
ISLAND CONNECT
A residency program for performing artsThis page is in the process of being updated as we prepare for a new project.
ISLAND CONNECT is a collaborative program between seven performing arts organisations, working with residencies located on (or associated with) European islands of different countries. United in the project by a common interest in contributing to the creation and consolidation of performing arts, the network partners of the international exchange residency program, wish to address an important ambition. The project aims to support the artists and arts companies in their personal and professional development within the project’s framework, and therefore is launching these open calls.
Island Connect II (2024-2026) is a further evolution of the project, funded by Creative Europe, and will announce three open calls per year of the three-year project.
Theme: All artists wishing to participate will be asked to critically engage with the themes of insularity, islander identities or island socio-political realities in a wider European context comparing the similarities and difficulties that emerge from diverse island regions of the project. Working on something related to these themes is a vital part of participating in the project. Artists are not required to have an existing project in development, and new proposals are equally welcome.
Artists are encouraged to interact with the island area and community. Artists’ work-in-progress presentations are organised at the end of each residency and presentations of finished works of selected artistic companies can be performed at partners’ festivals. All presentations are followed by an artist-audience feedback session.
The objective is to provide the artists with a much-needed space for research and free experimentation, and time for reflecting and posing questions. At the same time, partners’ artistic directors may provide them with specialised feedback and dramaturgical advice. This is facilitated through fully-funded residencies for each of the artistic companies.




- The residencies will take place across seven islands (Bornholm – Denmark, Vis – Croatia, Ireland, Mallorca, Corsica, Sardinia, or Tenerife) at different times throughout 2024-26.
- The length of the residencies will be two weeks with a work-in-progress presentation of the work by the end of the term.
- The residencies provide and ensure both working and living conditions which include: working venue/space and basic technical conditions at a selected island community, paid pre-arranged accommodation (twin rooms), local and international travel expenses to residency and capacity building locations, travel expenses to the residency, per diems, and fee.
- Local partners of the Island Connect network may organise presentations of finished works of selected artistic companies.
- Participants must complete their residencies as scheduled plus the SpringLab.
- The project deals with themes of insularity and isolation, and the rural location of the residencies may contribute to this feeling for artists.
SpringLab – Capacity Building Workshops
The Island Connect program will be complemented each year by a 5-day SpringLab. The first SpringLab is in Vis, Croatia, from March 18th – 23rd 2024. A person responsible for artistic direction from each selected company will be invited to join the workshop with the aim of providing the companies with tools for the development, creativity and sustainability of their artistic projects. The workshop has two parts; one on project development and dramaturgy, and one on one personal leadership. There may also be seminars from guest speakers.
SpringLab is a vital component of the Island Connect project, offering valuable professional development to artists at no cost. This free training is a mandatory part of the program for one artist from each selected company, from all three Open Calls.



Open Call #1 – Artistic Residency Exchange 2024
This call is open to artists or groups/companies of up to 3 artists. Each artist/group will receive 2 weeks of residency in their country of origin or domicile. They will then be sent to a partner country for a further 2 weeks of residency. During these weeks of residency, they may share the space with another group of artists, to encourage networking and exchange.
This call is open to artists who have a performative element to their work or consider themselves to be in the performing arts.
Artists/companies will receive a total of €1200 per 2-week residency (€2400 total) regardless of group size, and per diems of €50 per person. Accommodation and travel is provided.
APPLICATION PROCESS UNIQUE TO THIS CALL:
– a written (250 words max.) or video (2 mins max) explanation of why you want to go to this particular residency centre/country
The other standard application requirements are listed below.
Open Call #2 – Co-Creation Residency 2024
This call is for 1 performing arts creator from each of our regions (except Denmark) to attend a joint co-creation residency on the island of Bornholm June 17th-23rd 2024. The residency will be hosted by BIRCA and facilitated by BIRCA’s director Susanne Danig in collaboration with Danish-based performance maker Ilon Lodewijks.
The focus of the call is artists in the performing arts field who want to work with the theme of island identity/insularity and want to develop ideas in a co-creative residency. We are interested in artists who have experience in working collaboratively and an interest in the aforementioned theme. You will be working closely with the other selected artists in a site-specific way and in dialogue with the surroundings (local population/environment) of Bornholm to investigate and develop ideas for future projects on these themes.
This call is open to a wider field of people working in the arts, and is not just for performers.
