CreArt Kaunas and Kaunas Artists’ House announce an open call for land/environmental art creators of younger generation and invite them to create land/environmental art installations in public spaces along the river Nemunas in Kaunas. The artworks must be made of natural, biodegradable materials and integrate harmoniously into the local context and landscape.

The created works will be presented on Saturday, May 23, 2026, during the festival “Let’s Celebrate the River!”, which is part of the CreArt 3.0 program “European Month of Creativity.”

ABOUT THE RIVER AND LAND ART PLEIN AIR

The River and Land Art is a small-scale plein-air event taking place from 10 to 24 May 2026, as an introductory part of the festival “Let’s Celebrate the River!”. The festival is a community-based cultural initiative born during the period of Kaunas – European Capital of Culture 2022. Its goal is  to encourage the city’s inhabitants to reconnect with Lithuania’s major rivers flowing through the city, to open them up for cultural events and community meetings, and to jointly search for the signs and expressions of the identity of the local communities that are located along the rivers. Once a year, during the birthday of Kaunas celebration, a large-scale event called “Let’s Celebrate the River!” is organised, when the river and its banks become a space for cultural and artistic action.

The aim of the River and Land Art Plein Air is to create a land/environmental artwork that highlights the riverbank’s unique natural, geographical, cultural and historical context, turning it into a cultural attraction and meeting point. The completed artworks will be included into the overall programme and activity map of the “Let’s Celebrate the River!” event.

For more details about the festival “Let’s Celebrate the River!”, check out the video
https://youtu.be/bCyauBMDXBA?si=7P5X5QPMWWDfoI-L

To learn more about the River and Land Art Plein Air, check out the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpwGJ7sultc

OVERALL SCHEDULE AND ELIGIBLE ARTISTS

The portfolio search is open from January 20 to February 16, 2026.

Artist and work selections will be made by February 25, 2026.

2 land/environmental artists of younger generation from the CreArt network will be selected. The artist applying for the residency must have been born or living in one of the cities of the CreArt 3.0 network: Kaunas (Lithuania), Liepaja (Latvia), Skopje (Northern Macedonia), Aveiro (Portugal), Valladolid (Spain), Venice (Italy), Clermont-Ferrand (France), Rouen (France), Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic), Lublin (Poland), Oulu (Finland), Regensburg (Germany), be members of HDLU (Croatian Association of Fine Artists), and Ukrainian artists through collaboration with Dialog from Lviv.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

– Implementation period: May 10–24, 2026. Location: Nemunas Riverbank (outdoor space), Kaunas. The exact site will be coordinated individually, considering the artwork’s format.

– The completed artwork must be presented on May 23, 2026, during the “Let’s Celebrate the River!” event. Artists are expected to present their work (including it’s theme, format, and execution techniques) to event visitors in person. Duration: up to 4 hours.

– The work does not have to be directly related to the river, but it is encouraged to look for links to the themes of the festival „Let‘s Celebrate the River!“: river myths and mythical beings (myth-inspired is the guiding theme of 2026 event), water, nature in the city or the city in nature, sustainability, community.

– The artwork must be created using natural materials found at the site, in public urban spaces, respecting local biodiversity and living trees (attachment to trees is not allowed).

– The artwork should be resistant to outdoor weather conditions and pose no danger to the public.

– Depending on the concept, after the festival “Let’s Celebrate the River!”, the artwork may be deconstructed or left to observe its process of decay, transformation, and interaction with nature (for no longer than 12 months).

WHAT WE OFFER

• A fee of €900 (including taxes) for two-week residency in Kaunas and the creation of a land/environmental art piece.
• Travel expenses from the artist’s hometown to Kaunas and back (up to €400), and accommodation in Kaunas (up to 14 days).
• Materials budget capped at €400. The residency work plan must include a detailed amount of materials necessary for the implementation of the artwork. Preference is given to natural and biodegradable materials.
• Additional resources provided by the organizers, including technical equipment, inventory, and volunteers.
• Extensive promotion of the works and the creative process through the communication channels of CreArt, Kaunas Artists’ House, and partners.
• Professional documentation of the event, including activities and artworks.

INTERESTED? APPLY NOW:

Applications must be submitted via the CreArt platform

Your application must include:

–          A short version of your resume/CV and portfolio (including work samples in a suitable file format);

–          A brief description of the work to be implemented (max length 2 A4 pages);

–          The list of materials used and its technical requirements;

–          ID or passport (scanned copy).

