Open Call for an Artist-in-Residence: Decoding Depression

Are you an artist interested in exploring social issues through your work? Then this open call from the European Commission could be for you. The Joint Research Centre (JRC), together with the EU Policy Lab and the Centre for Advanced Studies, is looking for an artist-in-residence to explore depression and mental health.

During the residency, you will investigate how different aspects of our environment shape mental wellbeing. This includes social connections, housing, work, digital media and the places where we live. The organisers are interested in how art can help make these complex issues more visible, relatable and open for discussion.

The call is open to artists from all disciplines. Experience with artistic research and social issues is an asset. Applicants must also have personal experience of depression or experience supporting someone close to them.

The selected artist will have six months to develop a research project, working alongside researchers and policymakers. A total budget of €15,000 is available to support the residency.

Application deadline: 18 October 2026.