Applications open for the international Democracy Residency “European Dream”
Updated: pirms 6 dienām
On International Day of Democracy, the Democracy Foundation is opening applications for the international Democracy Residency “European Dream”, organised as part of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme. The residency will take place in Kuldīga in August 2027.
Applications are open from 15 September to 15 November 2026. Six participants from different fields and European countries will be selected to bring together diverse experiences, knowledge and skills, and to explore new, unexpected and meaningful ways not only to talk about democracy, but to experience it.
Democracy can sometimes feel like something that belongs in parliamentary chambers and official documents. During the residency, it will move out into the city and meet people in their everyday lives. At the heart of the residency is one central question: how can democracy be made tangible? How can we explore participation, power, trust, difference and the challenge of living together in ways that speak not only to the mind, but also to emotions, imagination and the body?
Over the course of three weeks, residents will develop activities to be included in the programme of the Kuldīga Democracy Festival. These might take the form of a game, workshop, performance, a new format for conversation or participation, or something that does not yet have a name. We are looking for ideas in which festival visitors are not simply spectators, but become active participants. The festival will take place at the end of the residency, on 20 and 21 August 2027.
People from a wide range of fields, places and backgrounds are invited to apply — civic activists, artists, researchers, journalists, educators, designers, architects, athletes, entrepreneurs, social workers, chefs, programmers, marketing and communication professionals, and people from many other walks of life.
What matters most is not your job title, but your interest in democracy, your willingness to experiment, and your ability to turn your experience into something others can take part in. The residency will be a space for experimentation — you do not need to arrive with a ready-made solution to the challenges facing democracy today. A good question, an idea worth trying, a willingness to collaborate, and the readiness to spend three weeks thinking, creating, testing and reworking will be enough.
Residents will be encouraged to develop activities together, while individual work will also be possible. Local people will be involved in the planning and development process, creating opportunities for experiences from across Europe to meet local perspectives from Kuldīga.
Each of the six participants will receive accommodation in Kuldīga Old Town and a EUR 1,000 stipend for everyday expenses during the residency. In addition, each participant will have access to a budget of up to EUR 1,000 for the development and implementation of their activity.
The selection process will take place in two stages. Applications will first be reviewed, and the strongest candidates will be invited to an online interview. Following the interviews, six residents will be selected. When forming the group, we will consider not only the quality of the applications and the potential of the ideas, but also the diversity of the participants — including their professional backgrounds, countries, age, gender and other aspects. Democracy depends on hearing different voices, and the residency will therefore bring together people with as wide a range of perspectives as possible.
Application period: 15 September–15 November 2026
Selection results announced: January 2027
Residency dates: 3–23 August 2027
Location: Kuldīga, Latvia
Number of participants: 6
Who can apply: residents of European countries (not limited to EU Member States)
Support provided: accommodation and a EUR 1,000 stipend for everyday expenses
Budget for activity development and implementation: up to EUR 1,000 per participant
The Democracy Residency “European Dream” is implemented as part of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme, with funding provided by Liepāja State City Municipality, South Kurzeme Municipality, Kuldīga Municipality and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.
The Liepāja 2027 programme is supported by its main partner in environmental education and sustainability, AS CleanR Grupa; its main partner in air mobility and international communication, AS Air Baltic Corporation; its legal partner, SIA Sorainen ZAB; its land mobility partner, SIA Lux Express Latvia; and its water transport mobility and international communication partner, SIA Stena Line.
Media partners: VSIA Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs, SIA Žurnāls Santa, SIA TVNET GRUPA and AS Kurzemes Radio.
Photo credit: Sintija Šlēgels
