The artist-in-residence programme of Neuwerk eG
About us
Neuwerk eG brings together craftspeople, tradespeople, service providers, freelancers, artists and people with hobby spaces. Under its statutes, two thirds of the space is dedicated to business and one third to culture.
Guided by the principle “Business supports culture”, the cooperative creates space for artistic work, cultural exchange and new ideas.
Konstanz on Lake Constance
Konstanz lies where Germany, Austria and Switzerland meet. The combination of lake and Alps, history and the present, urban life and nature makes the city a special place for art and design.
The name Neuwerk Lake Residency takes up this inspiring location.
The Programme
The Neuwerk Lake Residency is aimed at emerging artists working in contemporary art and design. The programme was initiated in 2026 by Neuwerk eG in cooperation with the Cultural Office of the City of Konstanz and starts in 2027.
The residency offers time and space for focused work, new impulses and interdisciplinary exchange. It connects regional and international perspectives with the local community, the Lake Constance cultural region and the creative working environments of Neuwerk.
The first Neuwerk Lake Residency takes place from 1 May to 30 June 2027. Afterwards, the works created or developed further during the residency will be presented in the vaulted cellar (Gewölbekeller) of the Kulturzentrum am Münster.
The Neuwerk Lake Residency comprises a period in the studio and a subsequent exhibition. During the exhibition, the studio is generally no longer available, as it will be occupied by the next residents.
The residency includes a public accompanying programme, which the artists can design themselves or help to shape. This could be, for example, an artist talk, an open studio, a workshop or a studio conversation.
What the Neuwerk Lake Residency offers
The residency includes:
- A 2–3 month studio residency with accommodation, living utilities included
- 1st residency: 1 May 2027 to 30 June 2027
- Exclusive use of the 116 m² studio at Neuwerk
- A subsequent exhibition of 2–3 months at various venues in the Konstanz region
- 1st residency: vaulted cellar of the Kulturzentrum am Münster, Konstanz: June – September 2027
- EUR 1,000.00 exhibition fee
- A budget for realising the exhibition, the amount of which is agreed individually
- Promotion of the exhibition and an opening (vernissage) by arrangement
- Networking with the art and cultural scene in Konstanz and the Lake Constance region
- The opportunity to hold an accompanying programme
Travel costs, living expenses, insurance and fees are not covered. Artists must be able to finance their stay themselves.
Dates of the 1st residency
| Item | Period |
|---|---|
| Open call | August 2026 |
| Application period | Until 30. October 2026 |
| Selection and confirmation | Early December 2026 |
| Residency in the studio | 1 May – 30 June 2027 |
| Opening (vernissage) | 24. June 2027 |
| Exhibition | 24.06.-05.09.2027 |
Profile and Application
Who is the programme for?
The programme is aimed at professional, emerging artists with an independent practice in contemporary art or design. We expect a high level of artistic quality, a reflective contemporary approach and openness to interdisciplinary exchange and cultural outreach.
Applications are welcome from the region, from across Germany and internationally. Artists from the Lake Constance region are just as welcome as applicants from German-speaking countries, Europe and beyond.
Sufficient knowledge of German or English is required. There is no age limit. The programme is aimed in particular at artists at the beginning or in the middle of their professional careers.
Jury and Selection Criteria
The residency is awarded by a jury made up of representatives of Neuwerk eG, the Cultural Office of Konstanz, artists from the Konstanz region and other cooperation partners. The stay is based on a contract between Neuwerk eG and the selected artists.
The jury assesses the applications according to the following criteria:
- Artistic quality and independence of previous work
- Quality and feasibility of the planned residency project
- Significance of the residency for further artistic development
- Potential for exchange and cultural outreach
- Contribution to the diversity of the residency programme
Jury first Residency
Anna Martinez Rodriguez
Anna Martinez Rodriguez is a curator for contemporary photography, design, and film. She studied at Goldsmiths College in London and at the HGB Leipzig. For over six years, she has been running the exhibition space Turm zur Katz, which focuses on applied arts, as an employee of the Konstanz Cultural Office. She publishes irregularly on photography, curates short film programs, and occasionally appears as a co-lecturer in seminars. In the summer of 2025, she was a Researcher in Residence at the Henry Moore Foundation.
Jury first Residency
Susanne Smajic
Susanne Smajic, born in 1972 in Munich, first studied at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art in Halle/Saale and completed her diploma at the University of Applied Sciences in 1999 in Münster. Since 2000 she has been working as a freelance artist. She has received various scholarships and her work is shown both in Germany and abroad. She shares her knowledge in drawing, printmaking, and illustration at educational institutions (schools and universities).
Jury first Residency
Davor Ljubicic
Davor Ljubičić, freelance artist with a degree from the Academy of Fine Arts. Several exhibitions in Germany and abroad, Constance Art Prize 2020, lecturer at HTWG Constance (Architecture), instructor and co-founder at the Bodenseekreis Art School in Meersburg, and art teacher at ZGK (Technical High School).
