Develop a New Textile-Based Project with Industry Partners in Switzerland
The TaDA Residency Switzerland 2027 open call invites artists, designers, architects, writers, performers, and interdisciplinary practitioners to spend three months in Eastern Switzerland developing new work through direct collaboration with textile companies and research institutions. Six residents will be selected for one of two residency periods in 2027. The programme provides housing, workspace, travel support, living expense support, mentorship, and access to a network of textile partners. Applications are due August 12, 2026, at 23:59 CEST. This residency is particularly relevant for artists interested in materials, manufacturing, sustainability, innovation, and textile culture.
*Want more artist opportunities delivered every week? Join the Contemporary Performance newsletter and stay ahead of upcoming deadlines.
TaDA Residency Switzerland 2027 Snapshot
What: TaDA Artist-in-Residence Programme 2027
Who: National and international artists and creative professionals working in design, architecture, art, literature, performing arts, or interdisciplinary contexts with a demonstrated interest in textile culture, textile production, and sustainability.
Where: Arbon, Switzerland.
Award / Support: Shared apartment in Arbon; shared workspace in the former Saurer textile factory; coverage of travel costs; contribution to living expenses; professional exchange with partner companies and institutions; selective use of partner infrastructure; individual professional support from Martin Leuthold, the TaDA team, and external experts.
Residency Duration: Three months.
Application Opens: Open now.
Deadline: August 12, 2026, 23:59 CEST.
Official Link: https://tada-residency.ch/en/residence
Strategy Coach Notes: https://www.patreon.com/posts/strategy-coach-160613456
Get the Application Strategy
TaDA is structured around collaboration. The application portal requires applicants to identify one or more TaDA partners inside the project outline and confirm that those relationships have been incorporated into the proposal. This changes how the project should be developed. Reviewers are evaluating artistic quality, project feasibility, textile relevance, and the potential value of the collaboration itself.
Contemporary Performance Strategy Coach Notes break down the application questions, partner ecosystem, project outline structure, portfolio alignment, reviewer priorities, and common application weaknesses. Members can use these notes to build a stronger application before the deadline.
About the TaDA Residency Switzerland 2027
TaDA, or Textile and Design Alliance, was established in 2020 as a cultural funding initiative focused on experimental engagement with Swiss textile and design culture. The programme is organized in collaboration with textile companies, museums, research institutions, and innovation organizations throughout Eastern Switzerland. Residents are invited to pursue artistic research, design experimentation, and applied development projects connected to textiles and sustainability.
The programme annually hosts six residents from Switzerland and abroad. Participants are given direct access to industrial expertise and technical infrastructure that would often be difficult to access independently. The residency is designed to create exchange between artists and industry. Residents gain access to specialized knowledge while partner organizations benefit from creative perspectives and experimental approaches. Public presentations form part of the programme structure.
What Is Offered
- Three-month residency in Switzerland
- Private room within a shared apartment
- Shared studio and workspace
- Travel cost coverage
- Living expense contribution
- Mentorship from Martin Leuthold
- Professional support from the TaDA team
- Access to textile companies and institutions
- Research and development opportunities
- Selective use of partner infrastructure
- Public presentation opportunities
- International professional network
Who Should Apply
This opportunity is suited to artists and researchers whose work engages material processes, production systems, sustainability, manufacturing, innovation, or textile culture. Applicants do not need to identify as textile artists. The programme welcomes practitioners from multiple disciplines. The strongest applications will clearly demonstrate why access to textile expertise and industry partnerships is necessary for the project’s development.
Applicants should also be prepared to identify specific TaDA partners whose expertise contributes directly to the proposal.
Timeline
Application Deadline: August 12, 2026, 23:59 CEST
Selection Results: Early November 2026
Residency Period 1: April to June 2027
Residency Period 2: September to November 2027
Why TaDA Residency Switzerland 2027 Matters
Many residencies offer space and time for development. TaDA adds direct engagement with textile manufacturers, researchers, museums, and innovation organizations. The structure encourages artists to test ideas through collaboration with specialists who possess technical knowledge and production capabilities. For artists interested in material experimentation, sustainability, industrial processes, textile systems, or interdisciplinary research, the programme offers an uncommon level of access to expertise and infrastructure.
Apply
Official program page: https://tada-residency.ch/en/residence
Explore More Opportunities
*Want more artist opportunities delivered every week? Join the Contemporary Performance newsletter and stay ahead of upcoming deadlines.
Discover artist opportunities, grants, residencies, fellowships, and open calls updated weekly at ContemporaryPerformance.com.
