The team’s objective will be to develop a concept for a product, service, or organizational improvement that supports the active involvement of users and other stakeholders in the participatory design of blue-green infrastructure spaces and/or their engagement in maintaining them. The work will take place as part of a participatory design process in the context of a future construction project on land owned by the University of Lodz.
The team will operate in a specific location, addressing a real design problem by exploring and testing effective practices in communication and in building relationships between designers, stakeholders, and clients.
Based on these experiences, we aim to develop a universal tool to support designers in similar contexts – carried out in collaboration with local governments, institutions, entrepreneurs, housing cooperatives, and residential communities.
What challenge do we identify?
One of the key actions in mitigating the effects of climate change is adaptation. According to many experts, changing established habits and implementing new solutions is a significantly greater challenge than their technical or functional development. The team’s task will be to develop methods for facilitating dialogue among diverse stakeholder groups in order to increase the effectiveness and speed of implementing climate adaptation solutions.
Why do we engage performing artists?
Creative work in the field of performing arts requires careful analysis of emotions, social conventions, and relationships – including power relations. An artistic perspective allows for identifying tensions and hopes that may have previously gone unnoticed. Moreover, artists possess strong competencies in creating engaging and accessible forms of communication. We believe that artistic methods can more effectively support the implementation of innovative solutions, bringing long-term benefits to all involved stakeholder groups.
Residency conditions:
- applications are open to artists forming formal or informal groups,
- the group should consist of 3 to 4 people,
- the majority of group members should be performing artists with relevant experience or education,
- all participants must be at least 18 years old and have a minimum English proficiency at B2 level,
- participants are required to actively contribute to the project and take part in meetings, workshops, and study visits organized during the program.
Timeline:
- Applications: until April 24, 2026 (11:59 PM) via the application form,
- Online interviews: the Organizer may invite selected candidates for 30-minute follow-up interviews (participation is optional and does not determine the outcome),
- Results: April 30, 2026 – decisions will be sent via email to all applicants,
- Residency period: May 11 – June 7, 2026 (30 days of on-site work).
The Organizer provides:
- residency program and facilitation of the creative process,
- access to workspace,
- accommodation in Lodz,
- remuneration of PLN 8,000 (total cost per person; net amount depends on the form of settlement and employment status),
- reimbursement of travel costs up to PLN 500 for participants from Poland and up to PLN 2,000 for international participants,
- substantive and mentoring support from experts in climate change adaptation, blue-green infrastructure design, organization of consultations, participant observation, and design thinking,
- documentation of the residency process and outcomes.
Residency structure:
- Weeks 1–2: introductory workshops, meetings with experts and representatives of Deer Garden and the University of Lodz, site analysis, networking, initial stakeholder identification,
- Weeks 2-3: independent team work in the studio, mentoring sessions and expert consultations, prototyping solutions,
- Week 4: presentation of preliminary results, testing and refinement,
- Week 5: preparation and public presentation of final projects developed during the residency.
Organized by:
University of Lodz Foundation, University of Lodz, Deer Garden. Naturalnie, Newer Theatre Foundation.
The project is co-financed from the state budget, granted by the Minister of Education and Science under the program “Science for Society II.”