Each artist will be paid €800, per diems of €50 per day during the residency, and travel will be covered. BIRCA will provide accommodation and working space. See BIRCA website for more context: https://www.birca.org/en/.
Click below for further details on the process of this Co-Creation Residency.
Process
Before the residency we will have 2 Zoom meetings (times to be agreed on) focused on introducing BIRCA/the artists and on the work process and tools for co-creation.
The residency at BIRCA 17-23/6 will focus on brainstorming ideas and forming suggestions for projects to proceed with. The target will be to come up with at least one idea to proceed with – could be with all 7 or it could be a couple of ideas with groups of 2-5 artists.
At the end of the residency, we will have an online presentation of the developed ideas for all partners with an idea for the production process. The Island Connect partners then will agree on what to support for further production and presentation.
Phase 2 of the project starts 1/10-24 and can stretch into 2025 based on what was agreed. This phase will include final presentations in different locations.
This process means that you will be paid for the brainstorming and forming of ideas in the joint work and that there is a possibility of proceeding with these ideas and getting paid for further work, but no guarantee from Island Connect nor obligations on your part either.
SELECTION PROCESS UNIQUE TO THIS CALL:
– We select artists based on experience and ideas, but also to ensure we put together a diverse group of creators.
The other standard application requirements are listed below.
Open Call #3 – Islander Focus Residency 2024
THE DETAILS OF THIS RESIDENCY ARE NOT YET FINALISED.
This open call is for one artist, who will be sent internationally to two separate residencies of two weeks each. These residencies may also include locations outside of the seven core partner countries.
This call is open to a wider field of artists beyond just the performing arts, such as writers, photographers, etc. or anyone who believes they can engage with the aforementioned theme of the project to produce new research or work.
The artist will receive a fee of €600 per 2-week residency (€1200 total) and per diems of €50 (€1400 total). Accommodation and travel is provided.
The standard application requirements are listed below.
Residency Schedules
Click below to read more.
For 2022 certain cross-country residencies have been scheduled. Please select the country you are based in to see what your available options are.
One member of each selected company is obliged to attend the Springlab in Athens, Greece (April 4 – 8, 2022).
For artists based in Balearic Islands
OPTION 1: August 1 – 13, 2022 (IACC, Ireland) and August 25 – September 10, 2022 (C.IN.E., Mallorca)
One member of each selected company is obliged to attend the Springlab in Athens, Greece (April 4-8, 2022).
For artists based in Croatia
OPTION 1: April 10 – 23, 2022 (Cres, Croatia) and May 23 – June 5, 2022 (Entropia, Greece)
or
OPTION 2: June 1 – 14, 2022 (Cres, Croatia) and September 12 – 25, 2022 (BIRCA, Denmark)
One member of each selected company is obliged to attend the Springlab in Athens, Greece (April 4 – 8, 2022).
For artists based in Denmark
OPTION 1: May 2 – 15, 2022 (BIRCA, Denmark) and May 16 – 29, 2022 (C.IN.E., Mallorca)
or
OPTION 2: September 12 – 25, 2022 (BIRCA, Denmark) and October 1 – 14, 2022 (Cres, Croatia)
One member of each selected company is obliged to attend the Springlab in Athens, Greece (April 4 – 8, 2022).
For artists based in Ireland
OPTION 1: May 23 – June 5, 2022 (Entropia, Greece) and August 17 – 27, 2022 (IACC, Ireland)
One member of each selected company is obliged to attend the Springlab in Athens, Greece (April 4 – 8, 2022).
For artists based in Sardegna or Italy
OPTION 1: August 17 – 27, 2022 (IACC, Ireland) and September 19 – October 2, 2022 (Naxos, Greece)
One member of each selected company is obliged to attend the Springlab in Athens, Greece (April 4 – 8, 2022).
For artists based in Corsica or France
OPTION 1: August 17 – 27, 2022 (IACC, Ireland) and September 19 – October 2, 2022 (Naxos, Greece)
One member of each selected company is obliged to attend the Springlab in Athens, Greece (April 4 – 8, 2022).
For artists based in Canary Islands
OPTION 1: August 17 – 27, 2022 (IACC, Ireland) and September 19 – October 2, 2022 (Naxos, Greece)
One member of each selected company is obliged to attend the Springlab in Athens, Greece (April 4 – 8, 2022).
Company Profiles and Residency Specifications
Click below to read more.
To read more about the companies involved, and the specifications of the residency locations, please select a company below.
