Participation format category 1

Artists from Lausitz open their studios

• Exclusive presentation of their own artistic work and their own place of work
• Inclusion in the program media and on the Biennale website
• Own design and opening hours during the Biennale period
• Financial support is not possible in this category

Participation format category 2

Live actions / events / workshops

• Possible formats: Performances, installations, readings, video or sound art, participatory workshops, dialog formats, etc.
• Projects with a connection to the location, the region or with a participatory approach will be given preference
• Eligible formats with subsidy for fee, material and transportation costs

**The following applies to both categories

• The more projects, studios and initiatives participate in your area, the greater the visibility and visitor interest.
• In addition, a basic infrastructure such as sanitary facilities should be available. Opening hours and supervision at weekends should also be taken into account.

Performance period

The duration of the OPEN SPACES / OFFENE RÄUME is 14 days per district and for the city of Cottbus in each of the following periods:

Elbe-Elster district
Fri 31.7.2026-Sun 16.8.2026

District of Oberspreewald-Lausitz
Fri 7.8.2026-Sun 23.8.2026

Dahme-Spreewald district
Fri 14.8.2026-Sun 30.08.226

Spree-Neisse district
Fri 21.8.2026-Sun 6.9.2026

City of Cottbus
Sat 5.9.2026-Sun 20.9.2026

Selection process and financing

The submitted proposals will be reviewed and selected by the OPEN SPACES jury in cooperation with the "Menschen machen Kultur" program as part of the Lusatia civic region.

The jury is made up of citizens and cultural professionals from the five participating regions.

Only projects in category 2 are eligible for funding. Fee costs, material costs and transportation costs are supported, but not meals, accommodation or insurance.

A grant of up to €1,200.00 (including fees and material costs) can be applied for per project.
can be applied for. A separate budget is available for each region. The selection is based on the quality, feasibility and geographical distribution of the projects. The jury pays attention to diversity, regional anchoring, quality and plausibility of the submissions.

The opening of studios (category 1) does not receive any financial support, but will be included in the official
Biennale program.

Not eligible for funding:

• Meals, accommodation, travel and insurance costs
• Productions or measures of a purely commercial or profit-oriented nature
• Pure workshop formats without an artistic presentation or participation component
• Internal or closed events, e.g. anniversaries, charity events, parties or celebrations of any kind
• Printing subsidies, CD productions or similar duplication or reproduction costs

The funding is aimed at public, charitable and artistic-experimental formats that contribute to the visibility of regional art and cultural actors.

Application

Applications must be submitted using the application form available on the website openart-lausitz-biennale.de.
The form must be completed, signed and sent to us by Monday, 31.01.2026:

by e-mail to: openspaces@openart-lausitz-biennale.de (max. 10 MB)

or by post to:
Atelierhof Werenzhain e. V.

• Keyword OPEN SPACES -
  Werenzhainer Hauptstr. 76
  03253 Doberlug-Kirchhain/OT Werenzhain

Please attach 2-3 exemplary photos of the location and a sketch/exemplary presentation of your idea separately.

Timetable

• Start of the call: November 21, 2025
• Application deadline: January 31, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
• Jury meeting: February 2026
• Announcement of the selection: February/March 2026

Contact for queries
Maysun Kellow, Laila Khayati, Berit Lehmann
E-Mail: openspaces@openart-lausitz-biennale.de
Phone: 035322 31540

Downloads:
anmeldeformular_open-spaces.pdf
open-spaces_info.pdf