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.
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.
What is important for artists to know Extended Research Residencies are designed for both individual artists and collectives and are oriented toward research and practice development, rather than the production of a final artistic object. In 2026/27, the program places a particular emphasis on applied arts, including design, fashion, sculpture, and work with materials and form, as well as on practices that may not fit within a large scale. This means that artists working with painting, object-based practices, spatial and material formats, as well as authors for whom process, method, and research are central, are encouraged to apply. At the same time, the program does not require work with performance, theatre, dance, or digital technologies. There is also no obligation to produce a final exhibition. The focus is on artistic thinking and the development of practice, rather than on format or genre affiliation.
It is important to note that not all 30 places are intended for visual artists. The number of places within Extended Research Residencies is limited — only 5 in total. The overall structure of the program is largely oriented toward theatre and dance practices, sound, cinema, new technologies, applied and craft-based practices, as well as interdisciplinary formats operating at the intersection of art and research. At the same time, artists from all fields are encouraged to consider the program as an application opportunity. Onassis AiR is open to hybrid practices and supports the development of artistic thinking beyond familiar disciplinary frameworks.
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, 12:00.
