Kooperativa x FAI mobility programme: Immerse yourself in the South-Eastern European arts sector
Flanders Arts Institute engages in international exchange and connection programmes to cultivate long-term, sustainable and meaningful relationships, as well as reciprocal international collaborations. With this call we concentrate on the Southeastern European region with a focus on arts and democracy.
The main goal is to learn from the realities of working in a similar, but different socio-political context, with special attention to political and societal unrest. From June 2026 to September 2027, Flanders Arts Institute will support artists and arts professionals who wish to immerse themselves in the South-Eastern European arts sector.
Together with Kooperativa we’re starting this mobility programme, aiming to deepen our understanding of each other’s sector and practices, to build bridges of exchange and solidarity, and to share the gained experiences with our own arts sectors.
For who
This call is for Flemish artists and arts professionals in the fields of visual arts, performing arts, music and sound.
South-Eastern Europe?
For this call we’re focussing on the region of southeastern Europe, with a focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia, because this is the region where our partners of Kooperativa are active.
What
For 3 to 5 days you will be jobshadowing at one organisation. During these days you will follow the organisation and learn from their practices and their reality. You will also build up your network along with them, to get a broader understanding of the ecosystem your host is active in.
The main goal of this trip is to learn from the realities in South-Eastern Europe, and to share the knowledge, experiences and network you’ve built back to us and the Flemish arts community.
After the trip you will report on your experience in a way that’s suited to you. This includes but is not limited to: a written report, a video, a talk, or a sound recording. We will host these reports on an online platform we’ll share with our sector.
Next to that we’d like to host a moment for all participants in this programme to share their experience amongst each other. We’re planning this in the fall of 2027.
Mobility actions may take place between 1 October 2026 and 30 June 2027.
Funding
The mobility funding covers:
- travel;
- accommodation;
- per diems;
- a support of up to 300 euros for the host to cover any costs they might incur.
The budgets will be calculated according to Erasmus+ formulas.
Apply now
The first step is to find a match with an arts organisation that is open to being your host and guide.
If you are interested in this programme but need help finding a host, or if you’d like to welcome a Flemish artist or professional and are looking for inspiration: We’ve started a platform page on ARE.NA to facilitate matchmaking. You can find the ARE.NA page here.
The application happens in two steps:
Step 1 – Send an email to ward@kunsten.be to let us know you wish to apply, briefly outlining the current status of your project. We’ll give you feedback and help where necessary.
Step 2 – Send an application to ward@kunsten.be with
- a letter of intent by the hosting organisation;
- planning for the visit;
- a motivation;
- a description of the way you’d like to report.
If you already have all the information needed for this second step, you may skip the first, but we recommend getting in touch first.
Deadlines
Applications are open until 1 March 2027, but will be reviewed monthly; you can expect an answer on the dates below.
- 8 September 2026
- 8 October 2026
- 9 November 2026
- 8 December 2026
- 15 January 2027
- 8 February 2027
- 8 March 2027
We have a budget for 15 mobility grants. We advise you not to wait until the final deadline to submit your entry.
Selection
The selection will be done by the Flanders Arts Institute team. We will take into account:
- the relevance of the host, especially concerning the topic of arts and democracy;
- the planning;
- the motivation, especially concerning the topic;
- the proposed reporting and the way it can inform Flanders Arts Institute and the Flemish arts field.
We have a budget for 15 mobility grants.
More information
This call is about mobility from Flanders to South-Eastern Europe. Flanders Arts Institute will use other mobility schemes and programmes to invite professionals from the region to come to Flanders.
Questions? Send an email to ward@kunsten.be
