TaDA – Textile and Design Alliance Residency Program 2026
Location
Arbon, Eastern Switzerland (Cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden)
Open to
Six national and international creatives annually, including practitioners in art, design, textile design, architecture, literature, performing arts, or interdisciplinary fields. Applicants must have a strong interest in textile culture, sustainability, and collaborate with local textile partners. Basic technical knowledge of textile production is an advantage.
Application Fee
None stated.
What’s Provided
Shared apartment in Arbon (private room; shared kitchen/bathroom), near Lake Constance
Workspace at Kreativzentrum ZIK (former Saurer AG factory) shared among three residents; equipped with sewing machines, tools, textiles, printer, scanner, etc.
Travel expenses coverage
CHF 2,000/month contribution toward living costs
Professional exchange and use of infrastructure with up to 12 partner textile companies/institutions
Individual mentoring by textile designer Martin Leuthold, TaDA team, or external experts as needed
What the Applicant Must Cover
Travel beyond covered travel allowance, personal project materials, and any personal expenses not included above
Duration
Three months, offered in either April–June 2026 or September–November 2026.
Deadline
15 September 2025 (23:59 CEST). Applications must include a portfolio with CV and a project proposal (max. 2 A4 pages + ~4 illustrative images) referencing Eastern Swiss textile production.
Other Essential Notes
During residency, each artist is expected to develop a new, collaborative project in partnership with a local textile company and to present their work publicly at the TaDA Spinnerei event, engaging in workshops or discussions with experts and visitors.
Projects with experimental approaches and sustainable practices are especially encouraged. Inclusion of relevant connections to TaDA partner companies is required in the project outline.
