OPEN CALL 2026-2027
ARTISTIC PROGRAMME AND GRANT

UKS (Young Artists’ Society) constantly aims to become more open, embrace risk taking and remain unmapped. We want to be a home to many, to weave relationships, respond to our neighbourhood, encourage conversations and be a testing ground for ideas, materials and forms.

We invite artists and cultural practitioners based in Norway and abroad to apply to develop and present new works at UKS. This year, UKS invites applications for the following:

• One commission for socially engaged art to be developed in 2026.
• Five commissions of new work to be presented at UKS in 2027.
• Two grants for artists under the age of 35, funded by Snorre Andersen, Maleren Ambrosius Egedius and Hustrus Legat (SAMAEHL).

Read more about the different formats below.

 

2027 ARTISTIC PROGRAMME
For the 2027 Artistic Programme Open Call, UKS encourages artists and cultural practitioners to develop a new work in conversation with UKS. The works may inhabit any of our public spaces: the library, workshop space, open kitchen and/or exhibition space. All formats are welcome: works may extend over time, be shaped through processes, feature plinths, include vivid colours, emerge from participation, have none of these elements or all of them at once. Those selected will become participants in a vibrant space that is used by many different people. It is UKS’ hope that we can foster a nourishing exchange of ideas and relationships.

• The Artistic Programme Open Call focuses on emerging and experimental practices.
• Selected participants will be invited to participate in a workshop in Oslo in early 2026.
• Unlike our previous Open Call, this opportunity does not offer a solo exhibition at UKS.

 

HOW TO APPLY
The application deadline is 3 July 2025, 1pm CEST.

The application must be sent digitally. Click here to access the online application form.

 

The application must include:

• A description of your practice, maximum 2,500 characters (with spaces). If in doubt, focus on what you are working on now. What are your current interests? How do you work with materials? How do you work with other people?
• A portfolio, including a maximum of 10 high-resolution images collated in one PDF (maximum size 6MB). Please focus on the direction your work has taken over recent years.
• Video and audio material should be linked from within the portfolio; please keep the entirety of the material to a maximum of 10 minutes in total.
• CV of maximum 2 pages (PDF max. size 6MB).
• A short reflection that describes what you expect from working with UKS, maximum 500 characters (with spaces).

 

Practical information:

• Applicants are not expected to describe concrete plans for an exhibition or the production of work.
• Considering the large number of applications to be reviewed, we advise applicants to:
  • Make your applications as concise and clear as possible
  • Submit your material in good time in case of any technical problems.
• Applications can be submitted in Norwegian, English, Danish or Swedish.
• The application portal will be open from 6 June 2025 at 1pm to 3 July 2025, 1pm CEST. Applications received after the application deadline will not be reviewed.
• Questions can be addressed to application@uks.no. Replies can be expected within one week. Please note that UKS is closed from 5 July to 3 August 2025, during which all members of staff are on holiday.
• Persons who hold office in the UKS board and nomination committee organisation cannot apply.

 

WHAT WE OFFER
UKS offers support for the development of your new work and provides production costs, honorarium and a fee (if applicable). We help you apply for additional funds.  In the past, artists have successfully applied for funding from the Norwegian Arts Council and other public and private funding bodies.

The selected applicants will be engaged in an ongoing dialogue with UKS’ director and curator. In addition, UKS provides support with production coordination, technical assistance, administrative support and the infrastructure of our institution. We also provide a travel budget which will be individually discussed.

All selected participants will receive:

 

For the 2027 Artistic Programme

• A production budget of 30,000,- NOK paid directly to the participant
• An honorarium of 30,000,- NOK [1]
• A fee (Norwegian: vederlag) which is calculated in accordance with the Norwegian Government Remuneration Agreement (Statens avtale om utstillingsvederlag) [2]

 

For the 2026 Social Practice Commission

• An honorarium of 100,000,- NOK
• A production budget of 120,000,- NOK paid out to the artist or managed by UKS if so decided
• A fee (Norwegian: vederlag) which is calculated in accordance with the Norwegian Government Remuneration Agreement (Statens avtale om utstillingsvederlag), if applicable
• Additional production assistance and conversations with KORO curators and producers

 

GRANTS 2025: SNORRE ANDERSEN, MALEREN AMBROSIUS EGEDIUS AND HUSTRUS LEGAT (SAMAEHL)
In 2025, UKS announce two scholarships of 50,000,- NOK from Snorre Andersen, Maleren Ambrosius Egedius and Hustrus Legat (SAMAEHL). SAMAEHL stipulates that funds ‘will go to grants for young, gifted artists’. The grants must be awarded to artists under the age of 35, are unrelated to the UKS programme, and can only be granted to an individual once.

