How to participate in the Open Call

Written by Minna Porvari on 02. Mar 2026

26.3.2026

Open Call Launch

The open call officially opens on the 26th of March.
From that day, you can start forming your team, publishing your project idea on the portal, and preparing your application.
If your team meets the eligibility criteria and your proposal feels ready, you may submit immediately.
There is no need to rush. Applications remain open until the end of July 2026.

Two ways to get started

Do not know how to find people to collaborate with but want to partake in the Open Call? Time for (S) Heroes encourages you to form multidisciplinary teams to make your ideas come to life! There are two ways to get started:

If you already have an idea

• Present your idea briefly as a project on the Time for (S) Heroes digital portal
• Describe your concept and the kind of collaborators you are looking for
• Connect with others and build a team around your idea

If you are interested but do not yet have an idea

• Explore projects shared by others on the portal
• Contact teams that inspire you
• Join an existing idea and contribute your skills

The portal is designed to connect ideas and people. It helps you find collaborators, form teams, and move from early concept to a shared proposal.

Evaluation Phase

After the submission deadline, proposals are evaluated by the expert jury.
Up to six teams are selected directly for the Residency Pathway.
These proposals are considered highly developed and ready for advanced mentoring and presentation.

Residency Pathway

Selected teams secure a place in the spring 2027 residency programme. This is the most ambitious pathway and the highest level reward within the Time for (S) Heroes project.

The residency takes place in Barcelona or Kouvola in spring 2027.
All core costs are covered for the entire team.
The first public digital presentation takes place at the Design Wave Festival. This may include a online concept exhibition or early stage digital showcase.

Design Wave Festival Continuation

All other evaluated proposals are invited to continue development and present their improved idea at the Design Wave Festival.
Participation in the festival is possible either onsite or online.
The festival offers mentoring, visibility, and a competitive environment to refine your concept further.
The remaining residency places are awarded to the strongest teams selected during the Design Wave Festival!

Note! If your schedule in early 2026 does not allow you to participate in the open call phase, you may register directly for the Design Wave Festival.

Direct festival participation is possible without submitting through the open call phase. just follow the separate registration dates at the Time for (S) Heroes portal.
However, this route does not include feedback from the open call expert jury or early development support.

Bonus track

Digital Exhibition Pathway

If a residency does not fit your calendar or ambitions, you can still participate.
Both the Open Call and Design Wave phases offer the opportunity to compete for a place on the Digital Exhibition Platform.
Selected teams gain international visibility for their ideas and become part of the Time for (S) Heroes movement.

Ready to answer the call?

There is more than one way to engage. Whether you aim for residency, festival participation, or digital visibility, the pathway begins with your idea and your team.

Explore the Open Call themes and your mission:

Learn more about the Open Call

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.