Onassis AiR — a 10-week funded residency in Athens with an honorarium and professional support (2026–2027)

This is a program in which artists are given time, space, and professional support to work with process, research, and the development of their practice in dialogue with other participants and the curatorial teams of Onassis Culture. Here, artists are not required to produce a finished result; instead, they are encouraged to ask important questions and search for new forms. For artists from Eastern Europe and other regions with limited access to institutional resources, Onassis AiR becomes a real entry point into an international professional context — without compromising one’s own artistic logic and without pressure toward “productivity”.

Program format and timeline
Within the open call for the 2026–2027 season, Onassis AiR offers residency places across several tracks. All residencies have a fixed duration of 10 weeks and take place in Athens, Greece. The program is organized in three residency cycles: Autumn (14 September 2026 – 27 November 2026) Spring (8 February 2027 – 16 April 2027) Summer (10 May 2027 – 16 July 2027) The specific cycle for each selected participant is determined by the organizers and communicated during the selection process.

What to Know About the Format
Extended Research Residencies are intended both for individual artists and for collectives.
The format is focused on research and the development of practice, rather than on the production of a final object.
The programme does not require work with performance, theatre, dance, or digital technologies and does not suggest a mandatory public presentation. At its core is artistic thinking and process, rather than genre affiliation or a final showcase.
It is important to consider the structure of places: not all 30 residencies are allocated to visual artists; within Extended Research Residencies, only 5 positions are available.

Focus and Directions 2026/27
In 2026/27, the emphasis is placed on applied arts — design, fashion, sculpture, and other material-based practices — as well as on questions of scale, materials, and form.
This makes the format relevant for artists working with painting, objects, spatial and material forms, as well as for those whose key focus is process, method, and research.
The main programme is more strongly oriented toward theatre and dance practices, sound, film, new technologies, and interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of art and research.
At the same time, it still makes sense for visual artists to consider this opportunity, especially if their practice extends beyond a narrow discipline and includes a research component.

Residency tracks
In the 2026/27 season, the program includes Extended Research residencies, residencies in the fields of theatre and dance, Onassis AiR / ONX, and technical residencies. Extended Research Residencies are the core track for visual artists, designers, and authors working with material-based and applied practices.

Support and participation conditions
Onassis AiR is a fully funded residency.
All selected participants receive:
an artist honorarium,
a budget for research and production,
accommodation in Athens,
a workspace in Athens,
access to mentorship and curatorial support,
audiovisual equipment and workspaces,
participation in professional meetings and showcases.
The program is based on shared spaces, with an emphasis on respect for other participants and readiness for a collective format. Where possible, a separate workspace may be provided for a specific project.

Engagement and community
The residency requires full engagement throughout all 10 weeks and physical presence in Athens. Participants regularly interact with the Onassis AiR team and the curatorial departments of Onassis Culture, take part in collective activities, and become part of a long-term Onassis AiR community, which continues beyond the residency period.
At the end of each cycle, Onassis AiR Open Days take place — public events dedicated not to final results, but to the working process, research, and reflection developed during the residency.

Language, requirements, and deadlines
The working language of the program is English.
There are no age restrictions and no requirements for formal artistic education.
Group applications are allowed (up to two representatives, each receiving full individual support).
Candidates who pass the pre-selection stage are invited to an individual online interview (approximately 30 minutes), which takes place from 27 April to 25 May 2026.

Final application deadline: 3 March 2026.