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The programme

Each year, up to 20 artists participate in the WIELS Residency Programme for periods ranging from three to six months.

Residents are provided with studio spaces within an environment that encourages autonomy while offering opportunities for dialogue and feedback with their peers and Brussels’ unique artistic and interdisciplinary scene. The programme is enriched by weekly discussions with mentors, studio visits, presentations, and public moments that engage with broader artistic and theoretical debates. A residency at WIELS enables artists to further develop both their practice and their professional trajectory.

Candidates are not selected through unsolicited applications or by invitation. Artists are selected exclusively through open calls published by WIELS or in collaboration with partner institutions. Selection is based on the originality, coherence, and quality of the artistic proposal and discourse.

Open Call for Artists Based in Belgium

Two six-month residency sessions are organised annually. For each session, two to three studios are allocated to artists based in Belgium. The open call for these residencies is published each year in May via WIELS’ website and communication channels. This call is intended for Belgian artists or artists residing in Belgium who have completed their studies and have been actively contributing to the Belgian art scene for at least three years. Applicants are invited to submit an online form including their contact details, a brief description of their artistic practice, a statement of intent for the residency, and a portfolio of works accessible via a personal link. Selected artists are offered a six-month residency (January–June or July–December) and access to one of the nine studios at WIELS. Accommodation is not provided for artists based in Belgium.

Open Call for International Artists

The remaining studios are dedicated to international artists, selected through specific open calls organised in collaboration with partner institutions and foundations worldwide. These partnerships vary from year to year and are listed on this page. Particular attention is given to collaborations with regions that are underrepresented within the Belgian contemporary art context. Candidates are selected by a jury composed of WIELS curators, residency mentors, and invited external experts.

Contact

For enquiries about the residency programme or AFFILIATE, please contact the Residency Programme Coordinator.

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