OPEN CALL
Stadt Salzburg and INFLUX are happy to announce the Open Call for the second edition of “City Encounters - Begegne deiner Stadt!” to take place in the summer of 2026.
City Encounters is a series of artistic activations throughout the various districts of the city of Salzburg. The intention is to set up innovative spaces for unexpected, serendipitous meetings between the artists and citizens of Salzburg. As a way of expanding art beyond the exclusive theatre spaces into everyday life, the interdisciplinary projects of “City Encounters” take place almost entirely outdoors (except when it rains!). The event series is meant to be accessible to everyone as an artistic offering to all members of the public in the city of Salzburg. It is also a platform for the artists of Salzburg to directly engage with their audiences.
We invite artists based and working in the city of Salzburg, to apply with their artistic projects for outdoor settings in different districts of Salzburg.
The theme for this year’s edition is “Hidden in Plain Sight“.
City Encounters is an initiative of Stadt Salzburg funded by MA 2 – Kultur, Bildung und Wissen. Funding totaling EUR 35,000 will be provided for the implementation of the selected projects.
City Encounters 2026 is conceived and curated under the artistic direction of Nayana Keshava Bhat and produced by INFLUX - Network for Dance, Theatre and Performance.
OPEN CALL Criteria:
- The call is addressed to Salzburg-based professionally engaged artists.
- Individual artists as well as collectives may apply with their projects.
- The proposed projects can be new productions OR existing productions that are specifically adapted for the framework of City Encounters.
- Proposals can be for performance projects, workshops, or other experimental, hybrid formats.
- The selected projects must be presented at least 3 times to the public during the said period in at least two different venues.
- The selected projects will additionally be featured as part of the final event of the series, hosted by INFLUX on September 20, 2026, and are required to be available on this date. The projects will be realized in close coordination with INFLUX and may, for instance, take the form of pop-up performances.
- The projects must be created/adapted for outdoors/public spaces.
- A suitable indoor alternative location needs to be planned in case of rain forecast.
- The selected projects will be developed in close coordination with the curatorial team and realised in constructive collaboration, with a focus on the artistic presentation.
- Projects developed in cooperation with local organisations or community-based initiatives are considered an advantage.
What we offer:
- A professional team, creative collaboration, and a shared vision for an exceptional event series.
- A working budget to realise the project.
- A PR and marketing team with an overall PR concept, graphic design, press relations, marketing.
- Production support, if needed. The budget calculation for this should be included in your proposal.
- Practical support in terms of resource-sharing, applying for permits etc.
Documents required:
- Project description, including tentative locations – max. two A4-pages
- Filled out application form
- A budget roughly outlining the expected costs
- CV
- Upload your application here: https://cloud.stadt-salzburg.at/s/9FGyBXPfBiYqPZn
Framework:
Application deadline: March 15, 2026, 23:59 CET
The projects will be selected by a jury
Results will be announced until April 15, 2026
Project presentation: July, August, September 2026
Participation in the final event on September 20, 2026
For queries, please contact:
MA 2 – Kultur, Bildung und Wissen
Olga Simon, MA BA
Mozartplatz 5
5020 Salzburg
Tel. 0662 8072 3428
olga.simon@stadt-salzburg.at
