critic-in-residence programme 2025

MGLC Švicarija, a creative and residential centre, in collaboration with the Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory, both based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, invites art historians, art critics and cultural journalists to apply for a fully funded, one-month residency in Ljubljana during September 2025.

Located in Ljubljana’s central Tivoli Park, MGLC Švicarija is a cultural, educational, and social hub that offers programmes to the public, studio facilities for local artists and residencies for international artists and art professionals. Home to a public programme following the concept of “community, art, and nature”, Švicarija is part of MGLC – International Centre of Graphic Arts, a specialised museum, producer of printed and contemporary art, and provider of artist residencies. MGLC emerged from the legacy of 20th-century printmaking and the Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts, the world’s oldest printmaking biennale that has been held continuously since 1955.

The Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory works with and promotes the legacy of Igor Zabel, an influential Slovenian curator, art writer, and art historian (1958–2005), by bringing his work into dialogue with current questions and phenomena in the field of contemporary art, art writing and curatorial practices in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, and beyond.

What we aim to do?

The overall aim of the international residency programme is to support the exploration and reflection on contemporary visual art and exhibition histories. We welcome art writers who wish to engage with and reflect Ljubljana’s vibrant art scene (artists and art communities, art and cultural institutions, art events, …).

Our aim is to host an art historian, art critic, or cultural journalist active in writing and publishing reviews and/or other forms of art writing in the international context, and who is interested in Ljubljana’s vibrant art scene. Candidates wishing to write about Ljubljana art scene will produce at least 1 piece of writing (review, interview, column, or essay) on a selected topic over the course of the residency. The text should preferably be published in the English language in a periodical (printed or online), radio, television or personal blog.

The selection will also take into account whether the applicant already has a written agreement or confirmation for the publication in relevant media of the text to be produced during the one-month residency.