Until Aug 31, 2026
Grant - Performance
DRIFT Choreographer Open Call 2026
€20,000 DRIFT Choreographer Open Call 2026 Grants/Funds Contemporary Performance Network - August 3, 2026 European research program for mid-career choreographers with funding, residencies, mentoring, and international presentation opportunities. DRIFT Choreographer Open Call Table of Contents The DRIFT Choreographer Open Call invites mid-career choreographers to develop new artistic research through a two-year international program supported by Creative Europe. Rather than funding a finished production, DRIFT invests in artistic inquiry, experimentation, and long-term development. Ten choreographers will be selected across ten participating countries and will receive a €20,000 research budget, mentoring, residencies, online laboratories, and the opportunity to present work in progress during the Biennale de la danse in Lyon. OF THE FIELD. DRIFT Choreographer Open Call Snapshot What: International artistic research and development program for mid-career choreographers. Who: Professional mid-career choreographers based in Belgium, France, Germany (Berlin region), Greece, Norway, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, or Portugal. Where: Activities take place across Europe, including Berlin, Tunis, Lyon, online, and residencies hosted by each national DRIFT partner. Award / Support: €20,000 research budget, Onboarding Lab, Two weeks of residency with the national DRIFT partner, Three Online Labs, Artistic mentoring, Curatorial mentoring, Work-in-progress showcase at the Biennale de la danse in Lyon, International networking, Eligibility for a later co-production and touring phase for five artists Application Fee: FREE Residency Duration: One Onboarding Lab, two weeks of residency, three online labs, Festival Lab, and showcase between November 2026 and September 2027. Deadline: August 31, 2026 Official Link: https://driftdance.eu/artists/open-call Strategy Coach Notes: https://www.patreon.com/pformart/posts/drift-open-call-165569802 Get the Application Strategy DRIFT is built around artistic research rather than production. That distinction shapes every part of the application. Successful proposals demonstrate how an artist investigates ideas, develops methods, and creates conditions for future work instead of describing a finished performance they already intend to make. Reviewers will read every section of the application through that lens. Members of the Contemporary Performance Network can access the full Strategy Coach Notes for this opportunity. The guide breaks down each application question, explains what reviewers are assessing, identifies common weaknesses, and provides practical strategies for presenting a coherent research proposal. About the DRIFT Choreographer Open Call DRIFT, short for Dance & Research In The Future Time, is a four-year Creative Europe cooperation project that brings together ten cultural organizations across Europe. Led by Théâtre de Liège and Maison de la danse, the program creates long-term support structures for choreographers who have established national practices and are preparing to expand internationally. The program places research at the center of artistic development. Applicants are encouraged to arrive with questions instead of finished productions. Throughout the program, artists participate in residencies, mentoring sessions, collaborative online laboratories, and international meetings that allow ideas to evolve over time. Rather than accelerating production, DRIFT creates dedicated time for experimentation, exchange, and reflection before a project enters a larger production phase. Each participating organization selects one choreographer from its country, forming an international cohort of ten artists. Throughout the program, participants work within their local context while also engaging with artists and institutions across Europe. This combination of local support and international exchange is intended to strengthen long-term artistic relationships and expand future opportunities for collaboration. An additional phase follows the research program. After further evaluation, five of the ten selected artists may receive co-production support and touring opportunities across the DRIFT network. This second phase is separate from the current application and is not guaranteed for all participants. What Is Offered - €20,000 research budget - Artistic fees included within the research budget - Travel included within the research budget - Accommodation included within the research budget - Optional collaborator costs included within the research budget - One Onboarding Lab - Two weeks of residency with the national DRIFT partner - Three collaborative Online Labs - Individual artistic mentoring - Individual curatorial mentoring - Festival Lab in Tunis - Work-in-progress presentation during the Biennale de la danse in Lyon - International professional networking - Potential progression to co-production support and touring opportunities following a second selection process Who Should Apply DRIFT is intended for professional choreographers who have established a substantial national practice and are ready to expand their work through sustained international research. The program is designed for artists who already have experience developing and presenting work, yet have not become fully established internationally. Applicants should demonstrate a clear commitment to artistic inquiry, collaboration, and experimentation. The opportunity is especially well suited for choreographers whose next stage of development depends on time for research rather than immediate production. Artists proposing an exploratory process, testing new methodologies, or building the foundation for future work are well aligned with the program’s objectives. Applicants must: - Be a professional choreographer working in contemporary dance or performance. - Be considered a mid-career artist. - Be based in Belgium, France, Germany (Berlin region only), Greece, Norway, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, or Portugal. - Apply through the partner organization representing their country of residence. - Have a strong interest in artistic research and experimentation. - Demonstrate good command of English. - Be available for all required program dates. DRIFT Choreographer Open Call Timeline Application Opens: July 1, 2026 Application Deadline: August 31, 2026 Selection Process: September 1 to September 30, 2026 Results Announced: October 9, 2026 Kick-Off Meeting: November 30 to December 1, 2026- Berlin, Germany Program Activities: November 2026 through September 2027 Festival Lab: March 18 to March 21, 2027 – Tunis, Tunisia Biennale de la danse Showcase: September 18 to September 25, 2027 – Lyon, France Why The DRIFT Choreographer Open Call Matters Many residency programs support artists once a production is already underway. DRIFT focuses on an earlier stage of artistic development by investing in research itself. Participants receive structured time to investigate ideas, refine methodologies, exchange knowledge with peers, and strengthen international relationships before moving into production. The program also connects artists with ten major European cultural organizations through a shared development framework. That combination of research funding, mentoring, residencies, and international presentation creates a rare opportunity for choreographers seeking long-term artistic growth rather than a single residency or commission. For artists preparing to expand their work across Europe, DRIFT offers sustained institutional support that extends well beyond the initial research period. OF THE FIELD. Apply Applications must be submitted through the official DRIFT application portal via the partner organization representing your country of residence. Official Website: https://driftdance.eu/artists/open-call Deadline: August 31, 2026 Explore More Opportunities Looking for additional grants, residencies, fellowships, commissions, and open calls? - €20,000 DRIFT Choreographer Open Call 2026 - What Is an Artist Practice Notebook? A Year of Weekly Creative Practice - €1,300 Berlin Performance Art Award 2026 | NEW FEARS - FUNDED FRANCE ARTIST RESIDENCY | Camargo Fellowship 2027-2028 - €7,000 Venice Artist Fellowship and Residency | Scuola Piccola Zattere 2027
Award
residency, mentoring, online labs, showcase at Biennale de la danse Lyon
Entry fee
Fee-free
Eligibility
Eligible countries: BE, FR, DE, GR, NO, IT, ES, UA, TN, PT
Mid-career choreographers based in one of ten partner countries, apply via national partner org