As part of the New Practices programme, they invite young artists, students and creatives at the start of their professional careers, working in the field of intermedia art across the wider cross-border area of Nova Gorica and Gorizia, to apply for Xcentr’s artistic incubation programme. The programme aims to develop new artistic projects through artistic research, experimentation and prototyping. It will offer participants a stimulating environment in which to develop their ideas, test new technologies and connect them with contemporary intermedia artistic practices.

Thematic focus of the programme
This year’s programme will focus on the research and development of sensor systems for use in sound art projects.
Selected participants will take part in a series of workshops where they will learn various research strategies, approaches to artistic research, and tools for sound design and the development of project prototypes.

Incubation process
The incubation programme will run from September to early December 2026 and will include:
• artistic research and the development of a project idea,
• practical workshops,
• production and testing of prototypes,
• at least three group mentoring sessions,
• individual professional, technical and production support,
• access to Xcentrum’s facilities and workshops,
• a final public presentation of the projects.

In 2026, the artists exhibiting their works at the Xcentra gallery will organise mentoring programmes and professional meetings.
• Ida Hiršenfelder,
• Dmitry Morozov,
• Michele Spangero.

An additional mentor will be selected based on the knowledge, focus and needs of the chosen participants.

What does the programme offer?
Each selected project receives:
• production support of up to 800 euros,
• professional mentoring and supervision throughout the entire process,
• technical and facilities support from Xcentrum,
• access to the Production Laboratory,
• access to the Bio/n Living Systems Research Laboratory,
• support for research, experimentation and prototyping,
• the opportunity to present the results of the incubation programme publicly.

The programme will conclude with a public presentation of the projects at Xcentr in early December 2026.

At the end of the project, the Xcentra Gallery Programme Committee will assess whether the artistic research carried out has the potential for further development and possible inclusion in the Xcentra Gallery’s exhibition programme in 2027.

Who can apply?
This call is open to:
• young artists,
• students,
• female artists at the start of their careers,
• individuals working in the field of intermedia art,
• artists active in the wider cross-border area of Nova Gorica and Gorizia.

What information must the application contain?

The application form must include:
• the applicant’s first name and surname,
• a brief introduction or references to previous work, if the applicant is already working in this sector,
• a brief description of the proposed project, not exceeding 2,000 characters including spaces,
• the basic implementation plan and timeline for the project.

Deadline and application procedure
Applications will be accepted until 16 August 2026.

Xcenter
Xcenter is a space that brings together different fields and different progressive people to act as an accelerator of creativity. In the gallery, we hunt for muons, in the laboratory young people try to read the light, and in lectures and round tables we design new projects and new calls for proposals. We host a great number of projects and events: intermedia exhibitions, mentor training events, KonS workshops, festivals, lectures, press conferences, round tables, meetings, recordings, workshops and similar events.

The Xcenter story is not the result of one individual. It is the result of the efforts of many people who have been working here in the former Diamond building long before the name Xcenter was even conceived.
It is the result of the work of the KonS network, which has been established much more widely across Slovenia, and is above all the result of the courage of the Municipality of Nova Gorica, which came forward with a bold vision and with our future in mind.

Nova Gorica city centre is thus enriched with a centre of creative practices, which is being created through the combination of creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, art, education and research. The centre fosters innovation in the cultural and creative industries, experimental
exploration through advanced workshops, development projects and productive socialising. Xcenter is one of the main projects of the European Capital of Culture GO!Borderless 2025.

Together with the artists from Nova Gorica and Gorizia and the cross-border partners who support Xcenter on a daily basis, we will try to grow in the next two years so that in 2025 we will be able to present ourselves as a relevant European Capital of Culture in line with Xcenter's programme guidelines.

Other info about the application here.