iMAL Fellowship 2026 — €8,000 for a residency in Brussels for artists wishing to work with technology

This programme is for those already working in the contemporary art scene who feel they want to take their practice further — to experiment with new tools and move beyond their usual methods. No prior experience in digital art is required; what matters most is your interest and willingness to learn.
The residency takes place in Brussels and lasts up to 8 weeks (October–December 2026). Participants are provided with accommodation, a workspace and a budget of €8,000: €4,000 as a fee and €4,000 for project production. Travel expenses of up to €1,000 are also covered.
There is no requirement to produce a ‘finished result’ by a specific date. The project can develop gradually and become part of a longer-term process.

What happens during the programme
You submit an idea you wish to realise, and over the course of the residency you develop it — from concept to a working form.
For example, an artist might arrive with a background in painting or object-based art and, during the residency, create a new series of works in which sound becomes an integral part of the experience — not merely as an addition, but as an equal element of the artistic statement.
The programme provides curatorial support and access to the iMAL media environment — including work with video, sound, projections and interactive formats. No prior experience is required: the residency is designed for artists who are just beginning to work with technology and want to understand how to integrate it into their practice.

What you get
8 weeks of work in Brussels and a budget of €8,000 (fee + production costs);
Accommodation, a studio and travel expenses of up to €1,000;
A working environment, support and the opportunity to showcase your project.
The project is created from scratch specifically for the residency.
This is a great opportunity to bring to life an idea that you’ve been putting off or haven’t been able to develop due to a lack of resources.

Who is this programme for
This programme is ideal for artists who work in the contemporary art field but are not yet confident using technology, who want to explore digital tools but are not sure where to start, who are looking to take their practice further, and who are ready to learn through the process.
If you already have extensive experience in digital art, the programme may be less relevant — the focus here is on the transition phase.

How to submit an application
Once you have a clear idea of your concept, the next step is to formalise it into an application.
This is not simply a portfolio, but a description of the project you wish to work on during the residency. It is important to demonstrate exactly what you want to achieve and why this is important to you at this stage.
In your application, you should briefly describe the idea, explain how you plan to work on it, what materials or technologies you might need, and the approximate scale of the project.
You don’t necessarily need to have a fully developed concept, but it is important to have a clear understanding of the project’s direction, its idea, and what you wish to explore during the residency.
You may include visual materials with your application, but they are not mandatory: the idea itself and its potential are more important.

Selection criteria
When selecting participants, it is not only the quality of the idea that matters, but also how well it fits the format of the programme itself.
We look at several factors:
how clear and compelling the project idea is;
why it is important for you to work on this particular project right now, and what you will gain from participating in the residency;
whether you will be able to implement it within 8 weeks;
whether the project uses media or technology as an integral part of the idea, rather than merely as a technical add-on.

The deadline for applicationsis is 19 April 2026.
The residency will take place from October to December 2026.