BIRCA - Bækkelund International Residency Center for Artists (Bornholm, Denmark)
BIRCA is located on the Danish island of Bornholm. BIRCA has different farmhouse buildings that have been renovated and modernized in order to provide optimal working and lodging facilities for national and international residencies. There are two big rehearsal studios and an atelier apartment with a first floor dormitory/studio in the stable building.
BIRCA are situated in the middle of 3 hectares of land, beautiful fields with a small stretch of forest nearby, 3 km from the nearest little village. You will need to bicycle or take a bus to get around Bornholm.
BIRCA is looking for residencies interested in working in the rural surroundings and investigating nature and the local setting, it can be within any genre of performance art. We will have two groups in residency at the same time.
We expect that residency groups are interested in sharing processes and being in dialogue with each other. We live close together in a joint community and will work together on cooking and cleaning and we will dine together in the evenings.
The residency at BIRCA includes the following items:
- Free use of the white room (160 m2) or black (130 m2) for two weeks both equipment with new sound systems – we also have some basic lights and a projector that can be used.
- Accommodation with 3 rooms for each group.
- Access to kitchen, common areas, washing machine, internet
- Transport to/from the airport or port and assistance in purchases of food.
- Opportunity to present a work in progress and show local audiences the work, followed by a feedback session.
You reach Bornholm via Copenhagen Airport, where you can either fly to the local airport of Bornholm or take bus/ferry over Sweden. For further info about the space, travel and practical info please visit the website: https://www.birca.org/en/
C.IN.E., Centre d'Investigació Escènica de Sineu (Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain)
C.IN.E., Centre d’Investigació Escènica de Sineu (Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain)
The Performing Arts Research Centre C.IN.E., located in the small village of Sineu (Majorca, Spain), is a recovered old cinema. Nowadays it hosts a creation space. The core program of the centre, the Residencies Program, is aimed at companies, creators, collectives or performing arts researchers for the development of creative residences, especially those working on new languages and circus.
The C.IN.E. provides the physical space and support to the residents.
The residency at C.IN.E. includes the following items:
– Free use of the main space (Sala Gran) of the C.IN.E. in agreed schedule shared with the local company: morning (9.00-15.00) or afternoon/evenings (15.00-21.00).
– Accommodation at the venue, up to 3 people: 32 m2 loft, open space with kitchen and access to rooftop terrace.
– Free Wi-Fi.
– Transport to/from the airport.
– Opportunity to open the work in progress with a public or small group.
– Logistics and diffusion offered by the program.
For further info about the space visit the website: https://www.cinesineu.com/english/home
The C.IN.E.’s associated local partners are: Teatre Principal de Palma, Consell de Mallorca and Institut d’Estudis Baleàrics.
DOMINO (Zagreb, Croatia — residency at Place Moise on the island of Cres)
Domino is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation based in Zagreb, Croatia, who’s programs focus on minority human rights (LGBTQI+), ecological and general socio-political issues concerning the independent cultural scene. Domino perceives independent scene as a space for developing critical social consciousness in the public and media space, consequently the organization produces and presents a range of artists working in performance art, theater and dance, enticing and promoting independent, experimental and research artistic authorship in the local artistic landscape and internationally. Sounded Bodies, Perforations and Queer Zagreb are the festivals Domino organizes for over 15 years, whilst Domino’s participation in Island Connect project is based on island and the city of Cres.
Residency space
Address: Palace MOISE, Zagrad 6, 51557 Cres, Island of Cres – Croatia
The Moise Palace,patrician townhouse, is a 500-year-old Renaissance palace located in the old town center of the City of Cres, on Island of Cres. Registered as a cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia, Palace has recently been renovated by City of Cres and the University of Rijeka (user and holder of educational and scientific content) which agreed to work together on long-term maintenance and management of cultural values transforming the space into an educational center of the island.
Both the accomodation and the venue space are located in the Palace Moise; and though the venue is not a performance (stage) space, it provides basic infrastructure for early-stage development and research for artistic, performing and interdisciplinary projects an provides the opportunity to present the-work-in-progress to the local public or small group.
Transportation:
– Transport to/from the airport to the residency space will be coordinated and organized by sending and hosting partner organizations
Accommodation:
– Newly renovated rooms twin bedrooms (two single beds per room) with bathroom
– Kitchenette can be used for meal preparation (ie. breakfast), but no cooking/baking is allowed on the premises
Note: No-cooking / no-baking conditions at the Palace Moise – Artists should plan to dine in local restaurants and buffets (cost per meal ranges 40,00 Croatian kuna or 6 euros upwards). Help with meal organization / communication will be provided by the organizer.
