- documenta archiv
The project “FILE NOT FOUND” explores the risks and challenges archives face as sites of cultural memory, resistant knowledge, and alternative perspectives under growing political pressure.
Ten practitioners – artists, thinkers, activists, theatre makers, dancers, and musicians, etc. – will be selected for residencies at ten cultural archives around the world, including the documenta archiv. During their time on site, they will engage with existing archival practices, explore both safe and not-so-safe spaces, investigate traditional and experimental methods of archiving, and ideally develop artistically subversive approaches. These approaches aim to strengthen the resilience of archives against external influence, both now and in the future.
Artists from a variety of fields are invited to explore questions of resilience within the documenta archiv. In doing so, they will draw on materials from the history of documenta, the archive’s own infrastructure, and the expectations of a diverse audience. The project will explore the potential of artistic expression to shed light on the significance of art archives, with a focus on the documenta archiv, in a period when memory institutions are facing challenges due to limited resources. What measures could be implemented to enhance regional and national identification with the documenta archiv and its collection items? What innovative forms of participation might be developed to attract a broader public that can identify with the institution? Further themes could regard exclusions within the collection, alternative classifications, indexes and keywords. The question of whether archive spaces need to be fundamentally reimagined in a more open way is also being discussed. We are pleased to receive submissions for artistic projects that explore innovative spatial concepts and advocate for an inclusive, participatory approach to architectural design.
Who can apply: Artists worldwide (all disciplines)
Residency: On-site, 2 weeks to 2 months
Period: between August 2026 and May 2027
Application deadline: June 7th 2026, 12pm (GMT+1)
For more information on „File not Found,“ visit goethe.de/filenotfound; for information on the documenta archiv, visit https://www.goethe.de/prj/fnf/en/oca/doa.html; to access the application portal, go to https://www.goethe.de/prj/fnf/en/oca.html.
