SEELENSCHWITZEN (ENGL: SOUL SWEATING)

Seelenschwitzen describes the field of tension between physicality, emotional transformation, collective experience and individual processing. How can social, psychological and political tensions be visualised? Who is sweating – and why? Where does anger, fear, confidence and hope smoulder? What remains when the emotion evaporates? And how can we come closer as a society by ‘sweating’ together?

In 2026 under the thematic focus of Seelenschwitzen, art in public space in Tyrol calls on various artistic works – intervention, sculpture, sound or performance – to transform the public space into a stage for different emotional and physical processes.

Keywords: corporeality – emotions – areas of tension – interventions

SUBMISSION DEADLINE
17.08.2025

[created with the help of Klar und Verständlich (K&V) by Multisprech]

‘Sweating of the soul’ means: strong feelings such as anger, fear or hope. We experience these feelings alone and together. This raises important questions. Who feels these strong emotions – and why? Where do anger, fear or confidence arise? What remains when the feeling disappears? And how can we as a society come closer together again by feeling together?

In 2026, art in public space in Tyrol invites artists to explore this topic. They can work with various forms, such as outdoor art events, sculptures, sound or performances. The art should take place in public spaces.

Since 2008, the funding programme Art in Public Space has been implemented in cooperation between the State of Tyrol and the Künstler*innen Vereinigung Tirol (Tyrolean Artists’ Association), and financed by the State of Tyrol. For the year 2026, it is being announced for the sixth time under a thematic focus defined by the Künstler*innen Vereinigung Tirol; a focus aimed at bracketing content during the writing of concepts and implementation of the chosen projects. The funding programme aims to promote contemporary art and cultural projects in public space, so making the discussion of current social issues accessible to a broad public and initiating dialogue on cultural, social and political topics. The intention of Art in Public Space is to trigger discussions and play an integral role in the development of fresh perspectives.

In this context, there are no limits to the conceivable artistic formats: funding may be granted for permanent sculptural art projects, temporary interventions as well as participatory, performative and dialogical formats in public rural and urban spaces. Special attention will be paid to project submissions that are site-specific and employ inherently communicative formats, as well as sustainability in their implementation. To reach an audience that is as diverse as possible, the projects should represent a synergy between artistic practice and everyday culture. In this spirit, the projected venues may be as diverse as the projects themselves, offering opportunities to make art experienceable beyond the boundaries of cultural institutions.

FORMAL CRITERIA

• The call for proposals should serve as a starting point and bracketing of content for the project submitted.
• The projects must be realized in Tyrol, in public rural or urban areas, and must address the specific conditions of the chosen location.
• It must be possible to implement the selected projects within the period March to November 2026.
• Following selection by the jury, the prerequisite for state funding is the submission of every necessary permit for the project’s realization, as well as agreement from the municipal or parish authorities responsible for the location(s) of the project submitted.
  The project submitter is responsible for obtaining official authorisations.
• The following will be excluded: funding in retrospect or the acquisition of an already realized artwork, classic “Percent for Art” projects, publications that do not form part of a project, and events in public space such as concerts or theatre productions with no link in content to the funding programme.

TARGET GROUP
The call is directed at international artists, artist collectives and curators working in the field of contemporary art. They must be resident in the European Economic Area or the European Free Trade Association.

ENDOWMENT
In 2026, the State of Tyrol’s programme Art in Public Space will be endowed with EUR 80,000. The sum of state funding for the projects recommended for implementation can, according to the jury’s recommendations, amount to 100% of the total eligible costs. Two to three projects will be invited for realization from among the projects submitted.

JURY
Three independent, expert jurors appointed by both the State of Tyrol and the Künstler*innen Vereinigung Tirol will choose from among the submitted projects and develop a proposition for funding. The final decision on funding will be made by the member of the Tyrolean State Parliament responsible for cultural affairs.

MEMBERS OF THE JURY
Sarah Decristoforo (artist, Linz)
Ingrid Mayrhofer-Hufnagl (artist, architect, researcher, Salzburg)
Peter Kozek (artist, Vienna)

SUBMISSION DOCUMENTS
Please send submissions by email only to koer-tirol@kuveti.at and mark them “SUBMISSION KOER 2026”

• Detailed project description including creative communication formats (max. 8 pages, DIN A4): text, visualisation in the form of sketches, renderings or photos of models.
• Costing and financing plan (material and production costs, costs of travel and accommodation, fees, research spending, cost of assistance with production on site, cost of technical realization, erection and dismantling and/or maintenance, communication formats, and project-related forms of communication. It will not be possible to cover per diem rates.)
• Timetable for the project’s realization
• Completed data sheet
• Information about the submitter(s) of the project
• Documentation of artistic work to date

SUBMISSION DEADLINE
17.08.2025

ANNOUNCEMENT OF JURY DECISION
Autumn 2025

BASIS IN LAW
Submission of an application will not result in a legal claim to funding. The jury’s decision is final. Granting of funds and the handling of the funding procedure will be administered by the State of Tyrol within the context of currently valid subsidy guidelines. The realization of sponsored projects must take place in accordance with the projected timetable.

Information on project costing: The artist’s own services can be listed in the calculation as part of the overall costs, at an hourly rate in accordance with the Fair-Pay guidelines applicable in Austria (www.kuveti.at/kulturpolitik-paytheartistnow/) and with the list of services for the action Art in Public Space. This directive applies only to funding procedures in the context of the action Art in Public Space.

The entrant declares themselves in agreement with the publication of their name and also of any submitted illustrative material, sketches or other visualizations e.g. for media reports or on the State of Tyrol’s homepage and the homepage www.koer-tirol.at

PLEASE NOTE
Sensitivity to gender issues and social exclusion mechanisms is expected in the conception and realization of the project.
Barrier-free access to the respective project should already be taken into account in the concept.

CONTACT
Please address any questions to Bettina Siegele and Cornelia Reinisch-Hofmann at koer-tirol@kuveti.at. The project submitter will be responsible for production assistance and technical implementation on site.

FURTHER INFORMATION
The Künstler*innen Vereinigung Tirol is responsible for content, the call for proposals, applications and the appointment of the jury. During the realization phase, it will handle public relations and advise the project participants on questions and problems relating to their projects. www.koer-tirol.at/en/faqs/