Only applications with complete information will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by February 25, 2026.
Selection by: 3 March 2026

If you have any questions, please contact: sveskime.upe@gmail.com, +370 610 32 490 (Romena).

Within the project:

Partners:

Co-funded by:

Co-funded by the European Union – CREA-CULT-2023-COOP. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them. [Project number: 101128499]

Project is co-financed by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.

The views expressed in this announcement are the sole responsibility of HDLU and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.

Kaunas invites 4 artists of younger generation from the CreArt 3.0 Network to work for six weeks in Kaunas AiR in the period of  May 4 – June 14, 2026.

Kaunas Artist-in-Residence program is aninitiative of CreArt 3.0, launched in 2012. CreArt 3.0

Kaunas partners, PI “Artkomas”, have a large experience of organizing visual arts projects, and short-term residencies in their city as well as other cities and towns of Lithuania. With their own focus on painting, “Artkomas” co-operates, however, with experts of other visual arts’ fields (like Lithuanian Artists Asociation, Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University New Media Studies Department, etc.). Therefore we are able to offer necessary conditions for creation to painters, photographers, and new media artists, who would like to participate in this part of CreArt 3.0 project.

ABOUT KAUNAS

Kaunas is the second largest city of Lithuania, with active cultural life. Situated in the valley of the confluence of the two longest rivers of Lithuania, the Nemunas and the Neris, the town itself became an example of a confluence of people and cultures, an attractive blend of architecture and nature. Although Kaunas is called the city of students and rich in cultural, sport, students’ events, it is an important industrial and cultural city with a population of over 300.000.

ARTISTS ACCEPTED

4 visual artists of younger generation (we can offer acceptable conditions for a painter, a photographer or a new media artist)

CONDITIONS AND GRANT

The organization will reimburse to artists travel expenses to Kaunas (up to 400 €). Studio and accommodation is free. The artists will receive a grant of 900 € + 300 € for materials.

ACCOMMODATION

Guest house “Domus Pacis“ is situated in the centre of Kaunas, close to the historic Old Town and right by the tranquil park of Santaka which invites for lovely walks. All the town’s favourite places and sights  are within walking distance and public transport takes you to any part of the town.

STUDIO

The painters will work at the painting studios near “Domus Pacis”.

For the photo, video and other fields artists we will provide all possible assistance.

KAUNAS AiR PROGRAMME

* Kaunas will provide an assistant to help with settling in the city (info about cultural institutions, events, useful places);

* Kaunas will organize introduction to the local artists’ community (in the form of meetings, etc., where the artist has to make a presentation of his/her work and art);

* The artists will have to have open days for visitors;

* Kaunas will make a final public presentation of the artworks created during the residency (a group exhibition of the 4 artists). The exhibition will be displayed in Kaunas, in co-operation with the Lithuanian Artists Association gallery “Drobė”,  address Drobės St. 62 45181 Kaunas. Kaunas will organize the exhibition opening ceremony, media, publicity, will publish exhibition catalog;

* 1 artwork must remain for Kaunas Art Center (PI ‘Artkomas’).

WHO CAN APPLY

Artists of younger generation – born or resident – in any of the cities taking part in “CreArt 3.0. Network of Cities for Artistic Creation”: Kaunas (Lithuania), Liepaja (Latvia), Skopje (Northern Macedonia), Aveiro (Portugal), Valladolid (Spain), Venice (Italy), Clermont-Ferrand and Rouen (France), České Budějovice (Czech Republic), Lublin (Poland), Oulu (Finland), Regensburg (Germany), members of HDLU (Croatian Association of Fine Artists), Ukrainian artists through collaboration with Dialog from Lviv.”

Preference is given to works with a wide variety and diversity. It is necessary to have a degree in a field of art (university level). If the applicant does not have a university degree, proof of equivalent ability must be provided through his or her artistic career. In a period of five weeks you will work towards a final public presentation.

ARE YOU INTERESTED?

You should log in in the CreArt Network and click here to upload the following documentation required:

• ID or passport (scanned copy);

• A short version of your resume/CV;

• Documentation material recent and related to the project (not more then 5 pictures);

• A short written project proposal (not more than ½ of A4).

Only applications with complete information will be accepted. It must be submitted before March 02, 2026.

Kaunas AiR is going to consider your application and will inform you after March 9, 2026.

CONTACT: if you have questions you can contact creart@fmcva.org

Within the project:

Partners:

Co-funded by:

Co-funded by the European Union – CREA-CULT-2023-COOP. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them. [Project number: 101128499]

Project is co-financed by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.

The views expressed in this announcement are the sole responsibility of HDLU and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.