PIKNIK OPEN CALL
A Platform for Feeding Ecocentric Imaginations & Experimental Collaborations
Conceived and led by Xarkis, Cyprus.
Overview
PIKNIK is a newly launched nomadic platform and residency initiative by Xarkis aiming to create an informal and convivial space for bridging epistemic divides; attending to underrepresented rural perspectives; facilitating intergenerational, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge exchange; and, recentering play and senses into site-specific work through the intersection of art, design, performance, and craft with local ecologies.
PIKNIK comprises a site-specific residency, an anti-conference and a nomadic learning platform. Ecological awareness, climate action and collaborative learning are interwoven in a programme for residents, ranging from peripatetic visits to local cultural spaces and museums, to tacit and embodied knowledge(s) through workshops, and co-design. The first edition unfolds in three phases and will be hosted by the rural communities of Peyia and Droushia, both in the district of Paphos on the island of Cyprus.
For more info on the curatorial intention click here.
PIKNIK is conceptualised and led by Xarkis (Cyprus). It is supported by the Deputy Ministry of Culture – Department of Contemporary Culture (Cyprus), and with the support of the Regional Museum of Droushia and Akamas Rural Life Museum.
When
First Gathering : Debrief & Introduction for local applicants
Athalassa Park, Nicosia District (February 1st)
Second Gathering: Residency
Peyia, Droushia, Paphos District (14th February – 26th of February)
Third Gathering: (anti)conference
Peyia, 27-28th February 2026
Who Can Apply
Artists, architects, farmers, beekeepers, marine scientists, agro-ecologists, curators, designers, educators, activists, researchers, collectives, community initiatives, and research-based projects from Cyprus and abroad. We especially encourage participation from practitioners who engage with ecological awareness, food sovereignty, food history, critical agrarian studies and land and water-based activities. PIKNIK embraces peer-to-peer collaboration and relational methodologies; the selected applicants need to demonstrate an interest in collaborative, site-specific, and community-oriented practices.
What We Offer
- 500 Euros for participation in the residency and unconference
Please note: Collectives unfortunately are not eligible for more than 500 euros. - 200 Euros for participation in the unconference.
- Food and accommodation for residents.
- Food for unconference participants Letter of support for a travel grant to cover your travel expenses. More info here.
- Connection to local communities, partners, and organisations
- Opportunity to present work-in-progress
- Curatorial support and mentorship
- Support for developing new or ongoing work
- Inclusion in the publication and exhibition
How to Apply
Participants are invited to submit a project idea to be developed during the residency and presented at the PIKNIK unconference. When preparing your proposal please consider:
PIKNIK prioritises non-technical and non-intellectualised language as the primary means of communication with our hosting communities, throughout the activities of residency and the unconference. We are inviting you to be open to challenge the way you speak about your work and your research, and who you can learn from. This is especially important for us as we place emphasis on inclusive work with local communities, and in certain instances work with people who are not familiar with contemporary art forms and with the respective jargon.
PIKNIK prioritises generating a minimal ecological and carbon footprint. Therefore, these values should translate in the material lifecycle of your project.. We are guests and it is our responsibility not to burden the local communities with waste. If you feel like offering your work as a gift to the local community, you are warmly encouraged to do so, considering the appropriate conditions for such reciprocity have been clarified and someone from the community can receive and care for the work once you leave.
Please submit the following materials in a single PDF (max 10 MB). You can merge these documents on platforms such as Small PDF.
- A short bio (200 words)
-
- incl. Name, Surname or group name, if applying as a group
- A brief project proposal (500 words)
- Title of your proposed project and outline of the idea you want to explore
- Explain how it relates to the theme of this year’s call
- Outline with which members of the local communities you would like to meet with and how would you approach collaborating with them
- Share a tentative idea of what you wish to share during the unconference.
- Optional: proposal sketches or concept images
- Description of the technical support you will need, (tools, space, equipment) (150 words).
- A portfolio or documentation of previous work (10 pages)
- A CV (2 pages, incl. email address, contact number, links to your website and/or portfolio)
- For communication purposes across our digital platforms and social media, please send under the title “Communication”: A synopsis and bio in a language that is accessible to a general audience, with no jargon. (60 words)
- Image files:
- A profile picture and an image for social media (landscape, colour, high-res with no graphics, 1Mb)
- 3-4 related examples from your work/work in progress (JPEG, and/audio formats wherever applicable) and captions (1 Mb)
All of the material should be sent to christinaskarpari2@gmail.com with the subject line “PIKNIK Open Call 2025 – [Your Name/Collective]” by the 18th of January.
Shortlisted applicants may be invited for an online conversation with the curatorial team between 20th-21st of January. Please let us know if you are not available at any time during those two days.
About Xarkis
Xarkis is a nomadic cultural organisation fostering socially-engaged art and design practices that connect creativity with everyday life, ecology, and local communities. It promotes community engagement, solidarity with communities, and sustainability through art as a medium for social change. Active across Cyprus and internationally, Xarkis activates rural and urban environments through artist residencies, participatory projects, and research-based initiatives that link contemporary practice with local knowledge systems.
Contact for inquiries:
📧 christinaskarpari2@gmail.com
🌐 www.xarkis.org