– Free Wi-Fi
– Air conditioning
Venue space:
– The main hall on the first floor is 14.5 x 6.60 m (about 96 m2) with a parquet floor.
– On the second floor there are three spaces mainly used for lecture space/ class-roooms: two of which are approx. 43 m2 each, and the third is about 32 m2.
Technical conditions:
– Each space has a projector with an integrated basic sound system and a projection screen, plus a possibility to use basic portable sound system
– Free Wi-Fi
– Air condition
Local partner is the University of Rijeka, RECAS.
Project is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs, The City of Zagreb, Foundation Kultura nova.
For more information on Domino visit https://thisisadominoproject.org/
Irish Aerial Creation Centre: The National Home for Aerial Arts (Limerick, Ireland)
The Irish Aerial Creation Centre (IACC) is located in Limerick, Ireland. A national home and international hub where aerial artistic excellence can flourish, creative collaborations can grow, and where people from all walks of life can learn to fly and allow their creativity to soar.
The IACC is home to Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Company, the founders. The centre has over 650 square meters of space dedicated to nurturing artists and the community.
IACC are situated 25 minutes drive/bus to Limerick City, 20 minutes walk to University of Limerick. We are situated in rural surroundings. We can accommodate all artists in apartments managed by University of Limerick on campus. For accommodation on campus you can walk or hire a bike to move from IACC to accommodation and shops. You will need to hire a car, or take buses or use taxis to go further.
The centre can accommodate all forms of aerial, acrobatics and dance. Priority may be given to aerial artists. We hope to have two groups in residency at the same time. We expect that residency groups are interested in sharing processes and being in dialogue with each other.
The residency at IACC includes the following items:
- Free use of space for two weeks. 650 sq metres and 9m high, suitable for aerial, and other circus and dance works.
- Accommodation and place for 2 or 3 people at the University of Limerick
- Access to fully equipped kitchen, common areas, internet, etc. We are 5 minutes drive from the nearest shopping center or 10 minutes cycle.
- Opportunity to present a work-in-progress and show local audiences the work, followed by a feedback talk.
You reach IACC via Dublin, Shannon or Cork Airport, hire car or use public transport on arrival and departure.
For further info about the space visit the website: https://irishaerialcreationcentre.com/
This project is funded by The Arts Council, and Limerick City and County Council.
Application Process
MANDATORY:
Fill out the online form
– a description of the artistic research that will be developed: general description, stages of construction of the project, sketches etc (1 pages max.),
– a detailed CV or biography per person (1 page max.)
– a motivation letter in written (500 words max.) or video form (3 minutes max. – unlisted youtube link or similar) that describes the proposed project and the relevance of its proposal to the objectives of the residency programme Island Connect
OPTIONAL:
– a portfolio of selected past projects that are relevant to the proposed project (up to 5 max. links or 5 files shared via Google Drive/ Dropbox/ provided within the Application form)
Each Open Call may also have unique application requirements as laid out above.
SELECTION PROCESS:
– A shortlist will be made by each hosting country. You may be contacted to verify eligibility.
– A selection of the top candidates will be interviewed over Zoom.
– Each Open Call may also have a unique selection process as laid out above.
Interested artists/companies must submit an application via online form in English, by the official deadline of 8th January 2024 (23:59, in any timezone).
Results will be announced: 1st February 2024.
Application Requirements
- Be a performing artist based in Denmark, Croatia, Ireland, the Balearic Islands, Corsica or France, Sardinia or Italy, or the Canary Islands.
- Each call has different requirements that must be met.
- The country that you are based in will determine which residencies you can apply for, based on the schedule.
OBLIGATIONS FOR ALL CALLS:
Artist(s) / Company(s):
- Must be available for the whole duration of both residencies (local and international)
- Must send one member of their company to the SpringLab / Capacity Building Workshop.
- Shall hold a presentation of their work developed at the end of each residency (not necessarily a performance).
- Shall be encouraged to participate in the life of the specific site/locality, and must take photos and videos of their residency to be shared publicly.
- Shall be available for potential requests for interviews by the press regarding this programme.
- Island Connect aims to be an inclusive project, open to participants of all ages, abilities, genders, sexualities, and national origins. Not all of our venues are completely accessible, but we will endeavour to meet peoples’ needs wherever we can.
- Must be able and willing to communicate in English throughout the project.
Note: All fees listed are gross amounts with all taxes included in that payment.
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