Medienfrische — a three-week residency in the Alps for media and interdisciplinary artists
This residency is suitable for artists working with media art, digital formats, video, sound, experimental and interdisciplinary practices, who want to step outside an urban context and work in an environment where the place itself becomes part of the artistic process. The format is focused on research and experimentation, without the requirement to produce a finished result and without production pressure.
The residency takes place in a remote alpine area in Tyrol and is part of the Medienfrische Festival for Media and Experimental Art. The space and rhythm of this location create specific working conditions: isolation, concentration, and collective coexistence transform the residency into a temporary laboratory, where the boundaries between artistic and practical processes gradually dissolve.
Who this residency is for
Medienfrische will be of particular interest to artists whose practice is connected to new media, digital art, video, sound, architectural interventions, site-specific and landscape-based formats.
It is also well suited to research-based and performative practices, if they assume dialogue with space and context. The format is not oriented toward intensive networking or institutional visibility. It is intended for those who prefer to work at a slow pace and use isolation as an artistic tool.
Format and environment
The residency takes place from 1 to 21 June 2026 in Boden / Pfafflar (Tyrol, Austria). Participation is possible only with full presence for the entire period. This is a fundamental condition of the program: shared living and participation in the collective environment form a temporary community within which the work unfolds.
The location is situated at an altitude of approximately 1,400 meters above sea level. There is no habitual urban infrastructure here; instead, the environment offers space for concentration, observation, and rethinking one’s own practice.
Support and participation conditions
During the residency, accommodation and meals are covered. Participants are provided with workspaces, equipment corresponding to the possibilities of the location, and access to professional support within the framework of the festival infrastructure.
Travel costs are partially reimbursed — up to €100. The program team assists with logistical planning of the journey, which is especially important due to the remote location.
Theme of the 2026 residency
The residency theme is formulated as “to stay (gehen um zu bleiben)”. It invites artists to reflect on movement, transition, and temporality, as well as on how places influence artistic gesture, perception of time, and modes of presence.
The theme sets a direction for reflection, but does not impose a rigid conceptual framework.
Language and application process
Artists from any country aged 18 and over may apply. The working language of the residency is English. There are no formal requirements regarding the level of English, but applicants must be ready to communicate freely in an international group.
Applications are submitted by email in PDF format and include a short CV, a project description or motivation, and examples of previous work. Selection is carried out by an independent jury together with the program team.
Application deadline: 22 February 2026
