do 11. 11. / ART4MENTAL vyhlašuje open call pro umělkyně a umělce napříč Evropou a Ukrajinou

TZ: ART4MENTAL seeks 20 artists from Europe and Ukraine to develop immersive art-therapy experiences. Selected artists will receive sub-grants of up to €5,000, as well as access to international training programmes, artistic residency in Carpathians, Ukraine, mentorship and international exhibitions.

At a time when Europe faces growing mental health challenges linked to ongoing crises, displacement, isolation and uncertainty, ART4MENTAL explores how creative technologies can support emotional well-being and human connection.

What if your art could help heal from trauma? 

What if a VR experience could ease anxiety, process grief or restore hope? 

ART4MENTAL is inviting 20 artists to find it out.

This Creative Europe-funded initiative offers up to €5,000 sub-grants, professional training in immersive technologies and the chance to create work that will be used in real therapy sessions across Europe and Ukraine.

What artists receive in addition to funding

Besides up to €5,000 sub-grant amount, selected artists will:

participate in international study visits and bootcamps with experts in art, mental health, and immersive technologies; create their VR/immersive content with mentor support and technical guidance; in particular, they will learn how to  shoot, stitch and post-process 360° video; transform their existing work into immersive VR-ready formats; apply spatial audio to deepen emotional impact, prepare and publish their content for real therapeutic settings.

participate in a residency programme in the Carpathians mountains (Ukraine) for the final production of the videos; showcase their works to the wide public at large-scale final exhibition in Poland; contribute to using the final videos in real therapy sessions with patients and community groups across partner countries.

Over 12 months, artists will develop the skills to create immersive art experiences aligned with trauma-sensitive care and Positive Art Requirement, while contributing to real-world mental health support.

Who we are looking for

We're seeking to support 20 artists (10+ from Ukraine and at least 1 from each EU partner country) who: 

Are curious about the intersection of art, technology and healing;

Want to transform their practice into evidence-based therapeutic tools;

Are open to collaboration with mental health professionals and social care specialists to effectively deliver immersive art-therapy practices;

Believe that art can be transformative for individuals and communities.

Eligibility criteria

Be a professional artist (individual or small artistic collective) coming from any creative discipline, including (but not limited to) visual arts, digital arts, music, ceramics, performance art, new media or other related fields;

Be legally resident of Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Sweden or Austria;

Have a proven artistic practice, demonstrated through a strong artistic portfolio;

Be fully available and willing to actively participate in all mandatory project activities;

Be able to communicate and work effectively in English.

We especially encourage applications from: 

Women artists; 

Artists from underrepresented or vulnerable groups;

Those with experience in community-based or socially engaged practices.

Restrictions: No participation available to residents of the Russian Federation or Republic of Belarus.

How to apply

The ART4MENTAL Open Call consists of two stages:

Stage 1 – Online Application

Submit your application form, including artistic portfolio, short motivation letter, curriculum vitae and signed declaration of honours through our official web site. 

https://www.art4mental.com/application

Stage 2 – Final Interview

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a 20-30 minute conversation with our Selection Committee.

For full eligibility criteria and application guidelines, see Guide for Applicants:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1onqADrRC0QnFGqLMV2P7A8ZVJby-xQgC/view.

Timeline

Call opens: 11 August 2026 

Application deadline: 11 November 2026, 18:00 CEST (Brussels)

Announcement of selected artists: January 2027

About the project

ART4MENTAL brings together 8 partner organizations - leading universities, technology providers, and mental health charities - to explore how immersive art can support mental well-being. Born from the recognition that traditional mental health approaches frequently lack the emotional, creative, and culturally sensitive dimensions needed for true healing, the project combines artistic vision with cutting-edge immersive technology and evidence-based therapeutic practice.

“I am fascinated by the use of VR and immersive environments for mental well-being that can empower young adults and vulnerable groups in self-expression and resilience building. Through creative arts, ranging from performance arts to visual installations, we have the possibility to communicate emotions and create a sense of belonging. VR-enhanced art therapy developed during the project has the potential to be used in health promotion, but also as a medium for self-expression and self-discovery…” - Sanna Kuoppamäki, associate Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.