To apply for the scholarship:

• Submit the same documentation as for the Artistic Programme
• Tick the box that confirms you are eligible for the grant
• Recipients of the grant must be able to provide documentation to prove that they were under 35 years of age at the time of application
• Only artists can apply for the SAMAEHL grant

 

THE JURY
Applications to UKS’ Open Call are evaluated by the UKS Jury, consisting of the Chair of the Board plus three Board Members, all of whom are professional and working artists, as well as the Director of UKS. Curator Maria Stephansen will join the jurying of the Open Call for Social Practice Commission. KORO is not involved in the selection of artists for the Social Practice Commission, but will be an important partner in developing the work alongside the artist and UKS.

Jury members for the 2027 Open Call are: Ragnhild Aamås (Chair), Sarah Sekles, Andreas Olavssønn Rongen, Jiska Huizing and Miriam Wistreich (Director).

Applicants can expect to be notified in October 2025.

 

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FOOTNOTE TO THE BUDGET CATEGORIES

1. Honorarium:
   The funding for the honorarium comes from a pilot funding scheme by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and is subject to its continuation in 2026. The honorarium covers non-artistic labour related to the exhibition such as planning, administration, mediation, technical and logistical work.
2. Fee:
   The fee is for exhibition copyright. The basis for the calculation is the ‘avtale om utstillingsvederlag’ between the artist organisations and the Norwegian state.

 

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FAQ

Q: I am a member. Why does my profile say that I am not a member?
A: The page has not been updated. Please disregard and continue your application.

Q: Why am I not able to upload attachments?
A: Make sure your file is under 6MB and that the file name does not contain spaces or special signs or symbols such as ä ö æ ø å . & , % # ; ( ) ! @$ ^ ‘ { } [ ] ? < > – —. If the problem persists, please email application@uks.no.

Q: When will I hear from you?
A: The jurying process is planned to take place throughout August and September. We aim to let applicants know the results in October.

Q: When is the deadline for the next Open Call after this one?
A: Keep an eye on our website and social media!

Q: Is UKS’ Open Call only open to artists who have not yet had a solo exhibition in Oslo?
A: No, many of our exhibitors have had exhibitions in other venues before showing at UKS.

Q: I am trying to reset my password but the site keeps sending me in a loop. Can you help?
A: We can generate a new password for you. Please email application@uks.no.

Q: I have already turned 35. Can I still apply for the SAMAEHL grant?
A: No. You should be maximum 34 years and 364 days old at the time of the application deadline on 3 July 2025.

Q: I am over 35 years old. Can I still apply for the Open Call?
A: Yes! There is no upper age limit for applicants.

Q: We would like to apply as a group. Is there a limit of how many group members can apply?
A: Great that you are applying collectively! There is no upper limit but please note that we are still working out how to manage honorarium and fees for groups and that we are not currently able to multiply individual fees to match large groups.

Q: We are applying as a group. Should we attach individual portfolios?
A: We are pleased to receive collective applications at UKS! Please attach one portfolio that gives the jury a clear idea of the collective practice.

Q: Can I apply for all the categories in the Open Call?
A: Yes, just tick the relevant boxes and we will jury your application accordingly.

Q: How should I differentiate my application for the different categories?
A: You shouldn’t. We base our reading and decisions on your overall practice, so please focus on giving us a good impression of what you do.

Q: I am confused about the Open Call! Can I learn more?
A: You can! This form of the Open Call is new and mirrors our desire to test new ways of collaborating and curating institutional programmes. Here is an interview (in Norwegian) that might help you.

Q: How many applicants are there?
A: For previous Open Calls, which focused on solo exhibitions, UKS has received up to 450 applications, of which three artists were selected to develop their projects. For the 2027 Artistic Programme Open Call, we plan to select five participants.

Q: How does the jury process work?
A: The jury holds an initial meeting to address interests, biases and expectations. Each jury member then reads through all submitted applications, after which a longlist of approximately 75 artists is compiled. In preparation for our next meeting the longlist is reviewed and read by all jury members. All applications on the longlist are discussed until we arrive at a shortlist of 15–20 applications. The UKS director then conducts digital studio visits with these applicants. In a final programming meeting, decisions are made for the 2027 Artistic Programme, the Social Practice Commission and recipients of the grants.