Artists from all disciplines are invited to propose bold online projects that challenge digital power structures, AI systems, and extractive technologies through a four-week residency and production grant.
15 July 2026
Open Call:
Akademie Schloss Solitude has launched Web Residencies No. 22, titled Ignore All Previous Instructions, curated by the Berlin-based artist duo ! Mediengruppe Bitnik. Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Web Residencies programme, this edition invites artists to develop projects that question dominant technological systems, including surveillance capitalism, platform monopolies, artificial intelligence, and prompt injection. Six selected participants will receive a four-week online residency and a grant to realise their projects.
Institutional Context:
Founded in 2016, Akademie Schloss Solitude’s Web Residencies programme supports emerging digital practitioners and artists working with web based practices across disciplines. The programme provides an online platform where artists can experiment with digital technologies, present works in progress, and engage critically with the intersections of art, technology, internet culture, and society. Each edition is developed in collaboration with invited curators who establish a thematic framework for new commissions.
Eligibility and Criteria:
Applications are open to artists of all disciplines, with no age limit. Individual artists and collectives may apply, although only one proposal may be submitted per applicant.
Applicants must submit:
- A project title
- A header image
- A project concept in English of 1,000 to 1,500 characters
- A description of the proposed presentation format
- A short biography
- A summary of previous projects
- A list of prizes and fellowships
- A PDF portfolio or project description of up to 10 pages
- Links to previous work
Projects may be new or ongoing, provided they remain process-based and suitable for online presentation. All submissions must be made in English through the online application platform.
Evaluation Process:
Applications will be reviewed by ! Mediengruppe Bitnik together with Sarah Donderer, Programme Coordinator for Digital Cultures and Co-Lead of SCOPE at Akademie Schloss Solitude. Six projects will be selected based on their artistic quality, conceptual strength, and engagement with the curatorial theme.
Practical Information:
The residency takes place entirely online from 22 September to 22 October 2026. Each selected artist or collective will receive:
- A four-week online residency
- An online presentation of the completed project
- A grant of €1,200
- Access to an optional one-day online coding workshop on 17 September 2026
The Application deadline is 7 August 2026, at 6:00 PM CEST.
Residency projects will be launched online during October and November 2026.
Applications and Queries:
Applications must be submitted through the Akademie Schloss Solitude online application portal. Email submissions will not be accepted. Full application guidelines, eligibility information, and frequently asked questions are available on the Akademie Schloss Solitude website.
