Earth Month 2026 is a joint initiative of the Goethe-Institut Glasgow, the Institut Français d’Écosse and the Alliance Française Glasgow, which aims to promote cultural exchange and climate action through artistic and cultural practices. This program brings together France, Germany and Scotland in a dynamic, multidisciplinary dialogue on sustainability, with a particular focus on the role of oceans and rewilding for climate and biodiversity protection.
The artist residency, which runs from April 22 to May 12, 2026, offers one artist each from Germany and France the opportunity to explore Scotland’s diverse landscapes, new approaches to sustainability and new climate solutions.
The residency is carried out via slow travel. Artists will travel by train and/or boat from their home countries to Edinburgh and Glasgow and will be able to spend two weeks in the Scottish Highlands & Islands at the Cove Park and Linkshouse – Orkney Arts Residencies (one week per location). Artists are invited to explore the key themes of rewilding and oceans. There are no set or prescribed production outcomes and artists are free to shape their engagement according to their own practice. During their journey, artists are invited to participate in optional school visits coordinated by the project partners to share their experiences with students, as well as site visits and networking events.
The artists are also invited to share their insights and artistic practice gained during their residency in an artist talk at the Institut Français d’Écosse in Edinburgh and/or at the joint Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française venue in Glasgow.
Artistic profile:
We are looking for one artist each from Germany and France who work with time-based art forms (e.g. sound, image-based media, performance) and whose works deal with climate, environmental or ecological issues.
Conditions of participation:
- Residence: All nationalities are welcome, provided that the applicant has lived and worked in France or Germany for at least three years.
- Artistic discipline: Applicants must work in time-based art forms (e.g. sound, music, video, digital media, dance, theater, performance) whose portfolios deal with climate, environmental or ecological issues.
- Sustainability: The applicant’s artistic portfolio must demonstrate an existing engagement with climate change or environmental issues.
- Slow Travel: Willingness to participate in Slow Travel and to use the means of travel described above.
- Presence: Availability to attend the travel residence in person for the entire duration.
- Traveling together: Willingness to travel together with the other selected artist.
- Public lectures: Willingness to speak in front of an audience at an artist talk and share insights and experiences.
- English language skills: Applicants must have a good command of English and be comfortable speaking in public during the interview.
- Physical activity: The program includes stays in remote areas that involve walking and changing transportation conditions. We are open to consultation on possible adaptations that would facilitate access if required.
- Age: Open to applicants of all ages.
- School visits: Interest in outreach activities with schools is seen as a plus when applying.
Goals of the stay:
- Promoting intercultural cooperation between French, German and Scottish artists and actors in the field of sustainability.
- Support artists in deepening the dialog on climate action by addressing environmental and sustainability issues through their own artistic language and processes.
- Providing opportunities for artists to engage with Scottish civil society, cultural organizations, education partners and communities to shape and expand their practice.
- Supporting artists in experimenting with slow travel as a sustainable mode of transportation, considering the journey itself as a generative part of their creative process.
- As a result of the residency, to inspire the participating artists to continue to create impactful work that contributes to the climate debate by drawing on their experiences in Scotland on the themes of renaturation and oceans.
The residence stay includes:
1. TRAVEL BY SLOW TRAVEL TO AND THROUGH SCOTLAND:
The two artists will travel sustainably by train/boat from their respective homes in Germany and France to Edinburgh, Scotland. They will continue their journey for three weeks, immersing themselves in the Scottish context and landscape. This will allow them to visit relevant places and projects and engage with local colleagues, organizations, residency programmes and schools.
Schedule:
April 20-21: Arrival of the artists from Germany/France to Edinburgh
April 22-26: Stay at the residence of the French Consulate General in Edinburgh
April 27 – May 3: Stay at Cove Park on Peaton Hill, Argyll & Bute
May 4-10 : Stay at Linkshouse – Orkney Arts Residency on Orkney
May 11-12: artists’ residency in Edinburgh.
May 12-14: Return journey of the artists to Germany/France
2. ARTIST TALKS:
The two artists are invited to present their insights, reflections and working processes in an artist talk and share their experiences in Scotland. The exact date will be arranged with the artists depending on availability.
3rd FOLLOW-UP WORKSHOP:
Six months after the residency, a digital workshop will be offered between the artists and the residency organizers (Goethe-Institut, Institut Français d’Écosse and Alliance Française Glasgow) to reflect on how the residency has enriched the artists’ practice and inspired new works. The date will be set in consultation with the artists.
Promotion:
- Full funding of all travel and accommodation costs.
- Bursary of GBP 80 per artist per day.
- Fee of 150 GBP per artist for the artist talk.
- Opportunity to engage with the local art scene, cultural organizations and sustainability initiatives while deepening your own understanding of environmental issues.
- Artistic exchange with local colleagues and site visits.
- For planned school visits: Workshop fee of 150 GBP per visit and artist for up to 5 school visits.
Application deadline: March 11, 2026