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In 2026, Maastricht University will celebrate its 50th anniversary and the Hustinx Foundation, established with the aim of promoting the arts and sciences in Maastricht, will celebrate its 65th anniversary. That is why we are joining forces and offering two artists a unique opportunity to reside at the university for a month. We are looking for artists who are curious and eager to be inspired by the wide range of research offered by the university. Whether you are interested in gravitational waves, macroeconomics, European culture, human rights, the functioning of the brain, biochemistry or one of the many other research areas at UM, we are curious to see what you, as an artist, will do with this knowledge. Will you translate it into images, an experience or rather into text? All proposals are welcome; the two proposals that spark our curiosity and that we can match to a scientist will be rewarded with a working period and a presentation during the PAS Festival in September 2026.

Application deadline: 1 February 2026
Residency period: 10 working days between April and August 2026 (in consultation)
Location: Maastricht University
 

About the residency
Artists from all disciplines, such as musicians, theatre makers, visual artists and writers, are invited to take part in a one-month research residency at Maastricht University. The residency offers an environment where artistic and academic research meet, allowing new forms of knowledge, imagination and reflection to emerge.

During the residency, artists have the opportunity to work within the university community, engage with researchers, students and lecturers, and create new work inspired by a field of study at UM. The result may be a performance, intervention, presentation, installation or other experimental format, depending on the nature of the research.

Aim of the residency

• To stimulate exchange of knowledge and ideas between artistic and scientific practices;
• To provide space for developing or deepening the participant's artistic practice within a scientific context;
• To contribute to the visibility of art and artists within the university.

Who can apply
Professional artists who are interested in interdisciplinary research and dialogue with scientists within an university. Experience with research-oriented work is an advantage, but not required. To be eligible for this residency, you must be a resident of Limburg or have a demonstrable connection with Limburg.

What we offer

• A match between your research proposal and scientists from one of the faculties, with the aim of promoting knowledge exchange and access to scientific practice.
• Guidance with the above and support with research and organising presentation opportunities.
• A stipend of €3,000, including VAT.
• A production budget of up to €1,000, including VAT.
• The residency provides a working period, but not accommodation.

What we ask for

• A short proposal (max. 1,000 words) explaining the research idea, describing the connection between art and science, and outlining how you plan to organise your time;
• A CV and portfolio (max. 10 pages);
• Proposal for collaboration with specific research groups, themes or faculties within Maastricht University (www.maastrichtuniversity.nl).
• An initial idea for a result to be presented (e.g. artwork, performance, report or workshop) in one of the Maastricht University buildings in the city centre during the Pleasure, Art & Science Festival (www.pasmaastricht.nl) on the first weekend of September 2026. We assume that you will be available that weekend.

Selection procedure
A committee consisting of representatives from Maastricht University and the Hustinx Foundation will assess the submissions based on:

• artistic quality;
• relevance and originality of the research proposal;
• potential for dialogue between art and science;
• feasibility.

Submission

Send your proposal in PDF format to pas-sg@maastrichtuniversity.nl with the subject line Artist in Residence 2026.

Deadline: 1 February 2026.

Candidates will be notified about the selection by 1 March at the latest.

If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Strating, curator of visual arts at UM; Barbara.Strating@maastrichtuniversity.nl

About the parties involved

The Hustinx Foundation was established in 1961 to promote the arts and sciences in Maastricht. The foundation awards various prizes each year and provides financial support for innovative initiatives.

Maastricht University (UM) was founded in 1975. Situated in the heart of Europe, Maastricht University is the most European university in the Netherlands. With nearly 23,000 students and almost 5,000 staff members, UM is dynamic, interdisciplinary and deeply engaged with society.

The Art and Heritage Committee is responsible for managing Maastricht University's art and heritage collections. It commissions artists from the region, develops various educational projects  and organises exhibitions.

Studium Generale is the platform for science, culture and society at UM. It programmes around 80 in-depth programmes per year and organises the biennial PAS Festival.

PAS Festival
Maastricht University’s Studium Generale has been organising the freely accessible PAS Festival at the start of each academic year since 2014. PAS stands for Pleasure, Art & Science.

During the PAS Festival, Maastricht University opens its doors to anyone who wants to get acquainted with the university and the research that takes place there. Over the space of two evenings, more than 60 activities take place each evening. Scientists from the university present the results of their research through lectures, conversations and (interactive) demos, etc. There are also cultural activities, such as theatre and dance performances, concerts, video presentations and exhibitions.

The festival connects the university with the city, art with science, researchers with society, and students with other citizens of Maastricht.

Biennially
Given all the positive reactions from the audience, volunteers and participants, Studium Generale would like to continue organising the festival on an annual basis. However, this is not feasible, due to rising costs and increased pressure on the small team of organisers. To maintain the size and quality of the festival, Maastricht University has decided to hold the festival every two years instead. This means there will be no edition in 2023. But we will be back again in 2024, at the start of the academic year.