Olympic Heritage — residency for digital artists with access to Olympic archives and €8000 funding

This is an international residency for artists working with digital and new media. The programme offers the opportunity not merely to work with the Olympic Games archives, but to create a new project based on them – with access to museum collections, experts and infrastructure.
You apply with a specific idea: exactly what you want to create and how you will use digital technologies — video, VR, sound, AI or hybrid media. The key is proposing a new project that explores sport, the body, data or the Olympic legacy through a contemporary artistic language, rather than adapting existing work.
The residency is structured around creating work from scratch within an institutional setting. This means: you are selected for the potential of your project more than for your portfolio per se — and it is expected that, by the end, you will produce a finished work that could be included in a museum collection.

Format and how it works
The programme takes place at two venues: the Olympic Museum in Lausanne and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum in Doha. When submitting an application, artists may choose one of the venues or indicate that they are willing to participate at either venue without preference.
The selection process is very selective: only two artists are chosen, and each carries out their project at their own venue.
Participants are given access to the museums’ collections — ranging from historical artefacts to video, audio and digital archives. This is material that can be worked with directly and integrated into the project, well beyond a source of inspiration.

Terms and Benefits of the Residency
The programme is well-funded and well-organised. Artists’ flights are covered, and they are provided with accommodation and a workspace, as well as a monthly stipend to cover living expenses, materials and project production costs.
The final work may also be acquired by the museum — in Lausanne’s case, the sum is around €8,000, and the work becomes part of the permanent collection. This is a rare opportunity that goes beyond simply creating a project — it means entering an institutional archive.
The process includes mentoring support from an international jury and the museum team. Public formats are also possible – screenings, exhibitions and participation in cultural events linked to the Olympic Movement.

Who is it for
The programme is aimed at artists working with digital and new media. This could include interactive art, VR/AR, data art or hybrid formats where the digital component forms the basis of the practice.
There is an age limit of 18 to 35, and applications are open to participants from all over the world. Having ideas alone isn’t enough — you also need the ability to realise the project: to think it through technically, spatially and conceptually.
If your practice lacks a digital component, this residency is unlikely to be suitable. They are looking for artists who already work with technology and know how to use it meaningfully.

Submitting your application and what to bear in mind
Applications are submitted online and must include a clear project proposal alongside the standard documents. You will need to prepare: a CV, a portfolio (4–6 pieces of work), a brief biography, a project description (up to 500 words) and visual materials.
The key part is the project: you must explain exactly what you will create over the course of three months, how you will work with digital media, and why this project is relevant to the theme of sport or the Olympic context. You will also need to provide a feasibility document outlining what resources you require, what stages of work you plan, and exactly how you will implement the idea.
A few things to keep in mind:
— the project must be realistic within a three-month timeframe
— you must be able to implement the technical aspects independently
— the work must be focused on the viewer experience (installation, video, interactive elements, etc.)

Why this is a great opportunity
It is a rare occasion when a residency offers access to a powerful cultural resource in addition to space and time. You work with the Olympic Games archives, create a project within an institutional context and are given the chance to remain part of it — through the inclusion of your work in the collection.
This is a step onto the international stage and inclusion in a global cultural context, where your art becomes part of a broader history — far more than simple participation.

The deadline for applications is 30 April 2026.
The residency lasts three months (from 1 September to 1 December 2026)