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Artist Residency Program

The Chamäleon Berlin gGmbH has been committed to the development of new circus works for almost 20 years and supports the contemporary circus scene in a variety of ways. In 2024 we are taking an exciting new step with the announcement of a temporary, expanded artist residency programme, supported by the prize money associated with the award of the Theaterpreis des Bundes. Over the next 18 months, the program will offer circus makers from different regions the opportunity to complete a three-week residency in our rehearsal studio The Cave, including mentoring, technical and production advice and financial support.

With this expanded residency open call, we want to support courageous circus projects that follow open creative processes and find compelling points of intersection with other strands of the performing arts. We encourage applications from artists and groups that aim to shed light on social, political and ecological issues. In this way, we hope to strengthen the thematic diversity of new circus projects. As a cultural organization, the Chamäleon aims to enable fairer access to the art form and we therefore particularly encourage artists who have experienced discrimination to apply. We see ourselves as a learning institution that continues to educate itself and critically examines its own role and the limitations of our perspectives.

The first artist residency is aimed at artists from Berlin, the application period is completed. The residency period is in May or June 2024, with exact dates to be determined by mutual agreement.

What we offer:

  • Free use of The Cave rehearsal room for three weeks
  • Financial support per residency day of €150 per artist
  • Dramaturgical advice and technical and production advice from the Chamäleon team
  • Mentoring in the areas of production, communication and strategy by the Chamäleon team
  • The possibility of a work-in-progress showing at the end of the residency

Projects must fulfill the following conditions:

  • The group size must not exceed 4 artists
  • At least 50% of the participating artists must be registered in Berlin
  • The central focus of the proposed project must be within the field of contemporary circus or physical theater
  • Applicants must be professionally producing artists/groups with at least one performed project
  • The residency project is at the beginning of the research or creative development process (ie no revivals or final rehearsals)
  • The project has no confirmed premieres or production partners
  • The applicants are not currently studying at a circus school or are not applying with a final project

Details of the rehearsal room:

  • Size approx. 6 x 9m
  • Rigging bar with suspension point (height approx. 4.30m)
  • 1 floor point
  • Basic sound equipment

At the beginning of April, a jury will decide on the award of the residency. The members are: Anke Politz (Artistic Director, Chamäleon Berlin), Geordie Brookman (Dramaturg, Chamäleon Berlin), Carolina Ortega (Performer, Writer and Director), Moritz Haase (Perfomer, Company Raum 305 ) and Jana Korb (Artist, Producer and Cultural Researcher).