Open Call! NAIR 2025 – public space installation residency in Narva
The Narva Art Residency (NART), in collaboration with the Narva municipality’s department of architecture and urban planning (ALPA), is launching its second open call for a large-scale public art installation or sculpture. This year it will be placed near the Narva Town Hall building, adjacent to Stockholm square. The installation will also serve as a platform for outdoor exhibitions, offering opportunities to engage and highlight various communities in Narva.
NART will host the selected artist in Narva for a one-month residency from 15 August to 14 September 2025. The artist will be able to be present during the production process of the installation and engage in meaningful exchanges with local people. The selected artist will receive a creative grant of 2,000 euros, and the production of the installation will be supported with a minimum of 8,000 euros. The application deadline is 15 May.
The installation is not intended as a temporary artwork, but it will become part of the urban space long-term, shaping the city environment and daily experience of its people. It will be in a public location and accessible to everyone.
We welcome proposals for installations that can also accommodate outdoor exhibitions. In addition to their visual and sculptural qualities, the installations should be able to support exhibitions consisting of posters or similar formats. This opens the door to highlighting Narva’s communities and development projects, turning the installation into a dynamic, evolving site of dialogue in public space. The idea could be inspired by the open frames in Tammsaare Park in Tallinn or the Kultuurilaev sculpture on Küüni Street in Tartu.
Who are we looking for?
This open call is for artists, architects, and creatives from Estonia and abroad. We are looking for applicants who are ready to lead the process hands-on, from sketch to final installation. The grant is awarded to one individual, and the residency is open to one or two participants, though the broader team of authors may be larger.
How to apply
The application requires a concept for a spatial installation or sculpture. The proposal should include visualisations and sketches that help convey the idea, along with a description of the materials and techniques envisioned. A draft production timeline and a preliminary budget calculation should be included.
► Deadline: 15 May 2025 at 23:59 (UTC+3)
► Submit your application via this link: https://forms.gle/oHvar85khDv8HGgu9
The application must include
- Applicant’s name, country, age, and contact information
- CV and a short bio
- A concise portfolio (up to five relevant creative projects)
- Concept and description of the installation (max 800 words)
- Visualisations of the proposed work, including at least three views and a site plan for the location
- A production budget (the initial budget limit is 8,000 euros, though this may increase with additional sponsors or partners)
- A timeline for production
- A proposal for a participatory workshop the artist is willing to lead
Applications must be submitted as a single PDF (max 10 MB). Applications may be in Estonian or English.
