The Open Call
DRIFT invites mid-career choreographers to apply for an international programme that offers time, space, and support for artistic research, experimentation, and professional development.
Each of the 10 DRIFT partners will select one artist based in their respective country, resulting in a cohort of 10 selected artists.
This call is dedicated to artistic research and development. Applicants are not expected to present a finished project — rather, DRIFT is looking for artists who wish to invest in a genuine research process: questioning, experimenting, and building the foundations of a future creation within a supportive international framework.
What DRIFT Offers
Each selected artist will benefit from the following support:
- ●Research funding — a dedicated budget of 20,000 euros for the research phase, including an Onboarding Lab, two weeks of residency with the local DRIFT partner and participation in the showcase at the Biennale de Lyon. This envelope includes artistic fees, travel and accommodation costs, and, where applicable, any optional collaborators involved by the applicant in the project.
- ●3 Online Labs — a series of collaborative online working sessions with the full artist cohort
- ●Showcase participation — presentation of work in progress at the Biennale de la danse (Lyon, France), September 2027
- ●Artistic and curatorial mentoring — individual support from DRIFT partner organisations
- ●Professional networking & international visibility — engagement with DRIFT's European and international partner ecosystem
N.B.: In a second phase (subject to a further selection process), 5 of the 10 selected artists will be invited to develop their work through co-production support, with access to touring opportunities across the DRIFT network in Europe and beyond. This open call concerns the research and development phase only.
Eligibility Criteria
Who can apply?
The call is open to:
- ●Professional choreographers with a demonstrated track record in contemporary dance or performance
- ●Mid-career artists — beyond the emerging stage at the national level, but not yet fully established at an international level
- ●Artists whose practice would benefit from strengthening the research phase of their work
- ●Artists wishing to develop their presence and connections at a European level
- ●Artists with a solid interest in experimentation, transnational collaboration, and artistic research
- ●Artists with a good command of English (working language of the project)
Residency country requirement
Each DRIFT partner selects one artist based in their country. Applicants must be based in one of the following countries at the time of application:
Belgium · France · Germany · Greece · Norway · Italy · Spain · Ukraine · Tunisia · Portugal
Applicants are required to submit their application through the partner organisation representing their country of residence.
For administrative reasons, in Belgium and Germany the call is specifically open to applicants residing in the French-speaking Community of Belgium (FWB) and the Berlin region, respectively.
Availability requirements
Selected artists must be available for the following key dates:
- ●30 November – 1 December 2026 — Introductory meeting and pitching session with DRIFT partners and artists in Berlin (Germany)
- ●1 November 2026 – 17 September 2027 — One Onboarding Lab + two local residencies (2 weeks in total) + three online Lab sessions
- ●18–21 March 2027 — Participation in the Festival Lab in Tunis (Tunisia)
- ●18–25 September 2027 — Showcase at the Biennale de la danse, Lyon (France)
Selection Process
Each DRIFT partner is responsible for selecting the artist based in its country. Selection will be based on the following criteria:
- ●Artistic quality — the strength, coherence, and singularity of the artist's practice
- ●Relevance of the research proposal — clarity and pertinence of the proposed research direction
- ●Professional experience — demonstrated career development and engagement with the field
- ●Motivation — depth of engagement with DRIFT's values and framework
- ●Potential for international development — capacity to benefit from and contribute to a transnational context
- ●Availability — confirmed ability to participate in all key project moments
Application Materials
Applications must be submitted via the online form below. The following documents must be attached:
- Artistic CV (PDF)
- Short description of artistic practice & research proposal (max. 2 pages, PDF). Please indicate whether or not the research project involves a working team (one or more collaborators alongside the applicant artist)
- Portfolio & video links to 2–3 representative previous works (to be included directly in the form)
As part of the application evaluation process, we will pay particular attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations, ensuring that applications are reviewed in accordance with the principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination.
Timeline
Online Application Form
Click "Candidate" to access the online form. All fields marked with * are mandatory.
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