MBZ LAB // Sonic Collaboration in Unconventional Spaces: Music Biennale Zagreb invites individual artists and small collectives from South East Europe working in sound and music to join MBZ LAB, a ‘project incubator’ experiment. MBZ LAB reimagines how festivals commission and produce new works, particularly collaborative, sound-based projects designed for unconventional spaces. We are looking for bold, imaginative, process-driven artists who want to activate public spaces or unusual sites and reimagine the audience experience. The full call is available on the MBZ website in Croatian and English. Please submit your application (in Croatian or English) by Monday 1 September 2025 midnight CET to be considered for the first-round selection. Artists must be available for a 3–4 day research visit in Zagreb, scheduled between October 27 and 31, 2025. Core activity days are October 28, 29, and 30, with October 27 and 31 intended as travel days.
How to Apply
Please complete a brief form to share your artistic statements, capture essential contact information and verify your eligibility.
Your application must include:
- CV of the artist or creative team (up to two pages – if applying as a duo, include both individual and joint achievements)
- Portfolio of selected works (up to three works / ve pages total maximum. May include photos, text and links to video/audio.
- Artistic statement addressing the following three questions (1000 words max / 6000 characters):
- How does your work engage with sound, music, or acoustic practices in unconventional spaces?
- What is your collaborative practice?
- What kind of experience do you aim to create for your audience?
Please ensure your statement communicates your creative methods and vision in relation to these themes.
Timeline
- 21 July 2025 12 pm CET – Online meeting with MBZ team (register here)
- 1 September 2025 midnight CET – Application deadline (apply here)
- 2–5 September 2025 – Jury meeting
- September 10 2025 – Shortlisted artists notied; rst online meeting
- October 27th – 31st 2025 – Research visit to Zagreb
- 8 December 2025 – Deadline for full proposals
- January 2026 – Follow-up conversations with artists
- February–March 2026 – Final project selection
- April–May 2026 – Selected commissioned projects announced
- April 2027 – Premières at the 34th Music Biennale Zagreb
Additional Information
- Applications should be submitted in English
- No application fee is required
- Commissioning fees and production budgets will be claried and co-designed with selected artists during the second round.
- Residency, mentorship, and development opportunities will be tailored to meet the specic needs of each selected project.
If you have questions: Email fanny.martin@mbz.hr (please note that we may not be able to answer all individual queries, but we will update the FAQs on the website and address all questions in the Webinar with the MBZ team.
A recording of the Q&A with the MBZ team held on Monday 21 July is available here (password: j7H*?251).