Call for Artists – Art of Remembrance

Art of Remembrance

Call for Artists - International Residencies in Poland, France, Italy and Belgium

International Artist Residencies in Poland, France, Italy and Belgium

Are you an artist looking for a unique opportunity to create meaningful work while engaging with history? The “Art of Remembrance” project offers an 8-week funded residency for 4 artists at one of four prominent WWII remembrance sites in Europe. Artists will receive €10,000 for production and wages, access to the rich archives and resources of the host museums, and the chance to participate in a traveling installation showcasing their work across Europe. Join us in reinterpreting the narratives of WWII through contemporary art.

Overview

The “Art of Remembrance” project is a transnational artistic initiative co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe Programme. This project aims to deepen public engagement with the history and memory of World War II by connecting contemporary artists with four prominent WWII remembrance sites across Europe. Through this collaborative residency program, artists will reinterpret WWII narratives and create new works inspired by the rich, site-specific histories of each location.

The project is led by an international partnership of cultural and historical organizations, including the Sybir Memorial Museum in Poland, La Coupole WWII Museum in France, the Nuto Revelli Foundation in Italy, the Bastogne War Museum in Belgium, Tempora (Belgium), the LRE Foundation (international network based in the Netherlands). These partners are dedicated to preserving WWII memory and fostering dialogue across generations and borders. By facilitating residencies at these remembrance sites, the partners seek to expand awareness of WWII’s legacy through artistic expression, inviting diverse audiences to reflect on the themes of memory, resilience, and the passage of time. Each participating site plays a crucial role in narrating a unique chapter of WWII history, contributing to a collective European and global memory.

Residency Focus and Theme

Residency Period: 8 weeks between April 2025 and January 2026. The stay may be broken into two (minimum) or more periods to allow for reflection and refinement, with artists encouraged to return home in between visits to process and develop their work.
Facilities: artists will have access to a workspace, museum staff (curators, archivists, educators etc.), and archives and collections at the host site.
Funding:

- €10,000: this amount covers the artist’s production costs, wages, and project expenses, including the organization and participation in the two workshops, attendance at the installation/exhibition launch event, and participation in the final dissemination event. This fee also grants the project the right to exhibit and display the artwork in the traveling installation/exhibition, publication/catalog, and online platform (the artwork remaining the property of the artist)
- €350 travel lump sum: a travel allowance for reaching the host museum across multiple stays.
- €600 subsistence allowance: provided for local expenses during the stay.
- Accommodation: housing will be provided for the 8-week residency duration.
- Travel to Events: artists will also have their travel expenses covered for the launch event and installation/exhibition presentation, as well as the final dissemination event.

The Hosting Sites

FRANCE

La Coupole

ITALY

Paraloup

POLAND

Sybir Museum

BELGIUM

Bastogne

Residency Details

Residency Period: 8 weeks between April 2025 and January 2026. The stay may be broken into two (minimum) or more periods to allow for reflection and refinement, with artists encouraged to return home in between visits to process and develop their work.
Facilities: artists will have access to a workspace, museum staff (curators, archivists, educators etc.), and archives and collections at the host site.
Funding:

- €10,000: this amount covers the artist’s production costs, wages, and project expenses, including the organization and participation in the two workshops, attendance at the installation/exhibition launch event, and participation in the final dissemination event. This fee also grants the project the right to exhibit and display the artwork in the traveling installation/exhibition, publication/catalog, and online platform (the artwork remaining the property of the artist)
- €350 travel lump sum: a travel allowance for reaching the host museum across multiple stays.
- €600 subsistence allowance: provided for local expenses during the stay.
- Accommodation: housing will be provided for the 8-week residency duration.
- Travel to Events: artists will also have their travel expenses covered for the launch event and installation/exhibition presentation, as well as the final dissemination event.

Expected Outcomes

Final Artwork: each of the 4 artists will produce a site-specific artwork (or series of works) during their residency (including installation protocols / technical explanation), inspired by the local WWII history and context of their chosen remembrance site. These works will be curated into a collective traveling installation/exhibition that will visit each of the four host sites, allowing audiences across Europe to engage with the diverse interpretations of WWII memory. The link with the WWII has to be clearly expressed and integrated in the artwork.
Community Engagement and Workshops: each artist will participate in two public events or workshops with local communities, one of which must focus on youth. These engagements could include an introductory presentation about the artist’s practice, a dialogue with local historians, or a creative workshop with local students. The format and content of these events will be collaboratively defined with the hosting museum to suit both the artist’s expertise and community interests.
Installation/Exhibition Presentation Events: at each host site, a launch event will introduce the traveling installation/exhibition, offering an opportunity for local audiences and communities to engage with the artworks and the artist’s creative process. These events will include presentations by the artists and discussions with local staff, historians, or curators.
Final Dissemination Event: a concluding event will be held, gathering WWII organizations from across Europe and North America. This event will provide a platform to present the entire project, highlight its impact, and foster transnational dialogue on WWII remembrance through contemporary art.
Publication: a publication will be created, documenting the artworks, residency experiences, and historical insights from each site. This publication will serve as a comprehensive record of the project and will be distributed to interested audiences and partner organizations.
Project Website: a dedicated website will be created to showcase the project’s development, featuring documentation of the residencies, background on each remembrance site, and insights into the creative process. The website will serve as an accessible, long-term resource, allowing a global audience to explore the artistic interpretations and historical narratives presented through the project.
Discussion Platform: the project aims at connecting the 4 artists together and creating a platform of exchange, discussion, inspiration and networking. The curator will organize several exchange moments about the residencies, the work of each artist etc.

Eligibility

Open to artists of all disciplines and nationalities. There are no restrictions on the artist’s medium or career stage.
Transportable Artwork Requirement: artworks must be transportable, as they will be included in a traveling installation/exhibition that moves between the host museums. This requirement makes oversized or permanently installed works unsuitable.

Application

CV (in pdf format): a current resume
Portfolio (in pdf format): portfolio showcasing recent works and relevant experience.
Intention Letter (in pdf format): a one-page letter explaining the artist’s vision and why they are interested in working at a specific site. This letter should demonstrate knowledge of the selected site’s history and narrative, with an explanation of the artist’s approach and vision for engaging with these themes. The letter should be adapted to the unique characteristics of one of the four host sites.

All documents must be submitted in English.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee chaired by Prof. Krzysztof Pomian according to the following criteria:

Artistic Vision: originality and clarity of the artist’s vision and approach to the project.
Relevance to WWII themes and local context: the proposal’s alignment with the historical themes of WWII and the selected site’s unique narrative.
Feasibility: practicality and alignment with project resources and requirements, such as transportability and site conditions, and the allocated budget.
International and Cooperative Scope: willingness to connect with other artists and interest in international cooperation, with the objective to create a collective final installation. Artists are encouraged to apply for a residency in a country other than their own.
Considering the special emphasis of the Creative Europe program (funder of this project) on supporting Ukrainian artists, a special attention will be put on such applicants.

Application Timeline

Application Deadline: February 05, 2025 (at midnight)
Selection Announcement: End of March 2025
Residencies Begin: May 2025

How to Apply

Applications should include the CV, portfolio, and intention letter (all written in English) and should be submitted by email to applications@lre-foundation.org. For ease of processing, please use the subject line format: “Art of Remembrance Residency Application – [Artist Name].”

For additional information, please contact us at the same email address or visit the website pages.

The “Art of Remembrance” project upholds the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from artists of all genders, nationalities, ethnicities, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations. Selection will be based solely on the artistic and conceptual merit of the proposals and their alignment with the project’s goals.