STAGES is a yearly residency program initiated by iMAL and A Two Dogs Company. Both organisations join forces to offer a yearly transversal residency opportunity to artists and creators. 

As part of their firm commitment with the local artistic ecosystem, both organisations will offer their resources and expertise in the crossroads of the fields of digital and performing arts. The residency offers technical and dramaturgical support at the interstices of the black box and the white cube.

The selected project will benefit from the support, knowledge and resources of both organisations. The residency will take place in both venues, at A Two Dogs Company  atelier & studio and at iMAL spaces and lab and will be accompanied technically and artistically by both teams. 

There is no specific theme, however as the title indicates, we are looking for artists who wish to work in the confluence of performing arts and digital arts. The residency aims to support the development of project in which technical elements play an essential role.

The residency at iMAL will take place between April and May 2025.

The residency at ATDC will last for one year.

iMAL is a cultural organisation, located in Molenbeek, Brussels, combining the roles of an Art Center and a Lab. The approach of iMAL's 25th anniversary marks the beginning of a broader reflection on resilience, resistance to the dominant definition of progress, and the responsibility of fostering solidarity.

iMAL supports artistic practices that critically engage with digital technologies. We propose a multi-voiced and transdisciplinary approach to contemporary issues through our program consisting of exhibitions, research and production residencies, reflection and training, and public engagement.

iMAL also has its own workshop, the iMAL Fablab, where residencies take place every year. The Fablab also has its own public access system, with the aim of making technology accessible to all without distinction.

In the coming years, iMAL will explore the degrowth of computation and aims to emphasize the importance of regenerative production ecosystems.

The artistic practice of Kris Verdonck has developed and expanded in a very fruitful way over the last few years. His projects have been presented on stages as well as in museums in Belgium and abroad. This growth can only be consolidated if a small flexible organisation can follow up and structure the work on a permanent basis.

Theatre is never made alone: it is no longer the work of one dog, but about the practice of several dogs that play together. That’s why Kris Verdonck has chosen a name inspired by Friedrich Torberg’s poem, ‘Spleen’: A Two Dogs Company.

This call is aimed at emerging artists. Applicants must be resident in Belgium, regardless of nationality, gender, religion or ethnic origin. We strongly encourage candidates of all origins and identities to apply.

Please fill in the following form with a project description, a motivation letter, a workplan, a budget and a portfolio of selected works.

DEADLINE: 16.02.2025

iMAL will offer the artist a fee of 2.000,00€, a production envelope of maximum 1.000,00€, as well as curatorial and technical assistance along the one month of residency at its premises. iMAL will also offer the artist free access to training workshops along the Cookery event 2025 (17-21 April).

ATDC will allocate 2.000,00€ euro for research and development costs during the residency. ATDC offers studio space, technical, artistic and dramaturgical and organizational support. A technician will be available for one month to work on the project.

Note: the production envelope is in all cases a maximum. Costs must be directly linked to the production of the selected project and shall be used along the duration of the residency period. 

In return, the artist commits to presenting the outcome of the residency at the end of the residency period or in any case, within the program of iMAL or A Two Dogs Company in 2025/2026. This will be discussed and agreed with the artist in the course of their residency. The presentation of the project will have a separate budget.

In addition, iMAL and A Two Dogs Company must be mentioned in all project communications as a co-producers of the project.

Access to the workspaces will be from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 19:00. These hours may be modified in case of force majeure. 

Participation in this call implies acceptance of these guidelines, terms and conditions.

For any additional information or queries about the call please contact us at:
ipo@imal.org

iMAL has a good amount of technical equipment that may be made available to the projects during the residency, depending on their availability. In addition, iMAL will facilitate the artists' access to its fablab for the development of the projects. The iMAL team will assign a number of hours of use of the Fablab and technical, curatorial, and distribution consultancy according to the needs of the project and the availability of resources.

ATDC shares its expertise built over twenty years of making work in the zone between visual and performing arts. In addition to technical research support by the technical team, residents can make use of the wood and metal workshop and the media devices in stock. If needed and desired, the ATDC team offers dramaturgical, artistic, productional and organizational advice.

Artists will send their proposals through the form below and a jury made up of members of A Two Dogs Company and iMAL’s teams will evaluate them according to the following criteria:

1. Artistic and cultural interest of the project. 
2. The feasibility of carrying out the project.
3. The return activity proposed by the artist/collective.
4. The relationship of the proposal presented with the context of iMAL's and A Two Dogs Company’s programming 

After a first preselection made by the above mentioned jury, the preselected artists will be invited to present their project in an interview. 

The results of this open call will be announced to the selected candidate(s), on iMAL's  and A Two Dogs Company’s websites.