Open Call: Bergen <3 Berlin

^21.09.2026


From the apartment in Schöneberg. Photo: Cecilie Størkson

Residency in Berlin for Professional Arts and Culture Practitioners

Application deadline: 20 October 2026

Bergen <3 Berlin is a residency programme offering professional artists and cultural practitioners from Bergen and Vestland the opportunity to work and develop projects in Berlin.

The programme aims to support professional development, international connections and new collaborations within the arts and cultural sector. Through residencies in Berlin, we seek to provide artists and cultural practitioners with time, space and opportunity to develop their work, build networks and explore new artistic and professional perspectives in one of Europe’s most important cultural cities.

The first open call is for residencies taking place between November 2026 and December 2027.

You can apply individually or together with other professionals. We also want to make it possible for applicants to bring their families with them during the residency. Residents are required to pay a contribution of NOK 1,000 per week. For stays involving more than one person, an additional contribution of NOK 500 per week applies for each additional person.

Who can apply?

The programme is open to professional practitioners within all fields of art and culture.

We welcome applications from, among others:

• visual artists
• performing artists
• musicians
• writers
• curators
• critics
• arts educators and communicators
• cultural producers and other professional cultural workers

The programme is primarily intended for freelancers and self-employed practitioners. As a general guideline, applicants should spend at least 50% of their professional activity on independent artistic or cultural work.

About the residency

Residencies normally last between one and two months. In some cases, shorter stays may be considered.

The residency is intended to provide time and space for:

• artistic development
• research and in-depth exploration
• project development
• networking
• collaboration with professional communities, institutions and other organisations and individuals in Berlin

The application

The following criteria will be considered when assessing applications:

• the quality of the applicant’s artistic or professional work
• the relevance and quality of the proposed plan for the residency
• how the residency may contribute to the applicant’s continued professional practice
• any existing contacts, collaborations or plans involving institutions, professional communities or networks in Berlin

The application must include:

• CV, including your municipality of residence
• Examples of your work. Please include links to works that can be viewed online, such as a portfolio, texts as PDFs, images or videos. Do not include files that need to be downloaded.
• Application letter (maximum one page) describing:
• why you would like to undertake a residency in Berlin
• what you would like to work on during the residency and your goals for the work
• any professionals, organisations, networks or institutions you would like to connect with
• when you would be available for a residency to take place and for how long

Send your application to berlin@bergenassembly.no with the subject line “Application Bergen-Berlin”.

After the residency

We want the residency programme to contribute to knowledge-sharing and to strengthen both the local cultural network in Bergen and connections between Bergen and Berlin.

Residents will therefore be asked to:

• submit a short travelogue or reflection, in a format suited to their own practice, which may be published on our website and social media channels
• share experiences, contacts, resources or tips that may benefit future participants
• take part in an experience-sharing event, if one is organised

About Bergen <3 Berlin

Bergen <3 Berlin is a collaboration between organisations in Bergen’s arts and cultural sector seeking to strengthen international exchange and create new connections between Bergen and Berlin.

Through residencies in Berlin, professional artists and cultural practitioners are given the opportunity to develop their practice in an international context, with time and space for in-depth work and project development. The residency also provides opportunities to explore new professional communities, build networks, exchange knowledge and establish collaborations and connections that can contribute to further artistic and professional development.

Applications will be assessed by representatives from VISP, Tekstallianse, Bergen Dansesenter, Musikkontoret Brak, Proscen and Bergen Assembly. Artistic and professional quality will be key considerations in the assessment, while the final selection will also aim to reflect the breadth and diversity of Bergen’s arts and cultural scene. The aim is to ensure representation across all disciplines, with a diversity of artistic expressions, practices, perspectives and experiences.

We will review the applications shortly after the application deadline and notify all applicants as soon as possible.


From the apartment in Schöneberg. Photo: Cecilie Størkson

About the apartment

The residency offers accommodation in an apartment in Schöneberg, Berlin. The apartment is located on the fourth floor of an older building without a lift, close to Schöneberg S-Bahn station. It has good public transport connections to the rest of the city.

The apartment is simply and functionally furnished and equipped with kitchen and cleaning supplies, bed linen and towels. Beds, duvets and pillows are available for up to five people. The apartment does not have its own Wi-Fi connection.

The residency is intended as a working/study stay, and the apartment may not be sublet or loaned to others. Overnight stays are permitted only for people included in the residency agreement. Residents are responsible for keeping the apartment tidy and for thoroughly cleaning it before departure.

Further information and house rules will be provided to successful applicants. By applying, you agree to comply with the house rules provided before your stay.


With generous support from Vestland County Council



From the apartment in Schöneberg. Photo: Cecilie Størkson