Closed: 1646 – ReCNTR RESIDENCY

1646 is looking for an (inter)national artist to do a residency in The Hague.

With an international focus and valuing the circulation of perspectives, our fully funded Residency Program is set up as a retreat to nourish work, develop ideas and connections. Through an annual open call, we open our doors to artists worldwide. Our 2026 open call is a collaboration between ReCNTR and 1646. Please find more information about both organisations here.

What are we looking for?

The call proposed by ReCNTR and 1646 is open to artists interested in investigating relevant social and political issues through multimodal methods, and by the use of the following artistic strategies: fictioning, complicating and humour. We understand fiction as an essential instrument to help imagine the world differently. Embracing and celebrating complexity, contradiction and paradox as inherent qualities of human existence. Using humour as tool needed to maintain an open attitude when confronted with delicate subjects.

The objective of the residency is to support the work of individuals engaged in the practice of “thinking through making”; by which we mean process-driven practices that combine visual/material exploration, research and social inquiry in an artistically distinct way.

What can you expect?

The focus of the residency lies on experimenting and researching, rather than arriving at an end result. Instead of a final exhibition, the residency culminates in a public event that showcases the explored insights and ideas. The format is open to what the practice and moment in the process calls for and will be decided in conversation with the residency team.

Another moment will be planned where the selected artist will engage with students at Leiden University as a guest lecturer, workshop facilitator, etc. We encourage applications that propose experimental, co-creative and collaborative engagements rather than one-directional presentations. The exact format will be decided on together. The aim is to share your artistic practice within the scope of ReCNTR’s educational agenda at the university.

The emphasis is placed on the presence and interaction of the resident within the context of 1646 and ReCNTR’s community in the Netherlands, composed of artists, art professionals, researchers, students and faculty members at Leiden University.

During the residency, the teams of ReCNTR and 1646 will jointly organise three studio visits:

– The teams of ReCNTR and 1646 will offer support defining the questions at the core of your artistic practice, reflecting on your methodology, and engaging in conversation about the artistic decisions made throughout the making process;
– You will receive input from both researchers and art professionals that will open up different perspectives onto your topic of interest;
– All these conversations will be planned in advance.

What do we offer?

– A two-month residency from September to October 2026;

– An artist fee of €2.000 – excluding VAT;

– A production budget of €1.000,- excluding VAT;

– A studio space of 5 x 3m inside the 1646 building. Residents can make use of our (technical) equipment and tools. They can also make use of the workshop facilities at the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague and will have access to Leiden University’s facilities, including the library’s physical and online catalogues;

– One of 1646’s small studio apartments located in the building of 1646. The accommodation includes a shared kitchen and a shared bathroom. Family members are welcome to join the residency when communicated beforehand, Please notice that the accommodation consists of a small double bedroom, which could fit a baby bed in it;

– Travelling expenses of the artist are covered up to €750,-. We promote the use of low carbon travelling wherever possible. The travel costs of partners and/or children cannot be covered;

– Guests will be offered at least three feedback sessions (in total) by the curatorial teams of both ReCNTR and 1646.

How to apply?

Due to the high number of applications, and in order to optimise the procedure, the artists’ time investment and the well being of the reviewing team, the application process includes the following measures:

– The application process will be divided into two rounds. Only candidates selected in the first round will be invited to apply for the second round.
– We strongly advise not to apply if you were not selected for the second round of last year’s open call.
– A maximum of 500 applications will be accepted; once this number is reached, the application form will close automatically.

Detailed information on each application round can be found below.

FIRST ROUND
The button at the bottom of this page will lead you to the application form for the first round. Only applications received via this form will be taken into consideration for the residency.

Applicants need to fill in the form with the following information:

An artist/research statement (max. 100 words);
A portfolio (max. 30 pages)*;
CV/Resume*;
Website link.

* These documents should be uploaded as one single PDF file (max. 50MB). For large files (like videos), please insert a link to the source where the file can be viewed and include passwords if applicable.

Keep the following documentation tips in mind:
– Place your work in horizontal pages (unless the original work is vertical) as most of the applications are initially viewed on a horizontal screen (laptop);
– Make sure you put only one or two works per page (combining too many works makes the page illegible);
– Insert title, material, size, and year of the work next to or under the image on the same page. You may also include a short description of the work;
– Double-check your links in the final PDF before submitting it. If links do not work, ReCNTR & 1646 cannot review your application correctly and properly. The links should be active for at least up to two months after the deadline has passed.

SECOND ROUND
If you are invited to apply for the second round, you will receive a new link to another application form to share the following documents:

A project proposal: describing your project, the thinking behind it and stating goals (max. 500 words, text only);
An indication of your time availability during the residency.

Applications for the first round can be submitted from February 23, 2026 till March 6, 2026 16.00 hr (CET). On April 29, 2026 we will inform you if you are invited to apply for the second round.

Selection process:
All fully completed applications submitted during this period will be thoroughly reviewed by the selection committee consisting of members from both organisations (ReCNTR and 1646) and outside commission members, all with an artistic, curatorial and/or creative research profile.

Out of the first application round a maximum of 15 candidates will be selected. These will be invited to apply to the second round. Out of the second round a maximum of 3 candidates will be selected. These will be invited for a video interview in order to select the final candidate.

The points that the selection committee takes into consideration when looking at the applications are:

– Both the artistic and critical thinking quality of the portfolio and proposal;
– How the artistic practice makes use of the artistic strategies fictioning, complicating and humour;
– How the portfolio and proposal fit within the context of ReCNTR and 1646;
– The ability to host an educational lecture or workshop.

Please note we will not judge the applications on the level of English as long as the proposal is clear. However a basic level of English is necessary for the communication with the team of ReCNTR and 1646, and to get around in the Netherlands.

The selected artist(s) will be announced July 2026, together with a jury report. All applications will be deleted after the selection has been made.

Feedback
Due to the large number of applications, ReCNTR and 1646 are not able to provide feedback. We will publish a general report from the selection committee, which will include an explanation of why the selected artist was chosen.

Questions
Please contact us via air@1646.nl if you have any questions about the application procedure or the residency. We are not able to give feedback and/or advice on the content of your application.

The application form is closed. Thank you.

First name

Last name

Date of birth

Website

Please fill out this information if you are part of a duo or collective:
Name of your collective / professional partner

Telephone

E-mail

Address

Town/city

Country

Artist/research statement (max 100 words)

A selection of 4 images representing 4 different projects, with a brief description per image (maximum 50 words each)

Upload your images as one single .pdf file (max. 40 mb)

Closed: 1646 – ReCNTR RESIDENCY