Open Call 2026: Zones of Reciprocity Until 13 September 2026
About
136 GOETHE LAB Open Call is an annual invitation to all Singapore-based cultural practitioners—individuals, collectives, or organisations—to develop and present a project with regional or international collaborations at the Goethe-Institut Singapore’s project space, 136 GOETHE LAB.The 2026 edition invites proposals that critically engage with communal practices of reciprocity and exchange. We seek collaborative group projects that embody, incorporate, or celebrate, regional or international reciprocal practices through artistic or transdisciplinary forms. Whether through forging new connection, revisiting former collaboration, or realising long-imagined co-creation, we are interested in how forms and formats of reciprocity—as a living practice—can be negotiated, adapted to, or explored in spite of, or perhaps because of, differences and distances in geography, society, and politics.
“When times are easy and there’s plenty to go around, individual species can go it alone. But when conditions are harsh and life is tenuous, it takes a team sworn to reciprocity to keep life going forward. In a world of scarcity, interconnection and mutual aid become critical for survival. So say the lichens.”
— Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass
Reciprocity can be challenging, amorphous, and asymmetrical. This open call encourages proposals that challenge fixed definitions of belonging and solidarity, and that experiment with new ways of being with others through cultural practice.
We welcome formats that may include (but are not limited to):
- Artist collectives working with specific communities to explore urgent or overlooked societal issues
- Multidisciplinary performances, installations, or events examining the dynamics of communal life
- Interactive or participatory processes that unfold over time, building relationships as part of the work
- Dialogue-based practices such as reading groups, listening sessions, or open studios
Mechanisms & Requirements
- Open to all formats across disciplines and sectors of civil society.
- Proposals must include multiple public-facing components at 136 GOETHE LAB—throughout their residency period; this may include a final presentation element.
- The LAB will be offered rent-free for selected projects for a period of 4 to 5 months: within the windows January to May 2027 and May to September 2027.
- Project funding is up to SGD 16.000.
- A jury will shortlist applicants for in-person conversations prior to final selection.
- Applicants must be open to co-programming aspects of their project with Goethe-Institut’s cultural department.
Eligibility
- Open to Singapore-based cultural practitioners, collectives, or civil society actors.
- Regional or international collaborators must be included, within the project budget, and physically present for components of the project.
- Applicants may secure additional external funding, to be disclosed to Goethe-Institut Singapore.
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated by Goethe-Institut Singapore based on:- Artistic and conceptual strength
- Originality and criticality of engagement with the theme
- Relevance to contemporary cultural and civic discourse in Singapore, as well as regional and international contexts
- Feasibility and clarity of execution
- Cohesiveness and potential public impact
How to Apply
Submit your proposal to Azura.Farid@goethe.de with the following:- A two-sentence summary of the project’s goal
- A project outline (max. one page), including:
- Proposed duration
- Use of the 136 GOETHE LAB space
- Concept for public engagement or presentation
- Preferred project dates
- CVs of all participants
- A basic project budget
Let 136 GOETHE LAB become your testing ground for reciprocity—as practice, as method, as provocation.
We look forward to your proposals.
We look forward to your proposals.