Rent-free Summer at Improper Walls - OPEN CALL

Application deadline: 22.06. 2026

During the Summer, the Improper Walls team takes time to rest, which means that our space is temporary without a program. Because we believe that having access to space is an unequally distributed privilege, especially in the fields of culture and arts, we have decided to share ours. 

Inspired by Das Lot’s concept OPENLOT, we see this as an opportunity to offer our space without financial cost and pressure and expectations to develop an end project needing to be showcased in order to provide proof of productivity, thereby rejecting the prevailing logic that access to resources must be earned. 

Rent-Free Summer is a two week, cost-free use of the Improper Walls space, offered to an artist, collective, or other art professionals, working across different roles within the field. We offer autonomous use of our space, which consists of the exhibition area, office/bar, and toilet, as well as some equipment available on site. The space can be used for a variety of purposes: starting, developing or finishing a project, conducting research, exhibition, performances, film screenings - in short, any form of artistic practice or research. 

*A public showcase or any form of public presentation is not required, but it is welcomed if the participant(s) decide to do so. 

With this in mind, our space is small and deeply personal to us, serving as an everyday working environment, which is why we require an open call format and a selection process to ensure the space is not overwhelmed. While the selected art professional(s) will have a high-level of autonomy while using the space, we require it to be used respectfully and with the responsibility to treat it with care.

HARD FACTS

When?

Our space is available from July 27th until August 17th.

About the space

• 55m2

• running water, electricity, Wi-Fi

• access to exhibition space, office/kitchen, toilet, certain equipment (to be specified), Grätzel Oase

• located on the ground floor, toilet is not wheelchair accessible

We require you to leave the space in the same condition in which you received it: clean, undamaged and without any structural changes. 

Who can apply?

Artists, art collectives, other art professionals (that includes but is not limited to curators, writers and critics) based in Vienna at the time of the programme that are in need of a space to work, develop, or present their project. We cannot support travel, accommodation, or living costs. 

What we do not accept:

• commercial and religious projects

• anything that violates our Code of Conduct 

• anything that could cause permanent changes/damage to our space or the surrounding area
  

Application

• Contact information

• Motivational letter (maximum one A4 page) 

• Description of how you would use the space during the two weeks.

• CV

**Please apply through this application form by June 22nd, 2026, 23:59 (CET).

Selection process:

The selection will be made by the Improper Walls team and will be divided into two parts:

1. Overview of the applications

We will review all applications and select a shortlist of submissions. All applicants will be informed of the outcome by June 30th, 2026.

2. Interviews (first week of July, 2026)
The pre-selected applicants will then be invited for an interview, during which we will discuss their submissions in more detail. Interviews will take place during the first week of July, and the final selection of one project will be communicated by 7th of July.

If you have any additional questions about the open call and the application, please contact us at: sayhi@improperwalls.com.