Image: A Burmese map of the world, showing traces of Medieval European map-making from The Thirty-Seven Nats: A Phase of Spirit Worship Prevailing in Burma (1906) by Sir Richard Carnac Temple (1850-1931). The Himalayas are shown by a horizontal green line: above is the magical land of seven lakes and Mount Meru; below is where strangers come from.
TULCA 2025: Open Call
TULCA Festival of Visual Arts is pleased to announce details of its 2025 Open Call curated by Beulah Ezeugo; Strange lands still bear common ground.
Curatorial brief:
The prevailing global logic suggests that we as humans cannot bear alterity. We configure ourselves as nations, groups, or individuals whose autonomy is maintained by the boundaries we create. In reality, all of us are enmeshed in complex, interdependent networks - the recent pandemic has clarified that nations cannot operate as entirely isolated entities. Similarly, our current ecological crisis is rooted in extractive relationships, particularly those formed by the Global North’s ongoing reliance on the Global South.
Our intrinsic desires for familiarity and connection with the Other persist and are reflected in our lived experiences on this island. We see this exemplified through recent acts of solidarity between the people of Ireland and Palestine, ongoing dialogues between the country’s North and the South, and Galway’s position at the Atlantic edge, which invites us to consider how moments of contact with the external world can echo outward through the island and shape the contours of our collective identity.
The 23rd edition of TULCA Festival of Visual Arts invites proposals from artists whose work orbits around themes of collectivity, binarism, solidarity, affinity, and exchange or whose work engages with these dynamics:
Within the landscape; if a border is a real or imagined line that separates one entity from another, or an island is an independent land-mass distinguished from the sea, when do such boundaries blur, shift, collapse, or merge?
Within our cultural imaginations, where historical or mythological affinities with others shape our configurations of ourselves.
Within and beyond our own borders, where Ireland, as an island nation divided into two, relates to its internal others.
We welcome individual artists, cultural workers, filmmakers, and writers. We especially would like to hear from collaborative duos or groups who work across borders or nations and whose work resonates with these ideas, however they may manifest.
Deadline: 02 May 2025, 5pm
Open Call Process & Guidelines:
TULCA is curated through direct invitation and an Open Call process. The final selection of artworks will be based on thematic connection, artistic quality, and feasibility. Selections are made by the curator in consultation with the TULCA producer.
Application Process:
Artists are invited to propose the presentation of existing artworks, or the production of new work. Works can be proposed for exhibition in the festival, or as one-off performances / events / workshops / screenings comprising part of the public programme. Work must not have been previously exhibited in Galway.
Please send a single PDF attachment (15MB max) that includes the following:
A concise artist’s statement that tells us about your work and how it might connect or respond to the letter above (250 words max)
CV (2 pages max)
Examples of previous work:
Up to 10 images (must include title; the material / medium; the dimensions / duration; the date of production, and also information on where the work has been shown, if applicable)
Up to 2 web links to video / sound works can be sent (YouTube or Vimeo, extracts should be no longer than 10 minutes. If works are sent in full please suggest a 10-minute excerpt to watch). Include passwords for any private videos.
A clearly outlined proposal of work to be exhibited, including detail about its installation, technical and accessibility requirements (250 words + 3 photos max).
Optional: If this is a proposal for new work, please also include any available visualisations, information on materials, costings, technical and venue requirements (additional 250 words max).
Applications should be submitted via email to opencall@tulca.ie
Deadline: 02 May 2025, 5pm
Notes for Applicants:
TULCA is a focused visual arts festival with limited resources, so please bear this in mind in developing your proposal. TULCA typically takes place across a range of art and non-art venues, such as the Galway Arts Centre, University Gallery, University Hospital, Galway City Museum, 126 Gallery and other off-site locations. If you develop a proposal for a specific location or context, we cannot guarantee its availability or feasibility. We encourage artists to take a flexible approach in this regard to allow for a variety of options developed through discussion with the curator.
We will confirm receipt of all applications. Due to the volume of submissions we regret we are not able to give individual feedback regarding unsuccessful applications.
There is no submission fee.
TULCA is a unique festival that provides the opportunity for artists to engage with a wide audience in new and unusual ways, to build new collaborations and to extend your network with artists nationally and internationally. As well as an artist fee, we offer curatorial and artistic development, technical support and a significant press, marketing and audience campaign. The festival will be accompanied by a publication with commissioned writing. TULCA presents a dynamic programme of education within primary and secondary schools and third level institutions.
All applicants should be aware that, if selected, they will be required to do press and promotion work as necessary. TULCA reserves the right to photograph works and to use elements of accepted entries for exhibition for publicity purposes, unless the artist expressly states the contrary in writing. Copyright of all work remains the property of the artist.
TULCA Festival of Visual Arts
Strange lands still bear common ground
Curated by Beulah Ezeugo
7-23 November 2025
Galway, Ireland
www.tulca.ie