Transatlantic Rising Stars Project (Visual Arts)

Please note that this call for applications closed on November 30, 2025. Stay tuned for the next one by subscribing to our mailing list. 

Selected mid-career EU visual artists will have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in new environments, collaborate with U.S.-based peers, and showcase their work to diverse audiences by joining one of five U.S. artist residency programs for eight weeks in the spring of 2026 (April – early June).  As members of the Transatlantic Stars artist cohort, artists will receive dedicated support and engagement through monthly virtual gatherings with fellow embedded artists – as well as regular program check-in – in addition to support from the hosting residency site. Residency dates will be confirmed with the selected artists.

Residency sites span a wide range of settings, including a small fishing community on the Gulf of Alaska, a thriving Southern urban arts hub, a Midwestern prairie town (with an artist office in City Hall), a working ranch in the American West, and a millennia-old red-earth trading post that hosts one of the largest arts markets in the United States.

The eight-week residency culminates in a trip to Washington, D.C., where each artist, together with their local collaborator and fellow artists from sister strands focusing on music and film, will participate in a public summit and exhibition showcasing their work/process developed during the residency.

Each selected artist will be awarded airfare and visa assistance, on-site lodging and studio space, and access to host facilities, equipment, and community network. Artists will receive a living stipend for their time as well as a materials budget. This opportunity is open to all citizens of EU Member States working in the visual arts sector who have a demonstrated record of creative work and are ready to engage with Americans.

Eligibility and Application Materials

A. Applicant Eligibility

• EU Member State Citizen with a valid passport. Citizens of all 27 official Member States are welcome to apply. Citizens of EU candidate countries are not eligible.
• Confirmation of no criminal background.
• Availability to travel to the U.S. for the program dates (April – early June 2026).
• Professional biography
• Publicity-ready images, including one headshot (with no copyright restrictions).
• English proficiency (spoken and written)
• Artist CV.
• Responses to narrative questions.

B. Artist Residency Eligibility

• Transatlantic Stars Artist Residency Program welcomes all visual arts mediums or arts disciplines with a strong visual component based in physical space. 2D, 3D, 4D, and multi-disciplines welcome. No film, music, or writing. Each resident artist must produce at least one work to be exhibited in Washington, D.C., which may become part of a permanent travelling collection. Please note that not all residency sites can accommodate all mediums. Artists will be selected and paired accordingly.
• Work samples: 5–7
• Professional standing: Meet at least 3 of the 5 criteria below:
  • Critical acclaim/industry recognition: awards, nominations, or fellowships from credible bodies or peers.
  • Media coverage: features, interviews, or published/broadcast (including digital) content highlighting your work.
  • Residency experience: participation in at least 1–2 artist residencies.
  • Professional experience: at least two professional exhibitions or presentations (galleries, museums, stages, performance venues, etc.).
  • Community engagement: collaboration with community entities, institutions, or municipalities to co-create a publicly beneficial project.

Question: How will artists be selected?
Answer: Applications are first screened for eligibility, then assessed against the published selection criteria to produce a shortlist. A jury of European and American arts experts evaluates shortlisted candidates, issues invitations for the shortlisted candidates to participate in brief interviews with the jury, and then issues final recommendations. Applicants are notified by email; selected artists proceed to contracting.

Question: When will artists be notified?
Answer: The selection process is expected to take about a month. Artists can expect to hear the results of the selection in December.

Question: How much does it cost to apply?
Answer: There is no cost for artists to apply.

Question: I’m just starting out as an artist, so I don’t have much yet to show. Can I apply?
Answer: This program is for mid-career or established artists. So if you are just starting out, it would be best to apply in a few years when you have had more experience.

Question: Can my manager attend with me, or can someone I have already co-created with join me in applying?
Answer: Only the person who applies can attend, as there is only one spot available per residency. You will, however, be able to work collaboratively with other artists for the duration of your residency, including with an artist local to the community you will be joining.

Question: How will you select an American artist I will be co-creating with? Do I have any choice in who I work with?
Answer: Each host residency will go about this slightly differently, with an eye for what might be enjoyable and successful pairings. The residency program you are selected for will be responsible for facilitating the connection with your collaborator. In one case, the local collaborating artist has already been chosen, and is listed in the call (see the application form), so if you are excited to work with that artist, we suggest expressing a strong preference for being paired with that program, In other cases, the Program will make a local call for artists living in their communities, and present options to you for your consideration. The goal in each situation is to help you make a deep and compelling connection, and for the work you are creating together, to make sure your visions align and your practices complement each other in some way.

Question: What types of American artists will be paired with the European artist?
Answer: All kinds! It can be another visual artist or something completely different, such as a dancer, singer, etc. Depends on what works ideally for your individual collaboration!

Question: What if I am available only in May or April 2026?
Answer: The residency programs will run simultaneously for a duration of 8 full weeks across the U.S. A compulsory two-day program in Washington, DC – the Artist Summit bringing together all participants -- will follow. While the starting dates in April cannot yet be provided, it is requested to confirm your availability as of mid-April to early June.

Question: How will you ensure fair and equal access to artists from every EU country?
Answer: We are holding an open call accessible to artists who are citizens of the European Union's Member States. Selection will follow a standardised scoring rubric with independent reviewers for each application, conflict-of-interest checks, and a balanced jury of European and American experts. Final selections will be made strictly on merit in line with the published criteria. To support balanced awareness, the call is promoted EU-wide through official channels and partner networks, with particular attention to ensuring visibility in smaller Member States. 

Question: Will I be notified if I am not selected?
Answer: Yes, all applicants will be kept informed as information becomes available.

Question: Is there an interview as part of the selection process?
Answer: Yes, should you move on to the finalist phase of the selection process.

Question: Who are the members of the jury?
Answer: The jury will consist of visual arts experts from the EU and from the US.

Question: I'm an artist working in film or music. Can I apply to the current residency call?
Answer: The current call focuses on the visual arts. Separate calls for film and music will be announced at the end of November/early December 2025.

Have questions about applying for the Visual Artist-in-Residence Program? Email the Transatlantic Stars Visual Arts Team at arts@trsproject.eu.