Call for Application for Transatlantic Stars

A unique three-year initiative is underway between the European Union and the United States: the Transatlantic Stars Visual Arts Program, a cross-cultural residency that pairs a European artist with an American artist for a fully funded 8-week artistic residency. The 2027 call for applications in its second cycle is now underway, with applications being accepted from mid-career visual artists from across the EU’s 27 Member States through October 30th. Only the first 300 applications will be considered. The residencies will take place in the United States between April and June 2027.

The mission of Transatlantic Stars is to connect European and American artists and communities through sustained artistic exchange, collaboration and public engagement. Selected visual artists will have the opportunity to pursue their own projects, develop new work, immerse themselves in local communities and engage with American industry professionals. In addition to being hosted as artists-in-residence, participants receive structured guidance and support to explore and engage with the American community they are joining. Transatlantic Stars is about collaboration and cultural exchange, culminating in a final work presented by the two artists. In addition, at the end of the residency, visual artists will join participants from the Film and Music Programs of Transatlantic Stars in Washington, D.C.

The inaugural year of the Transatlantic Stars resulted in a successful exchange that brought five artists from Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Sweden and Ireland to five residencies in the United States, including the Bunnel Street Art Center in Homer, Alaska, McColl Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Santa Fe Art Institute (SFAI) and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), New Mexico, Ucross Foundation, in Wyoming, and Granite Falls Community Artist in Residence Program in Granite Falls, Minnesota. “The visual arts have a distinct power to transcend cultural and geographic boundaries and to spark the imagination. The first cycle of Transatlantic Stars showed the extraordinary power of artists to do just that and to build lasting connections with communities across the United States. The artistic quality was remarkable, but just as important were the relationships created through collaboration and exchange. As we enter the second year, we want to build on that success and bring European and American artists even closer together.”  (EU Ambassador to the U.S., Jovita Neliupšienė)

The Transatlantic Rising Stars Project (TRSP), known as “Transatlantic Stars”, is a three-year initiative funded by the European Union and led by the EU Delegation to the United States. Through its film, visual arts and music programs, the project connects European creative talent with American peers, local communities and industry leaders, combining artistic exchange with professional engagement and public-facing activities.

How to Apply

Application materials are available via the submissions portal which opened on October 12, 2026 and closes on October 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM CET. Full application information is available HERE.

For questions related to the Visual Artist Program, please get in touch with [email protected].

For general inquiries about Transatlantic Stars, contact [email protected].