Artistic Residency for the Creation of a Public Space Artwork in Nové Mesto nad Váhom
Trenčín 2026, in cooperation with Nové Mesto nad Váhom, announces an international open call for visual artists from Slovakia and across Europe for an artist residency in 2026.
The selected artist will undertake a summer residency in Nové Mesto nad Váhom, during which they will create a permanent public artwork for the city — an artistic installation composed of fragments of destroyed tombstones. These are primarily Jewish gravestones, as well as tombstones belonging to members of other religious communities, which were destroyed during the communist regime as a result of ideological violence, the suppression of religious freedom, and systematic interference with cultural and historical memory.
During the former regime, many gravestones were removed from their original cemeteries and repurposed as construction material, including for the production of paving stones and sidewalks. The tombstone fragments therefore represent not only the physical remnants of vanished cemeteries, but also testimony to the insensitive treatment of historical memory and sacred burial sites.
The aim of the residency is to create a contemporary artwork reflecting the themes of human freedom, memory of place, historical violence, and the need to preserve collective memory. The resulting installation will be permanently situated in the public space of Dominik Štubňa-Zámostský Park in Nové Mesto nad Váhom, on the site where the town’s cemeteries once stood — serving as a space for reflection, dialogue, and remembrance of historical contexts.
Location of the Artwork:
The artwork is to be installed in the central area of Dominik Štubňa-Zámostský Park in Nové Mesto nad Váhom: https://www.google.com/maps/@48.7532907,17.8281652,265m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Link to photographs of tombstone fragments with inscriptions (in addition to these fragments, several fragments without inscriptions are also available): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Whooe-LAILwBcq3Xuqs5ROnY6B7f46vB?usp=share_link
The selected artist will be provided with:
- an artist stipend in the amount of EUR 3,000, provided by Trenčín 2026,
- accommodation in a private apartment unit with a kitchenette and bathroom, provided by Nové Mesto nad Váhom,
- technical assistance for the realization of the artwork, provided by the City of Nové Mesto nad Váhom based on needs, available capacities, and mutual agreement,
- material support and reimbursement of travel expenses, which may be provided by the City of Nové Mesto nad Váhom based on needs, available capacities, and mutual agreement.
Application Process
Application form: https://forms.gle/WpeNLc4NDKwHkDrV9
The application must include:
- professional CV,
- portfolio,
- annotation for the proposed artistic installation,
- visualization or sketch of the proposed installation,
- budget for the realization of the installation.
Evaluation and Selection
Applications will be evaluated by a committee composed of representatives of Trenčín 2026 and the City of Nové Mesto nad Váhom.
Deadline
20 June 2026, 23:59 CET.
The results will be announced no later than 29 June 2026.
Contact person: Laura Magičová, laura.magicova@trencin2026.eu