Russian illegal prison on IZOLYATSIA premises has been operational for 10 years.

Active City(ZENS): Open call for an artist residency at the Center for Art and Urbanistics (ZK/U) in Berlin

IZOLYATSIA announces an applications open call for an artist residency at the Center for Art and Urbanistics (ZK/U) in Berlin as a part of the Active City(ZENS) project.

Project partners are looking for artists, researchers, theatre makers, scenographers, dramaturges, and videomakers to participate in a residency program at the ZK/U (Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik / Center for Art and Urbanistics) in Berlin.

This residence is part of a larger project, Active City(ZENS), which designs innovative audience development activities in challenging urban localities.

Selected participants will collaborate with members of the ZK/U as the host organization and with other Active City(ZENS) partners on a project focused on the role of arts and culture in reinventing the so-called attention economy. Participants will be invited to work within the context and with the materials of the host organisation and to bring in their own professional experience, knowledge, and interests. Depending on when they enter the process, they will be expected to contribute to research, design, production, documentation, and reflection of the project.

The main goal of the residency is to develop prototypes that deal with the role of arts and culture in reinventing the attention economy, usually driven by data science and cognitive research. Partners are invited to work with ZK/U context and materials (10-sec performance concept), bringing experiences and knowledge from their own temporal frames and professional backgrounds. ZK/U context is also informed by heterogeneous neighbourhoods, environmental challenges and political struggles. On top of that, ZK/U would like to discuss principles, political consequences and social relevance of the audience development beyond its classical meaning. ZK/U would like to achieve a compact program, continuity of partners' ideas/concepts and a collective spirit. 

Depending on their availability, participants will spend at least 3 consecutive weeks between June 10 and July 21, 2024, at the ZK/U in Berlin.

Each artist will receive:

  • travel support to Berlin and back (provided by IZOLYATSIA)
  • per diem (provided by Z/KU)
  • accommodation (provided by ZK/U)
  • workspace at the ZK/U
  • opportunity to network with ZK/U resident artists from around the world

Eligibility:

  • the call is open to citizens of Ukraine with a Ukrainian bank account
  • 18 years+
  • working knowledge of English
  • must commit to working on the project at ZK/U during the residency
  • must commit to spending at least 80% of the time in Berlin during the residency period

To apply, please submit:

  • professional CV
  • portfolio (either on-line or pdf)
  • statement of interest (1 page) indicating why you are keen on participating in this residency program

Application Deadline: 14th of May 2024.

Applicants can submit their proposals via the online application platform.

Timeline and selection procedure:

  • application deadline: 14 May 2024
  • notification of acceptance: 18 May 2024
  • residency course: between 10 June and 21 July 2024 (three weeks minimum)

The application will be evaluated by a committee composed of IZOLYATSIA and ZK/U representatives.

The decision on the applications is final and cannot be appealed. The IZOLYATSIA reserves the right to suspend, shorten, extend or postpone the call for applications.

If you have any additional questions, please [email protected] email for any requests.


ZK/U – Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik (Center for Art and Urbanistics) embodies a dynamic approach to artistic exploration and community engagement. Within the vibrant landscape of contemporary arts, ZK/U serves as a nexus for knowledge exchange and collaboration, bridging the gap between international artists and the German art scene. Housed within a repurposed cargo train station, ZK/U embodies the spirit of transformation and reinvention. The conversion process, involving brownfield investment, epitomizes the revitalization of urban spaces for cultural enrichment. Central to this endeavour is the commitment to environmental stewardship and community integration. By repurposing the surrounding park and engaging with neighbours, ZK/U transcends its role as a mere art space, becoming a vital component of the local ecosystem.


The Active City(ZENS) project is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

Image credit: ZK/U Berlin