Open Call: Neighbourhood Designs for Manifesta 16 Ruhr
Together with Bochum-based designer Cihan Tamti and Stice Textilstudio, Manifesta 16 Ruhr is developing a series of T-Shirt designs emerging from across the Ruhr Area and the neighbourhoods surrounding the Manifesta venues. Rather than classic merchandising, this project centres participation: perspectives, handwritings, symbols, words and images that express what a neighbourhood, community and shared environment mean to you and what living together in the Ruhr Area represents.
We are looking for visual ideas that capture the spirit of the Ruhr Area: perspectives on neighbourhoods, on the Ruhr Area as a place, as a community and as an attitude. Submissions may include drawings, letterings, patterns, symbols or other visual concepts.
This Open Call is explicitly not limited to design professionals. It is open to everyone in the Ruhr Area — regardless of age, background or design experience.
A jury will select several contributions, which will then be further developed together with Cihan Tamti and realised as final designs. The selected motifs will be produced as official Manifesta 16 Ruhr shirts. As part of the Public Programme, screen-printing workshops will also take place, where participants can create their own shirts and print them also using the selected designs.
Submission criteria
Deadline for submissions: 3th of April 2026
- Format: A4, pdf or jpg
- One-colour design
- Digital submission (maximum file size: 6 MB)
Please submit your idea via the application form.
Please note: Submissions containing discriminatory, violence-promoting or party-political content will not be considered. Explicit religious symbols or motifs referring to specific faith communities or religious institutions are also not part of this Open Call. Manifesta 16 Ruhr welcomes diverse perspectives and critical reflections, provided they are articulated in a spirit of respect, diversity and mutual recognition.
We look forward to receiving diverse, personal and unexpected contributions from across the Ruhr Area!
What is Manifesta?
In 2026, Manifesta 16 Ruhr will take place across the entire Ruhr Area. As the European Nomadic Biennial, Manifesta moves to a new location within Europe with each edition. Founded in 1996, Manifesta connects contemporary art, social dialogue, urban research and architecture. Manifesta 16 Ruhr is the 16th edition of the European Nomadic Biennial and the first to take place in the Ruhr Area. This edition focuses on former churches: building on the urban research project This is not a church, the Biennial explores how these vacant buildings can be rethought and activated as spaces for culture, exchange and community.