Competition Guidelines
The Almaty Museum of Arts invites artists to apply for a two-month research residency in Vienna (Austria), supported by the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs and hosted by MuseumsQuartier Wien.
1. General Provisions
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
1.1. The residency programme is organized by the Almaty Museum of Arts (ALMA) in partnership with the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. Additional partners include MuseumsQuartier Wien (MQ) and Weltmuseum Wien.
1.2. The programme offers one artist a residency in Vienna from July to August 2026.
1.3. The artist is invited to conduct research or develop a project focusing on one or more of the programme’s thematic areas:
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movement and borders;
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materiality, patterns, and the relationship between tradition and contemporary art;
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practices exploring gender, identity and representation;
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water and ecological imagery.
1.4. As part of the programme, artists are given access to the collections of the Weltmuseum Wien — one of Europe’s largest ethnographic museums. This provides an opportunity to explore issues of cultural memory, colonial heritage, representation and the history of how collections from Central Asia were formed.
1.5. Duration of the residency: July–August 2026.
1.6. The residency may include a public presentation in Vienna (such as a lecture, a workshop or a similar format), developed in collaboration with the team behind the Connecting Artists from Central Asia and Austria project.
2. Requirements for competition participants
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
2.1. Participants must be citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and permanent residents of Kazakhstan.
2.2. Participants must be over 18 years old.
2.3. Participants must demonstrate their professional experience in the field of arts by providing a professional portfolio and a CV.
2.4. Participants must have English language proficiency at a level no lower than B1 (Intermediate).
2.5. Participants guarantee the absence of any outstanding debts or travel restrictions outside the Republic of Kazakhstan, including those related to tax authorities, and confirm their eligibility for international travel.
2.6. By participating in the competition, the participant consents to the collection, processing, and storage of their personal data in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on personal data and its protection, for the purposes of organizing and conducting the competition and related events.
3. Application requirements
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
3.1. Applications must be submitted via the official online form via this link: (https://forms.gle/AUduAnDFh3c4jmXi7 ).
3.2. Each participant may submit only one application.
3.3. Incomplete applications or those failing to meet the requirements specified in the form will not be considered.
3.4. The applicant is responsible for the accuracy of the data provided.
3.5. If false or misleading information is provided, the application may be disqualified.
4. Timeline and Selection Process
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
4.1. The winner of the competition will be determined by an independent jury consisting of: Dilda Ramazan (curator and Sorbonne PhD candidate), Almagul Menlibayeva (artist), and Inga Lāce (curator at the Almaty Museum of Arts).
4.2. Criteria for evaluating applications and competition participants:
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artistic quality and originality of the work;
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relevance to the program’s themes;
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clarity and feasibility of the proposed research or project.
4.3. The jury’s decision is final and not subject to appeal. The Organizer will not enter into correspondence or provide individual feedback regarding the grounds for rejection or the selection of the winner of the competition.
4.4. Timeline:
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Application period: April 14, 2026 – May 1, 2026 (23:59 Astana time);
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Shortlisting and online interviews: May 2 – May 24, 2026;
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Announcement of the winner of the competition: May 25 – May 29, 2026;
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Visa processing: June 2026;
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Residency period: July – August 2026;
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Presentation at ALMA: Autumn 2026.
4.5. The winner of the competition will sign a contract with the Almaty Museum of Arts, under which:
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The Almaty Museum of Arts will cover the winner's round-trip airfare from any location in Kazakhstan to Vienna, Austria.
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The winner must provide valid scans of their passport and ID, consenting to the collection, processing, and storage of personal data for travel and participation purposes.
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The winner must conduct at least one public event (lecture/workshop) at ALMA within 90 days after completing the residency.
4.6. The winner of the competition will sign a contract with the Host Organisation, under which the Host Organisation will:
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Provide the winner with accommodation and workspace for the duration of the residency.
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Provide the winner with a monthly stipend of 1 300 euros (net), payable upon arrival in Vienna.
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Provide access to the collections of the Weltmuseum Wien.
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Provide a travel allowance for logistical expenses of 500 euros (net), payable upon arrival in Vienna.
4.7. The winner of the competition is responsible for obtaining their own visa to Austria and for paying all visa-related fees and other associated costs.
4.8. If a visa cannot be obtained by 15 June 2026, the Organiser reserves the right to transfer the residency to another candidate.
4.9. Any personal expenses not covered by the stipend are the sole responsibility of the winner.
5. Final Provisions
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
5.1. By submitting an application, participants agree to these rules and regulations.
5.2. The Organizers reserve the right to make minor changes to the program and the competition schedule.
5.3. Participation in the competition is free of charge.
Contacts:
Official competition information:
www.almaty.art/austria-opencall-2026/
Intellectual Property
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
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