Creating Art Together + Shaping the Future
Thank you for applying to the CreatePurpose Open Artist Call! The application period is now closed. We were happy to see so much interest from artists working in theatre and scenic movement. Our jury is now reviewing all applications, and selected artists will be contacted directly. Results will also be announced here and on our social media channels — stay tuned! We will inform you personally of our decision in September. Please continue to visit our project.
How can art help create a more sustainable, inclusive and livable future?
This is the question at the heart of Create Purpose , a European cooperation project bringing together artists and
young people from Germany, Greece and Romania. Together, they will develop artistic projects that activate public
spaces, encourage dialogue and open up new perspectives on how we live together.
Funded by the Creative Europe Program of the European Union, Create Purpose is inspired by the values of
New European Bauhaus: sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion . Rather than treating these values as abstract
concepts, we see them as an invitation to work collaboratively with young people and to transform ideas into
meaningful artistic experiences.
At the heart of the project are artistic collaboration, social dialogue and co-creation. Young people are not simply
participants, they are active co-creators. Together with artists, they will develop projects that ask questions, invite
public participation and give visibility to young people’s ideas and visions for the future of their communities.
Create Purpose has two main objectives. First, it will develop three innovative artistic residency projects in Germa-
ny, Greece and Romania. Second, the project will create and document a methodology for international participa-
tory artistic practice that can inspire future European cultural cooperation projects.
Who We Are Looking For
We are looking for
nine artists who are excited about international collaboration and interested in developing their
artistic practice together with young people.
You do not need extensive experience in participatory art projects. We value curiosity, openness, teamwork and a
genuine interest in creating collaborative artistic processes with people from different backgrounds.
The open call is organized separately in each partner country, with different artistic disciplines represented.
Germany (Kiel)
We are looking for
three visual artists with an interest in participatory or community-based artistic practices, or with previous experience in this field.
Greece (Athens)
We are looking for
three artists working in music and composition who are interested in developing collaborative
musical processes and actively engaging people in their creative work.
Romania (Bucharest)
We are looking for
three artists working in performance, theatre or stage movement who use participatory approaches in their
artistic practice or would like to further develop these methods within an international team.
How We Work Together
The nine selected artists will form
three international teams. Each team will consist of one artist from Germany, one
from Greece and one from Romania, bringing together diverse artistic perspectives and cultural experiences.
Before the residencies begin, all participating artists will take part in a shared online training program. Over a period
of five months, the teams will get to know one another, build trust and jointly develop methods for international
co-creation and participatory artistic practice.
The workshops provide space for exchange, mutual learning and creative experimentation. Together we will explore questions such as:Â
• How can genuine collaboration take place on equal terms?
• Which methods encourage meaningful participation?
• How can artistic processes empower young people?Â
• How can art activate public spaces and create opportunities for dialogue?
This shared learning process lays the foundation for the residency phase and establishes a common understanding of the project’s goals and working methods.
The Artistic Residencies
Between March and August 2027, one three-week residency will take place in each partner country.
Each international artist team will work together with a local group of young people aged 15 to 30.
During the first two weeks, artists and participants will collaboratively develop and produce an artistic project. The
final format is open and will be shaped by each team. What matters most is that the creative process is collaborative
and that the ideas and perspectives of the young participants become an integral part of the work.
The third week is dedicated to the public presentation. The projects will be installed and presented as part of an
associated cultural festival.
The festival showcases are intended to create encounters, spark conversations and invite audiences to engage with
the visions that young people have for the future of their communities.
We are looking for projects that bring people together, inspire curiosity and use public space as a place for dialogue,
participation and shared experiences.
Beyond the Festival
Create Purpose aims to create a lasting impact — not only during the residences and festivals, but beyond them. For this reason, each project continues after its public presentation.
For approximately two months, the artworks or their messages will remain visible in public space. This may take the
form of QR codes, murals, interactive installations, digital content or other creative interventions that encourage
people to continue engaging with the project’s themes and ideas.
In addition, the residencies and festival presentations will be professionally documented. Photographs and videos
published on the project’s online platforms will extend the visibility of the artistic outcomes beyond the partner
cities and foster dialogue with audiences across Europe.
Why Join Create Purpose?
Create Purpose offers you the opportunity to become part of an international network of artists and to explore new
approaches to collaborative artistic practice.
You will work alongside artists from different countries and artistic disciplines, develop new methods of
co-creation and gain valuable experience in working with young people and international teams.
At the same time, you will contribute to a European project that addresses some of today’s most pressing societal
challenges and sees art as a catalyst for dialogue, participation and collective action.
If you are curious about new perspectives, enjoy working collaboratively and see art as an open and shared process,
we would love to hear from you.
Your Role
As a participating artist, you will:
– take part in a five-month online training program (one workshop day of six hours per month)
– collaborate with two artists from the other partner countries as part of an international interdisciplinary team
– jointly develop methods for participatory and co-creative artistic practice
– design and facilitate a three-week artistic residency with a local group of young people
– co-create an artistic project for the public realm together with the participants
– present the project as part of a cultural festival
– contribute to the development of a methodology that can inspire future European cultural cooperation projects.
Project Timeline
October 2026 – February 2027: Online Training Program
All artists and project partners will participate in a shared online training program including:
– five workshop days (one full day per month) within the international teams
– dealing with team building, methodology development and collaborative project planning
March – August 2027: Artistic Residencies
Three-week residencies will take place in Germany, Greece and Romania.
Weeks 1–2: Co-creation and production of artistic projects with young participants
Week 3: Installation and public presentation of the projects as part of an associated cultural festival
Following the Residencies
The projects will continue to be visible in public space, supported by digital documentation and dissemination
through the project’s online platforms.
What We Offer
As a participating artist, you will receive:
– an artist fee of €3,000 covering all phases of the project
– reimbursement of travel, accommodation and meals during the residencies, as well as material costs
– the opportunity to collaborate with artists from three European countries
– professional support throughout the entire project
– international visibility through festivals, public presentations and digital communication channels
– the opportunity to explore and further develop participatory artistic methods
– access to new professional networks and long-term connections within the European cultural sector
How to Apply
We look forward to receiving your application.
Please submit one PDF document (maximum three pages, including images; maximum file size 3 MB).
Your application may include:
– a short introduction to your artistic practice,
– examples of previous work or artistic projects,
– experience with participatory or community-based artistic practice (if applicable),
– initial ideas for a possible residency project (optional),
– links to your website or online portfolio.
Application deadline: 30 August 2026
Please send your application to:Â
stockhaus@boell-sh.de for Germany | hellogreece@stipo.nl for Greece | atelieruleuropean@gmail.com for Romania.
The participating artists will be selected by a jury representing the project partners.
Become Part of Create Purpose
Create Purpose sees art as a shared process. We want to create spaces where people with different experiences and perspectives can learn from one another, collaborate creatively and imagine new possibilities for the future.
If you would like to develop your artistic practice in an international context, work together with young people and become part of a growing European network of artists, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Let’s create art + shape the future together.
We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). We welcome applications from artists of all backgrounds and strongly encourage applications from underrepresented and marginalized communities, including artists with disabilities and those facing structural barriers to participation.
Read more about GDPR and data protection here.
CREATE PURPOSE is realized in cooperation by:
Atelierul European de Artă, Bucharest  |  STIPO Greece, Athens  |  Heinrich Böll Stiftung SH, Kiel
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those 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.