OPEN CALL: ALFABO Connected

Create a Light Artwork that Connects People, Places and Urban Life.

Application deadline: 14 September 2026, 11:59 PM (CEST)
Submit your application to: klf@alfabo.dk
Interviews: 21 September 2026, 1:00–4:00 PM
Residency period: October–November 2026
Festival: Kolding Light Festival, 3–5 December 2026
Project budget: DKK 40,000.

We invite one artist or artist collective to develop a site-responsive light art project based in ALFABO's student housing areas.

The project should create new connections between:

• ALFABO's student housing areas

• the student housing areas and Kolding city centre

• students and the city's residents

• student life, cultural life and urban life.

The artistic interpretation is open, but we expect proposals to engage meaningfully with the qualities of the locations and demonstrate how art can create new encounters between people.

The final locations and placement of the artwork will be determined in dialogue with the selected artist or artist collective.

As the project forms part of Kolding Light Festival, light must be the primary artistic element.

We encourage artistic freedom and welcome proposals that combine light with, for example:

• light art

• sound

• projection and video mapping

• digital technologies

• interactive installations

• sensor-based experiences

• temporary spatial interventions

• participatory or socially engaged formats.

The medium itself is less important than the project's ability to create meaningful connections between people and places.

The project is based in ALFABO's student housing areas in Kolding. The housing is spread across several locations in the city, primarily around the city centre.

You are not expected to know the areas or have visited them before applying. We are primarily interested in your artistic vision and your approach to the brief.

The final project will be developed during the residency in collaboration with ALFABO and based on the selected locations.

We encourage all applicants to explore the student housing areas on ALFABO's website before applying. This will provide useful context for developing your proposal. The project is expected to focus primarily on the following housing departments:

• Fredensgade (including Divelshul), Department 980-127

• Campus Living Kolding, Department 980-136

• Campus II, Department 980-137

• Teglgårdsparken, Department 980-138.

The residency will take place during October and November 2026.

During this period, the selected artist or artist collective will have the opportunity to work closely with the housing areas, explore their potential and develop the project in dialogue with ALFABO, residents and relevant partners.

We see the residency as much more than a production period. It is an opportunity to get to know the area, build relationships and allow encounters with people and place to shape the artwork.

As part of the residency, the selected artist or artist collective is expected to involve residents in the creative process through workshops, conversations or other participatory activities.

The process itself is a key part of ALFABO Connected. We are not simply commissioning an artwork for the festival—we are looking for a project that begins creating connections during its development. We therefore expect the residency workspace provided by ALFABO to be used as the primary base throughout the process.

The selected artist or artist collective will receive a total project budget of DKK 40,000 for the development and realisation of the project.

The budget is expected to be allocated as follows:

• 25% artist fee

• 75% production and materials

A financial report must be submitted upon completion of the project. ALFABO can assist with advance payments for materials where required.

In addition, ALFABO will provide:

• a workspace and relevant facilities throughout the residency

• project coordination and professional support

• contact with residents and local partners

• communication and promotion before, during and after the project

• coordination with Kolding Light Festival

• a written reference upon request following completion of the project.

The Open Call is open to both individual artists and artist collectives working within, for example:

• light art

• visual art

• lighting design

• design

• architecture

• digital media

• interdisciplinary artistic practice.

We particularly encourage artists and artist collectives who are in the early stages of their professional careers to apply.

Applications may be submitted individually or collectively. Artist collectives must appoint one primary contact person.

Collaborations with professionals from other disciplines are welcome where relevant to the project.

Your application must include:

• a short motivation (maximum one-page PDF or a video presentation)

• a project proposal including an estimated budget (maximum three-page PDF)

• a portfolio or examples of previous work (maximum three-page PDF)

• contact information.

• We encourage applicants to address the ambitions of this Open Call by describing how the proposed project:

• uses light as its primary artistic element

• creates connections between ALFABO's student housing, Kolding city centre, students and the wider community

• responds to the selected locations

• incorporates the residency and engagement with residents as part of the artistic process.

We are not looking for a fully developed project. We are looking for a strong artistic idea and a clear vision.

Application deadline: 14 September 2026, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Selected applicants will be invited to an interview on 21 September 2026 between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

Applications must be submitted to klf@alfabo.dk.

Applications will be assessed based on:

• artistic quality and originality

• the use of light as the primary artistic element

• the project's ability to create meaningful connections between people and places

• engagement with the qualities of the selected locations

• integration of the residency and resident participation

• feasibility within the proposed budget and timeline.

The selected artist or artist collective is expected to:

• actively participate in the residency during October and November 2026, using the residency workspace as their primary base

• collaborate with ALFABO and Kolding Light Festival throughout the planning and implementation of the project

• carry out the proposed participatory activities with residents

• be present throughout the public opening hours of Kolding Light Festival 2026.

The artist's presence during the festival is considered an important part of the project and an opportunity to engage directly with residents and festival visitors.

A contract will be signed between ALFABO and the selected artist or artist collective before the project begins.

The selected artist or artist collective retains the copyright to the artwork.

ALFABO is granted a non-exclusive licence to photograph, film and use images and video of the artwork for documentation, press, communication and promotional purposes relating to the project and ALFABO's activities.

The artwork is commissioned as a temporary installation for Kolding Light Festival 2026. Ownership of the physical installation, as well as any future reinstallation or continued use, will be agreed upon between ALFABO and the selected artist or artist collective as part of the contract.

August 2026
Open Call published.

14 September 2026
Application deadline.

21 September 2026
Interviews with shortlisted applicants.

October–November 2026
Artist residency, research, community engagement and production.

3–5 December 2026 – Kolding Light Festival
Presentation of the completed artwork.

If you have any questions about the Open Call, please contact Lene Almdal from ALFABO

Email: lam@alfabo.dk
Phone: +45 81 40 36 57

We look forward to receiving your application.