Open Call for Festival Curation 2027
40 Years of transmediale
Application deadline: Sunday, November 30, 2025
Contract: February 2026 – March 2027
transmediale e.V. is inviting applications for the Festival Curation for transmediale 2027. The festival curator’s central responsibility is the development of the curatorial concept and programme for the next edition of the festival, marking the 40th anniversary of transmediale. 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 leading festivals of art and digital culture.
Parallel to the festival, the anniversary year will include a major exhibition. Curated independently from the festival, it will pursue its own thematic direction while at the same time remaining in dialogue with the festival’s programme. The exhibition will be curated by Antonina Stebur.
transmediale creates a space for critical reflection on art and technology, bringing together transdisciplinary communities and diverse audiences with an interest in digital cultures. 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 and exhibitions have been hosted at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), silent green Kulturquartier, Akademie der Künste. The German Federal Cultural Foundation has supported transmediale as a cultural institution of excellence since 2004.
On transmediale 2027
When: 27.–31.01.2027
The programme includes a broad spectrum of formats, aligning with transmediale’s expected 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 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
The position involves developing the programme for the 2027 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 our festival team within the infrastructure provided; they will be responsible for the content of the programme, represent the festival in the public sphere, play an active role in fundraising activities 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 2027 and contributing to 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 at least 5 years of 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.
- Demonstrate solid experience in fundraising for cultural and artistic projects, with the ability to translate curatorial concepts into viable funding strategies for complex and interdisciplinary initiatives.
- 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 compatible with the culture of the organisation.
- 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, uphold respect for the dignity, safety, and equal treatment of all individuals, and reject sexual harassment and all forms of discrimination.
Conditions of Work
Position period: February 2026 until March 2027
Time Commitment: The position requires ca. 70% overall commitment across the whole contract period, with a full-time commitment from November 2026.
Position Type: Freelance
Location: Berlin-based or willingness to relocate for key periods of time. Relocation to Berlin is required from October/November 2026.
The position may be filled by an individual or group.
Compensation: 40.000€ net (individual) / 50.000€ net (group)
Submission
- Application Form (to be provided as a download)
- Cover Letter (less than 700 words)
Please download the application form here. Additional documents other than the required documents listed above will not be reviewed.
Submission: Submit the completed form via email to apply@transmediale.de
Email subject line and attachment 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 2027. 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: 30 November
Announcement of selected candidates for interviews: 10 December (tentative)
Interview (online for all parties): 15 January 2026
The transmediale team looks forward to working together with the new festival curator(s) to realise the festival as part of the 2027 festival edition.
transmediale e.V.
Image credit: Neïl Beloufa, Host B trying to reach out to its audience, transmediale 2023, Akademie der Künste, Berlin. Photo by Laura Fiorio
