[2026–2029]

The European project DRIFT – Dance and Research In the Future Time is a programme dedicated to research, support and artistic development for mid-career choreographic and interdisciplinary artists. It is led by an international consortium of festivals and cultural institutions, of which Materiais Diversos is a partner, alongside:

• Théâtre de Liège (BE)
• Maison de la Danse (FR)
• Onassis Stegi (GR)
• BIT Teatergarasjen (NO)
• HAU / Tanz im August (DE)
• Mercat de les Flors (ES)
• Short Theatre (IT)
• Al Badil (TN)
• Ukrainian Dance Platform (UA)

and associated partners:

• Red Brick House (JP)
• Panorama Festival (BR)
• Kinani Festival (MZ)

WAVE 1 — supported artist: Piny, Standing Ancestors
WAVE 2 — artist selected through the current open call

OPEN CALL — WAVE 2

Application deadline: 31 August 2026
Selection process: 1–30 September 2026
Results announcement: 9 October 2026

Application form available here.

DRIFT invites mid-career choreographers to apply for an international programme that offers time, space, and support for artistic research, experimentation, and professional development.

Each of the 10 DRIFT partners will select one artist based in their respective country, resulting in a cohort of 10 selected artists.

This call is dedicated to artistic research and development. Applicants are not expected to present a finished project — rather, DRIFT is looking for artists who wish to invest in a genuine research process: questioning, experimenting, and building the foundations of a future creation within a supportive international framework.

What DRIFT offers

• €20,000 earmarked for the research phase
• 3 Online Labs
• Showcase participation
• Artistic and curatorial mentoring
• Professional networking & international visibility

Who can apply?

• Professional choreographers with a demonstrated track record in contemporary dance or performance
• Mid-career artists — beyond the emerging stage at the national level, but not yet fully established at an international level
• Artists whose practice would benefit from strengthening the research phase of their work
• Artists wishing to develop their presence and connections at a European level
• Artists with a solid interest in experimentation, transnational collaboration, and artistic research
• Artists with a good command of English (working language of the project)

Residency country requirement

Each DRIFT partner selects one artist based in their country. Applicants must be based in one of the following countries at the time of application: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Norway, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Portugal.

Applicants are required to submit their application through the partner organisation representing their country of residence.

Availability requirements

Selected artists must be available for the following key dates:

• 30 November-01 December 2026 — Introductory meeting and pitching session with DRIFT partners and artists in Berlin (Germany)
• 01 November 26-17 September 2027 — One Onboarding Lab + Two local residencies (2 weeks in total) + Three online Lab sessions
• 18-21 March 2027 — Participation to the Festival Lab at in Tunis (Tunisia)
• 18-25 September 2027 — Showcase at the Biennale de la danse, Lyon (France)

Selection Process

Each DRIFT partner is responsible for selecting the artist based in its country. In Portugal, Materiais Diversos will select one artist based in Portugal.

Selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Artistic quality — the strength, coherence, and singularity of the artist’s practice
• Relevance of the research proposal — clarity and pertinence of the proposed research direction
• Professional experience — demonstrated career development and engagement with the field
• Motivation — depth of engagement with DRIFT’s values and framework
• Potential for international development — capacity to benefit from and contribute to a transnational context
• Availability — confirmed ability to participate in all key project moments

If you have any questions regarding the second wave open call, please direct them to: contact@drift-project.eu

DRIFT aims to:

• recognise and remunerate time dedicated to artistic research;
• support the expansion and international circulation of artistic projects;
• strengthen the links between creation, research, dissemination and social contexts;
• propose a more sustainable, fair and structural model for both artists and festivals.