The Schaufler Residency@TU Dresden

Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden

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The Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden—a joint project of TUD Dresden University of Technology and THE SCHAUFLER FOUNDATION—is offering a six-month Artist in Residence at the interface of art and science position for the year 2026, which is connected to the university’s Office for Academic Heritage, Scientific, and Art Collections. Since 2020, the following artists have been nominated for the internationally renowned residency at the University of Excellence: Mario Pfeifer, Lena von Goedeke, Rosa Barba, Esmeralda Conde Ruiz, Anton Ginzburg, and Christian Kosmas Mayer.

The Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden was initiated in 2019 with the aim of researching and communicating the complex relationship between humans, machines, technology, and the world from the perspectives of the social sciences, humanities, and art. The two pillars of the project are a graduate college, the Schaufler Kolleg@TU Dresden, and an artist-in-residence programme, the Schaufler Residency@TU Dresden. The theme Data—Worlds. Socio-technical and cultural syntheses of new realities is at the center of the Lab's second funding phase (2024-2027). By this we mean technical and cultural mediations of reality through data that significantly shape society and living environments.

The Lab’s residency programme offers dedicated and internationally active artists or artist groups from the fields of media art, conceptual art, performance, etc. the unique opportunity to artistically explore the above-mentioned central theme. They have the chance to work together with a cooperative community of researchers in the context of the Schaufler Kolleg@TU Dresden and to draw on the resources of the University of Excellence and our cooperation partners for artistic and creative productions.

The Schaufler Residency@TU Dresden includes:

–Access to a competitive array of institutes and workshops for artistic research–A stipend of 3,000 EUR (net) a month for six months–A studio at TUD–Production support up to 10,000 EUR–Solo exhibition in fall 2026 with an artist book by a respected fine arts publishing house (Sandstein Kultur, Dresden)–Assistance finding accommodation

Until November 2, 2025 artists are kindly invited to apply with concepts for projects to be completed in 2026 at Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden. Projects should focus on the interface between art and science, explicitly artistic intelligence and its implications for society and the culture of objects. The selection of the artist is made by the Residency’s selection committee.

By accepting an artistic proposal, we invite the chosen artist or artist group to develop and realize the project in cooperation with the SchauflerKolleg@TU Dresden as well as scientists and scholars from TUD in 2026. Lectures, talks and workshops within the framework of the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden as well as a guest seminar at the Dresden University of Fine Arts are part of the residency.

Applicants have completed relevant international artistic projects, appeared in established international exhibitions and have a clear concept of their own artistic approach as well as an interest in TUD as an academic institution and its cultural, political and social context. The residence requires a presence on site by arrangement. We expect applicants to be explicitly interested in the exchange of artistic and scientific/scholarly research and working in transdisciplinary teams and to be able to communicate effectively and proficiently in German or English.

ApplicationTo apply for Schaufler Residency@TU Dresden 2026, please submit a complete application in English or German, which includes the following documents:

–Completed application form–CV (max. two pages)–Artistic portfolio–A proposal describing the project (max. 10,000 characters including spaces)–A plan, including timing, of the proposed project with the names of potential partners at TUD–Three-minute video about the project and your own person–One letter of recommendation (max. six months old)

We ask that applications be submitted as one complete PDF via e-mail by November 2, 2025 to the following address: kustodie@tu-dresden.de, reference: Schaufler Residency@TU Dresden_Surname.

Please refrain from sending further material by mail or post. Please note that only complete applications can be considered. Please direct questions about the application process only to Kirsten Vincenz, spokeswoman of Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden / Director of the Office for Academic Heritage, TUD and/or Gwendolin Kremer, research associate at the Office for Academic Heritage and curator Schaufler Residency@TU Dresden.