OPEN CALL TEST SPACE Residency 2026

Limerick City Gallery of Art/LCGA is delighted to announce its latest Open Call for Submissions to the annual Test Space Residency programme, now in its 6th year. Test Space 2026 is a unique opportunity for art practitioners to engage with LCGA, its audiences and offered resources, as well as develop work which involves or responds to a diverse community of interest. To best support art practitioners across a wide range of platforms and experiences at both emerging and established levels, this upcoming year will see two applicants awarded residencies during the 2026 at LCGA - one to an applicant at an early stage of their career in the arts, and one to practitioner at a later or more advanced stage of their career.

Test Space Residency was first created in 2020 to respond to the Arts Councils EDI Policy, and has always encouraged participants to consider elements of equality, diversity and inclusion during both the application process, and proposal for residency ideas. Applicants who wish to deliver outputs such as public engagement workshops, talks, presentations or community inclusion events during their time in residency will be first considered.

Test Space 2026 explicitly welcomes applicants from across a wide variety of backgrounds and arts related cultural fields - writers, filmmakers, dancers, performers, academics, and creatives across a variety of mixed media making are also encouraged to apply, as well as artists working in any discipline. If unsure whether eligibility applies to your practice, feel free to contact the gallery ahead of the deadline to enquire: email artgallery@limerick.ie

Test Space Residency prioritises the nurtured support of artists and arts practitioners by offering crucial time and space to develop ideas, as well as competitive financial support during the residency, curatorial support by gallery staff, shared promotion of your work and development across LCGA social media platforms, and use of an open upstairs studio in the Herbert gallery, enabling frequent engagement by visitors with your working practise.

For information about previous Test Space projects, please visit the LCGA Youtube channel to watch interviews and videos with participants about their experience. Former participants have had the opportunity to develop new and existing work during their residencies which has gone on to tour, form new publications, lead to solo exhibitions at LCGA and across other leading art institutions and venues, and enhance their working relationships with LCGA and its extensive partnerships.

Test Space Residency provides use of the purpose designed Test Space studio for 8 weeks, with a €5,000 stipend offered to support the production of work inclusive of artist fees, travel expenses and all other material costs during this time. Onsite presence at LCGA up to 15 hours a week during the residency.
Unfortunately, the provision of accommodation by LCGA is not available. Applicants intending to commute to or temporarily reside in LCGA for this residency must do so at their own cost.

Link to online application form:  https://forms.gle/HE1dg4iicDMd8Ls39

Dead line Friday 30th January - EXTENDED to 14 February 2026 at 5pm 

Info pack for applicants: https://www.limerick.ie/media/77741    Or download here  LCGA Test Space Infopack 2026