Image: Rachel Garfield, Art Sex Work: Brixton Hill Punctum, video still, 2022
TULCA 2026: Open Call
TULCA Festival of Visual Arts is pleased to announce the Open Call for the 2026 festival, curated by Sinéad Keogh.
2026 marks fifty years since the inception of Punk as we know it. A movement sparked from a need for change, born of the underground, Punk would go on to alter culture and society forever. An ideology of reform gave people a choice to say “no”, to push back, and to adopt a DIY approach. These acts of rebellion became a catalyst for more progressive modes of expression, opening the doors for new diverse approaches to music, art, and a command for equitability more expansively.
The 24th edition of TULCA Festival of Visual Arts, entitled Veruca Salt, considers what it means to know who you are and know what you want. The selected artists and community partners engage with practices that operate at the periphery of the mainstream, dismantle gender roles, and challenge dominant norms within an ambitious and inclusive programme. Veruca Salt is a punk and women-led proposition that seeks to disrupt through transgressive agency and a strong sense of conviction.
“I want a party with roomfuls of laughter
Ten thousand tons of ice cream
And if I don't get the things I am after
I'm going to scream!”
TULCA Festival of Visual Arts invites proposals from artists working in any medium. For the 2026 edition, there is a particular focus on artists based in the West of Ireland. Proposals may include new commissions or existing works that respond to the themes of Veruca Salt. Submissions that engage with the ethos of Punk, as well as the ecological and cultural landscape of the West of Ireland, are especially encouraged.
Deadline: 30 April, 5pm
Open Call Process & Guidelines:
TULCA is curated through a combination of direct invitation and an Open Call. The final selection of artworks will be based on thematic connection, artistic quality, and feasibility. Selections are made by the curator in consultation with the TULCA producer.
Application Process:
Artists are invited to propose the presentation of existing artworks, or the production of new work. Works can be proposed for exhibition, or as one-off performances, events, workshops or screenings forming part of the public programme. Work must not have been previously exhibited in Galway. For the 2026 edition, there is a particular focus on artists based in the West of Ireland.
Please send a single PDF attachment (25 MB max) that includes:
A concise artist statement outlining your practice and its connection to the curatorial brief (max 250 words)
CV (max 2 pages)
Examples of previous work:
— Up to 10 images (including title, medium, dimensions/duration, date, and exhibition history where applicable)
— Up to 2 links to video/sound works (Youtube or Vimeo). Extracts should be no longer than 10 minutes. If submitting full works, please indicate a 10-minute excerpt. Include passwords where required.A clearly outlined proposal for the work to be exhibited, including installation, technical and accessibility requirements (max 250 words, up to 3 images)
Optional (for new work proposals): visualisations, materials, costings, and technical/venue requirements (additional 250 words max)
Applications should be submitted via email to opencall@tulca.ie
Deadline: 30 April, 5pm
Notes for Applicants:
TULCA is a focused visual arts festival with limited resources. Applicants should take this into account when developing proposals.
The festival takes place across a range of art and non-art venues, including Galway Arts Centre, 126 Gallery, University Gallery, Galway City Museum, James Mitchell Geology Museum, and other off-site locations. Proposals for specific locations cannot be guaranteed and should remain flexible to allow for development in discussion with the curator.
Receipt of all applications will be confirmed. Due to the volume of submissions, individual feedback cannot be provided.
There is no submission fee
TULCA is a unique festival that provides the opportunity for artists to engage with a wide audience in new and unusual ways, to build new collaborations and to extend your network of artists nationally and internationally. Selected artists will receive an artist fee, along with curatorial support, technical assistance, and inclusion in the festival’s press and marketing campaign. The festival is accompanied by a publication and a programme of education and public engagement.
Selected artists will be required to participate in press and promotional activity. TULCA reserves the right to document and reproduce accepted works for publicity purposes. Copyright remains with the artist.
TULCA Festival of Visual Arts
Veruca Salt
Curated by Sinéad Keogh
6-22 November 2026
Galway, Ireland
www.tulca.ie