1. DESCRIPTION

Topic., Tolosa International Puppet Centre, opens the call for Sceniterium, its artistic residency programme aimed at supporting processes of creation, research and experimentation in the field of puppet and object theatre and objects.

Sceniterium, is born as a reformulation of the Topic. residency programme, with the aim of offering companies, artists and collectives a space for work, listening and support, while strengthening the relationship between contemporary creation, material production and living heritage.

The programme is based on a central idea: a residency is not merely a period during which spaces are made available, but a framework in which to research, test, build, share and help an artistic project grow. In this sense, Sceniterium seeks to accompany processes without necessarily requiring a finished final outcome, highlighting research, rehearsal, error and transformation as essential parts of creation.

2. PURPOSE OF THE CALL

The purpose of this call is to select artistic projects to participate in the Sceniterium residency programme, which will take place between the months of September and December 2026

Companies, artistic collectives or individual creators working in the fields of puppet theatre, object theatre, masks, visual languages, live arts, performance, interdisciplinary creation or related contemporary stage practices may apply.

The selected residencies will have, according to the characteristics of each project and the availability of the centre, access to workspaces, artistic, technical and/or production support, dissemination of the process and a specific grant intended for the creation, development or research of a material piece linked to the project.

Sceniterium does not necessarily require the presentation of a finished final outcome. The programme values processes of research, rehearsal, exploration, error, transformation and artistic development, understanding the residency as a space for work and support.

3. LINES OF WORK

Projects must fall within one of the following lines:

Topic.Ondare / Topic.Heritage

Aimed at projects that engage with memory, heritage, puppetry traditions, cultural imaginaries, material knowledge or the contemporary updating of stage legacies.

Topic.Lab

Aimed at projects focused on research, experimentation, the crossing of disciplines, dramaturgical innovation and the exploration of new stage languages.

These two lines are not understood as closed compartments, but as frames of reference that make it possible to organise proposals and connect them with the artistic and heritage identity of Topic.

4. RESIDENCY FORMATS

Sceniterium includes three residency formats:

The requested format must be justified in the application. Topic. may propose adjustments to the calendar or duration depending on the availability of spaces, the needs of the project and the suitability of the proposal for the programme.

5. SUPPORT OFFERED BY Topic.

Selected projects may receive the following support:

• Use of Topic. workspaces during the residency period.
• Artistic, technical and/or production support.
• Specific advice for the creation, development or research of the material piece.
• Access to the centre’s heritage context, museum, collection or documentation centre, where relevant.
• Dissemination of the process through the communication channels of Topic.
• Possibility of holding a public opening, work-in-progress showing, conversation, workshop or mediation activity.
• Possible connection with Topic. programming, the Titirijai festival or other programmes of the centre, provided that there is agreement between the parties.

The specific nature of this support will be agreed with each selected project according to the residency format, the needs of the process and the resources available.

6. DOCUMENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED

1.-The following information will be requested in dossier format:

• Details of the company, collective or artist.
• Details of the person responsible for the project.
• Brief artistic background.
• Description of the project.
• Line to which the application is submitted: Topic.Ondare / Topic.Heritage or Topic.Lab.
• Current phase of the project.
• Objectives of the residency.
• Requested format: short, medium or long.
• Proposed calendar or availability.
• Spatial, technical, material or support needs.
• Initial description of the material piece to be created, developed or researched.
• Graphic, audiovisual or documentary material from previous work.

2.- In addition to the project dossier, companies, collectives or artists must complete the registration form available on Topic.’s website. This form will be required in order to properly formalise the application.

Topic. may request additional information or an interview with shortlisted applicants if it considers this necessary.

7. SELECTION COMMITTEE AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

The projects will be selected by a committee made up of professionals with extensive experience in cultural management, contemporary creation, performing arts, cultural production, and the support and development of artistic projects.

The selection committee will be composed of the following members:

Idoya Otegui, co-founder of Topic., director of the centre for more than a decade, and current member of RITTO. Her participation will contribute a perspective linked to the historical trajectory of the centre, the field of puppet and object theatre, and the professional networks of the sector.

Santiago Eraso, former director of Arteleku, with extensive experience in the management, direction and support of cultural projects. He was Cultural Director of Donostia/San Sebastián 2016 European Capital of Culture, and will bring a perspective linked to contemporary creation, cultural mediation and interdisciplinary artistic processes.

Imanol Otaegi Mitxelena, Director for the Promotion and Dissemination of Basque Culture at the Etxepare Basque Institute since 2018. He holds a degree in Audiovisual Communication and has extensive experience in the production and coordination of cultural projects with international projection. He has worked at the Donostia/San Sebastián 2016 Foundation, ETB, the San Sebastián Film Festival, and on various projects linked to the performing arts and the audiovisual sector.

Amaia Iriondo Lozano, programme and production officer at Topic. She will contribute the operational, technical and feasibility perspective in relation to the support, production and development of the residencies.

Ainara Martin Blanco, director of Topic. She will contribute a perspective linked to the centre’s strategic interests, cultural lines of work, and the coherence of the programme within the institution’s overall project.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

In addition to the individual evaluation of each application, the overall configuration of the programme may also be taken into account, with the aim of ensuring a balanced edition in terms of lines of work, formats, artistic approaches and diversity of proposals.

8. GENERAL CONDITIONS

The final selection will be subject to the availability of calendar dates, spaces, technical resources and the centre’s capacity to provide support.

The selected companies, collectives or artists undertake to carry out the residency on the dates agreed with Topic., to take care of the spaces and materials provided, to maintain fluid communication with the centre’s team and to submit a brief final report on the process with text, images and/or video.

They must also include the Topic. logo and the mention “Resident project at Sceniterium – Topic.” in the communication materials linked to the residency process.

The companies, collectives or artists will retain the rights of authorship, exploitation and exhibition of the works or projects developed during the residency.

Topic. may document the processes through photographs, videos, interviews or other archive, communication and programme memory materials. The public use of these materials will be carried out in accordance with the conditions agreed with each selected project.

Topic. may declare the call totally or partially void if the proposals received do not meet the objectives, criteria or conditions of the programme.

The submission of an application implies full acceptance of these terms and conditions.