"I dig, I dig deep, I unearth and then bury it again. Everything I do is part of a process. What I do today is what was. The chronology of my work is suspended. What is finished today will be erased, destroyed, and integrated into the new tomorrow – gently or violently connected, fused together."
Studio
The studio at Neuwerk
The 116 m² studio is located at Neuwerk in Konstanz. It is furnished with the basics, can be used for artistic work and offers accommodation. The studio is accessible.
Exhibition Space
The exhibition space varies from residency to residency.
The exhibition of the 1st residency takes place in the vaulted cellar (Gewölbekeller) of the Kulturzentrum am Münster in Konstanz’s old town. The historic exhibition space is partially accessible.
Application
Applications are accepted exclusively in digital form via the online form.
Information in the application form:
- Name and address
- Email address and phone number
- Website, if available
- Instagram, if available
- Information on your artistic or design practice
Documents to be submitted (upload):
Documents may be submitted in German or English. All documents are uploaded as PDF files, maximum 10 MB per file; the portfolio maximum 25 MB with good-quality images. All documents together must not exceed 32 MB.
- Completed application form
- Letter of motivation describing the planned project and the reasons for it, no more than two A4 pages
- Proposal for an accompanying programme, no more than one A4 page
- Artistic CV
- Portfolio with selected, representative works from the last 2–3 years
- Proof of residence and identity document
- For artists from non-EU countries: passport and any required residence documents
- Financing overview for the stay
Incomplete or late applications cannot be considered.
Events
Here we provide information about current artists, residency periods, exhibitions and events of the Neuwerk Lake Residency.
The accompanying programme may include:
- Artist talks
- Open studios
- Workshops
- Studio conversations
- Openings and exhibitions
Current dates will be published here.
Frequently asked
questions, FAQ
Who is the Neuwerk Lake Residency for?
The programme is aimed at professional, emerging artists with an independent practice in contemporary art or design. We expect a high level of artistic quality, a reflective contemporary approach and openness to interdisciplinary exchange and cultural outreach.
Applications are welcome from the region, from across Germany and internationally. Artists from the Lake Constance region are just as welcome as applicants from German-speaking countries, Europe and beyond.
Sufficient knowledge of German or English is required. There is no age limit. The programme is aimed in particular at artists at the beginning or in the middle of their professional careers.
Which artistic disciplines are supported?
The Neuwerk Lake Residency is open to all disciplines of contemporary art and design.
What does the residency include?
The residency includes the use of a 116 m² studio with accommodation and utilities for two to three months. Afterwards, there is the opportunity to exhibit the works for up to three months at various exhibition venues in the Konstanz region. Dates, duration and exhibition spaces vary depending on the open call for the residency. The first residency exhibits in the vaulted cellar of the Kulturzentrum am Münster. For the exhibition, there is an exhibition fee and a production budget by arrangement.
In addition, the programme supports networking with the regional art and cultural scene. The residency includes a public accompanying format, for example an artist talk, an open studio, a workshop or a studio conversation.
Is the studio still available during the exhibition?
As a rule, no. After the residency ends, the studio is allocated to the next residents.
Are travel and living costs covered?
No. Travel costs, living expenses and insurance are borne by the artists themselves. For the exhibition, there is an exhibition fee and a production budget by arrangement. The financing of the stay must be presented in a comprehensible way in the application.
Is there an age limit?
No. Applications from artists of all ages are welcome. However, the programme is aimed in particular at people at the beginning or in the middle of their professional careers.
Is residence on site mandatory?
Yes. Being present on site is an essential part of the programme. Short absences of a few days are possible by prior arrangement.
Can children or companions come along?
Accommodation for children can be arranged in individual cases. Permanent accommodation for partners or other companions is not planned. Visits and special requirements must be agreed in good time.
Are pets allowed?
Pets are generally not permitted. Justified exceptions must be agreed before applying or well before the start of the residency.
What equipment is available?
Neuwerk provides the studio and basic furnishings. Special tools, machines or materials are not included. Particular technical and spatial requirements must be stated in the application.
Are the studio and exhibition space accessible?
The studio is accessible. The exhibition spaces are partially accessible. Individual requirements should be communicated early on.
How are the artists selected?
An independent jury reviews the applications on the basis of the published selection criteria. All applicants will be informed of the decision in writing. No reasons are given for the jury’s decisions.
Which exhibition costs are covered?
An individually agreed production budget is provided for the exhibition. This may cover costs for installation, design and promotional materials. The opening is planned and held together with the cooperation partners. Details are set out in the contract.
Contact
Neuwerk eG
Neuwerk Lake Residency
Contact person: Silke Grassl
Oberlohnstraße 3
78467 Konstanz
- Phone
- +49 7531 4549406
- Fax
- +49 7531 4549407
- info@neuwerk.org
- Website
- www.neuwerk.org
- @lake_residency
Cooperation partner
The Neuwerk Lake Residency is run in cooperation with the Cultural Office of the City of Konstanz.