, a critical reclaiming of public space, and a capabilities-based approach to justice.
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Following Foucault, we view public space not as neutral ground, but as a field where power circulates—where visibility, access, and presence are unevenly distributed. Artistic interventions, then, are not mere decoration, but disruptions: moments that reconfigure space and meaning.
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Echoing Freire’s vision of education as a practice of freedom, UNFOLD invites artists to engage not as experts, but as co-learners—facilitators of dialogue, attentive listeners, and co-creators with communities. The process is the priority; each encounter is a chance to reimagine the world, together.
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Inspired by Nussbaum’s capabilities approach, we affirm that imagination, creation, and public expression are not luxuries but essential to human dignity. UNFOLD aims to nurture these capabilities, especially where they are most at risk of being denied.
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UNFOLD is more than a program. It is a practice of reclaiming space, dignity, and the political power of creation.
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
UNFOLD is a nine-month international fellowship for artists committed to exploring public space and community-based art practices. It centers the periphery, amplifying voices and perspectives often excluded while supporting experimental, authentic, and unexpected artistic formats.
We welcome all artistic forms that challenge where and how art is experienced—whether visual arts, music, performance, theatre, architecture, design, artist talks, cooking, book clubs, graffiti, murals, dance, circus arts, or other experimental practices.
Whether it’s a bus, a forest, a prison courtyard, cemetery or an abandoned factory—we’re not seeking polished ideas, but people: artists who dare to dream, who are bold enough to act, who are ready to listen deeply to communities, and above all, who aim not to self-represent but to represent the voices, utopias, and aspirations of those communities—transformingoverlooked spaces into sites of encounter, imagination, and change.
WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We are calling for 12 artists based in and/or originating from Serbia, Portugal, and Greece.
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Participants will:
Expand their capacity for working with communities and public space
Experience new cultural and political contexts
Join a temporary, international artistic community
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Selection:
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A jury composed of partner organizations will select:
4 artists from Serbia: 2 to work in Lisbon and 2 in Athens
4 artists from Portugal: 2 to work in Subotica and 2 in Athens
4 artists from Greece: 2 to work in Lisbon and 2 in Subotica
THE FELLOWSHIP INCLUDES
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December 2025 – September 2026 (online program and 5-day artists visit)
Masterclasses
one-to-one mentoring sessions
online collaborations with local community groups
June – September 2026 (5-day visit and artistic intervention)
A 5-day artist visit in one of the three partner cities (Subotica, Athens, Lisbon)
Realization of the proposed intervention in dialogue with the host context
All travel, accommodation, food, and production costs are fully covered, as well as an artist’s fee is taken into consideration.
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WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Artists who:
Feel at home in the unknown and are open to surprise
Prioritize the process as much as the outcome typically is.
Are curious, community-minded, and ready to grow
Embrace experimentation and collective work
Want to be part of an international, learning-centered network
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CHOOSE YOUR CONTEXT
By displacing artists from their familiar contexts and known socio-political environments, we aim to spark fresh perspectives and inspire new, unfiltered responses, opening space for unexpected connections and transformative solutions.
Subotica, Serbia
A multicultural city on the border with Hungary, rich in art nouveau heritage and complex local dynamics. Hosted by Klara i Rosa, a feminist cultural organization running Subotica’s first independent civic cultural center. Their programming spans human rights, mental health, intergenerational exchange, education, ecology, and more, across Serbian-Croatian, Hungarian, and English. The team curates events, female artist/activist retreat, Courtyard gallery (the city’s first public-space gallery), and a community radio- Radio Plac, constantly rethinking public space as a site of encounter.
More about the organization you can find here: https://www.klarairosa.com/en/
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Lisbon, Portugal
A city shaped by histories of migration, resistance, and urban transformation, Lisbon is a layered cultural landscape where the traditional and the contemporary coexist. The Lisbon5-day artist visit is hosted by Iminente, a pioneering platform and festival born from the urban culture movements. Iminente activates unexpected public spaces, working across neighbourhoods to engage with communities often absent from official cultural circuits. Their programming combines visual arts, music, design, architecture, performance, and critical social practice to reimagine the relationship between art and everyday life. Rooted in collaboration and community engagement, Iminente seeks to explore public space as a field of dialogue, participation, and collective creation.
More about the organization you can find here:www.iminente.org
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Athens, Greece
The 5-day artist visit in Athens and other Greek cities of the periphery hosted by Balkans Beyond Borders will give the opportunity to the artists to collaborate creatively with local communities, reflect on urban change, and contribute to more inclusive and participatory narratives. Balkans Beyond Borders has years of experience in inspiring and inviting creators to engage creatively with the local community and public space as well as in engaging local community through open air screenings in public space.
Athens presents a complex urban landscape combining historical continuity and contemporary urban development. There are significant variations between neighborhoods and districts that have undergone notable transformations due to gentrification, immigration, socio-political transition and the influx of creative industries. At the same time, Athens offers a fertile ground for artistic interventions in public space, particularly in areas with visible signs of transition or socio-political tension.
Kozani, a mid-sized city in northern Greece, is undergoing a significant transformation from its historical reliance on lignite mining and coal-fired power generation to a more diversified and sustainable energy economy.
Larisa, located in central Greece, is one of the country’s largest regional cities and serves as a commercial and agricultural center.
Kalamata a coastal city in the southern Peloponnese, is notable for its rapid reconstruction following the 1986 earthquake, which shaped much of its modern urban identity. The city character is nuanced by a traditional urban morphology and the newer seaside districts reflecting more contemporary planning approaches.
More about the organization you can find here: https://www.balkansbeyondborders.eu/
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CALL CALENDAR
Launch of the call → June 2025
Call open → June to 31 August 2025
Evaluation – Phase 1 → September 2025
Evaluation – Phase 2 (online interviews with shortlisted artists) → October 2025
Announcement of 12 selected fellows → Early November 2025
1st online meeting (program launch) → December 2025
PROGRAM TIMELINE
December 2025 – August 2026 → Online fellowship program
June – September 2026 → 5-day artist visits:
2 artists from Greece + 2 from Portugal → Subotica
2 artists from Serbia + 2 from Portugal → Athens
2 artists from Serbia + 2 from Greece → Lisbon
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Apply here
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The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the organization „Klara i Rosa“ (Serbia) „Iminente“ (Portugal) and „Balkan Beyond Borders“ (Greece). The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
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