Artist Residency in Vienna (July–August 2026)

The Almaty Museum of Arts (ALMA), in collaboration with the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, MuseumsQuartier Wien (MQ) and the Weltmuseum Wien, is pleased to announce a research residency for one artist from Kazakhstan at the MuseumsQuartier Wien.

The programme offers a two-month residency in Vienna (Austria).

The selected artist will be accepted into the MQ Artist-in-Residence programme – one of Europe’s leading museum clusters, bringing together creative professionals from a range of disciplines.

The residency forms part of a long-term initiative aimed at forging links between artists from Central Asia and Austria (2026–2028) and fostering dialogue, the exchange of experiences and cooperation between these regions.

Artists are invited to develop a research project or project focusing on one or more of the program’s thematic areas:

• movement and borders;

• materiality, patterns, and the relationship between tradition and contemporary art;

• practices exploring gender, identity and representation;

• water and ecological imagery.

Artists may also engage with the collection of Weltmuseum Wien, one of Europe’s major ethnographic museums with significant holdings from Central Asia, offering a critical framework for reflecting on cultural memory, representation, and institutional histories.

Duration of the residency: July–August 2026.

During the residency, the artist will be provided with:

- a roundtrip flight from anywhere in Kazakhstan to Vienna (Austria);

- accommodation and a workspace;

- resources for artistic research;

- a monthly stipend of 1 300 euros, payable upon arrival in Vienna;

- a 500 euros contribution towards logistical costs, payable upon arrival in Vienna;

- engagement with the local and international art scene.

During the residency, the artist will:

• develop their creative work in a dedicated studio at MQ;

• engage with Vienna’s contemporary art scene;

• build connections with artists from around the world;

• conduct independent research or research focused on specific collections.

The residency may conclude with a public presentation in Vienna—such as a talk, open studio, or other format developed in dialogue with the Connecting Artists from Central Asia and Austria team—and will be followed by a presentation at ALMA in September 2026.

Who can apply:

• Kazakhstani citizens aged 18 or over who are permanent residents of Kazakhstan;

• a minimum level of English proficiency of B1 (Intermediate) is required.

Participation in the competition is free of charge.

The deadline for applications is 1 May 2026 (23:59 Astana time).

The initiative reflects ALMA’s commitment to supporting Kazakhstani artists in strengthening their international profile and establishing a long-term dialogue.