Open Call Festival Curation transmediale 2026

Festival Curation for transmediale 2026

Application deadline: Sunday, 16 February 2025
Contract: April 2025 – February 2026

transmediale e.V. is inviting applications for Festival Curation for transmediale 2026. The festival curator’s central responsibility is the development of the curatorial concept and programme for the upcoming edition of transmediale festival. The position invites one or more persons with previous curatorial experience to critically engage with topics at the intersection of art, technology, science, society, and politics, and to contribute to transmediale’s long history as one of the the leading festivals of art and digital culture.

transmediale creates a space for critical reflection on art and technology, bringing together transdisciplinary communities and diverse audiences with an interest in digital cultures. For almost forty years, the annual festival for art and digital culture has gathered international artists, researchers, activists, and thinkers to develop new outlooks on our technomediated era. transmediale festival takes place annually at the end of January and builds the core of the organisation’s programming. Beyond the yearly event, transmediale is a transversal, dynamic platform with a vibrant community and a strong network that facilitates year-round activities including publications, events, commissions, and artist residencies.

Recent festivals have been hosted at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), with additional editions at Akademie der Künste and silent green Kulturquartier. One of transmediale’s closest cooperation partners is CTM Festival. The German Federal Cultural Foundation has supported transmediale as a cultural institution of excellence since 2004.

On transmediale 2026

When: 27 Jan – 1 Feb 2026

The programme includes a broad spectrum of formats, aligning with transmediale’s festival structure: a discourse programme including different formats (lectures, panels, conversations, presentations, and talks), a workshop programme, a video and film programme, a performance programme, and installations and art projects presented during the festival days. The festival programme also includes events and projects stemming from both longstanding and new partnerships, reflecting the evolving structure of transmediale.

Scope of Work, Major Roles and Responsibilities

The position involves developing the programme for the 2026 edition of transmediale festival, integrating academic discourse, knowledge exchange, workshops, and artistic projects. In addition to a strong curatorial vision, we are looking forward to working with someone who has social competence, integrity, and exceptional communication abilities. The person or group sought for this role will be working closely with the existing festival team and within the existing infrastructures provided; they will be responsible for the content of the programme, represent the festival in the public sphere, and contribute to transmediale’s local and international networks of partners and stakeholders.

The tasks will include: establishing the festival concept, theme, and title, and developing an event and programme structure in dialogue and cooperation with the festival management, executive and advisory board; selecting participants, projects, and artworks; producing related texts and contributing to all tasks related to public relations and fundraising; adhering to budget management policies for transmediale 2026 and supporting the acquisition of additional financial resources; cooperating and collaborating with the transmediale team, including participating in selected meetings and following relevant team workflows and procedures; submitting reports throughout the process.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Possess comprehensive knowledge of international contemporary and media art, with the ability to critically examine topics at the intersection of art, technology, media and science, society, and politics.
• Possess a clear curatorial and thematic vision and develop it in exchange with all stakeholders.
• Have experience in programme development across multiple formats and demonstrate an experimental approach to curatorial concepts. Successful experience in leading cultural projects or initiatives is advantageous.
• Candidates should have a pronounced interest in issues that move society and bring with them a supra-regional network in the art and cultural scenes.
• Exhibit excellent communication skills, integrity, a collaborative mindset and have the ability to generate detailed briefings and documentation that correspond with the culture of transmediale.
• Applicants must be fluent in either English or German with at least a good command of the English language.
• Candidates must be aligned with the values of transmediale and its history, unconditionally support human rights, and reject sexual harassment and all forms of discrimination.

Conditions of Work

Position period: At the earliest convenience, latest May 2nd 2025 until February 2026

Time Commitment: The position requires ca. 75% time commitment overall across the contract period, with periods of full-time commitment in August/September and December/January.

Position Type: Freelance

Location: Berlin-based or willingness to relocate for key periods of time, especially in case of bigger time zone differences.

The position may be filled by an individual, duo, or group acting as a single curatorial entity. Collaborations with additional curators for specific programme segments are possible and should be outlined in the concept proposal submitted during the application process.

Compensation: 40.000€ net (individual) / 50.000€ net (group)

Required Documents and Submission

Required documents:

• Application Form (download here)
• Cover Letter (less than 1500 words)

Please download the application form. Additional documents other than the required documents listed above will not be reviewed.

Submission:
Submit the completed form and cover letter via email to apply@transmediale.de. Email subject line and attachments must include the applicant’s name(s).

Evaluation Process

After the submission deadline, a shortlist of candidates will be selected for interviewing and invited to submit and present a festival concept for transmediale 2026. The presentation of the concept will be followed by questions from the interview panel consisting of transmediale team and board members Nora Al-Badri, Asia Bazdyrieva, Gabriele Horn, and Jussi Parikka. The interview will be held in English.

Application deadline: 16 February 2025
Document review period: 17 – 28 February 2025
Announcement of selected candidates for interviews: 28 February 2025 (tentative)
Final interview: 28 March 2025

Interviews of candidates will be conducted online unless candidates wish to travel to Berlin (transportation/accommodation cannot be provided)

Future Development

Following a renewed curatorial model developed in 2024 by the transmediale team, transmediale e.V. and its advisory board, the festival will publish yearly calls for its festival curation. In 2026, no exhibition is planned alongside the festival.

The transmediale team looks forward to working together with the new festival curation to develop the 2026 festival edition. Read more about transmediale, its organisation, team and history.