MASEREEL

…about our residencies:

Who is the Development Residencies intended for? 
For contemporary artists of all ages – both promising and established – who want to deepen and broaden their artistic practice. The programme focuses on artists who are willing to experiment, explore new techniques and challenge themselves artistically in a professional and supportive environment.

Is prior knowledge of graphic techniques required to participate in a Development Residency at MASEREEL?
Prior knowledge of graphic techniques is not required. Each residency period starts with a number of introductory demos by our studio coordinators, who will also support you during the creative process. You are expected to be able to work independently.

When will the next Open Call take place?
The next Open Call for Development Residencies, taking place in 2027, will be launched in spring 2026.

All Open Calls are always announced well in advance via our website, digital newsletter and social media. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know.

How much does a residency cost? 
The participation fee for a six-week Development Residency is €2,500.

What is included in the participation fee?
A Development Residency includes accommodation in an individual mini-apartment, extensive access to our professionally equipped studios, guidance and technical support from our experienced studio coordinators, introductory demos and visiting tutors. Basic materials such as ink and proofing paper are included, as are some communal meals (e.g. with the visiting tutors).

What expenses do I need to cover myself?  
Transport, food and drink, personal expenses, as well as materials such as paper, special inks, copper plates, etc., and the use of equipment in the digital studio.

Does a Development Residence also include accommodation?
Each resident has an individual mini-apartment with two and often even three beds. Family members (partner, children) or acquaintances are welcome at no extra cost. However, pets are not allowed.

The brand-new artist pavilion also includes a communal kitchen, a multipurpose lounge area, a laundry room and a garden.

How many residents can participate in a Development Residency each year?
MASEREEL organises an average of four six-week Development Residencies each year. Nine artists are selected for each period.

In addition, MASEREEL also organises short-term residencies for collectives, art academies, art critics and alumni, as well as academia.

Is it possible to shorten or modify a residency? 
No, each residency has a balanced programme that cannot be modified individually. We also recommend that you attend the studio as much as possible during opening hours.

Do you plan a public presentation at the end of a Development Residency?
No, a Development Residency focuses on development, creation and dialogue. The prospect of a public presentation would disrupt rather than reinforce this process-oriented approach. However, we do invite visiting tutors, organise interim discussions and a Collection Moment, and residents sometimes organise their own one-day presentations.

What is the working language at MASEREEL?
Communication at MASEREEL takes place in Dutch and English. Residents are expected to have sufficient command of English to communicate fluently with our staff and fellow residents. 

Is the residency accessible to artists with limited mobility?
Both the studio and the communal areas are located on the ground floor. In addition, one of the nine mini-apartments has been designed according to the principles of Integral Accessibility.

What facilities are available in the artists’ pavilion?
Each resident has an individual mini-apartment with a private bathroom and sleeping area, as well as a kitchenette with a small refrigerator, kettle and coffee maker. Cooking is only possible in the shared kitchen on the ground floor. There is also a communal sitting area, a garden and a laundry room with a washing machine and dryer.

You can find more information about the accommodation here.

Can I bring my partner or child(ren) with me?
Certainly, each resident has access to a mini-apartment that can accommodate a total of two to three people (e.g. your partner, a child, an acquaintance, etc.) at no extra cost.

Can I bring my pet?
No, unfortunately pets are not allowed.

… about our studio

What printmaking techniques are available in the MASEREEL studio?
Intaglio printing, relief printing, screen printing, lithography, typography, and various digital techniques (RISO, laser, UV printing, etc.). Click here for photos of the studio.

In addition, there are also scanners, cutting machines for paper and metal, and bookbinding machines. A functional wood workshop is also available.

When is the studio open to residents?
The studio is open Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. However, the equipment in the digital studio can only be used when a studio coordinator is present.

Can I use the MASEREEL studio if I am not a resident?
No, due to the intensive use by residents, alumni and guest artists, our studio is not accessible to non-residents.

Can I return to MASEREEL after my residency period and use the studio for one or more days?
When the schedule allows, alumni can occasionally use our studio at market rates. Please provide the necessary information to the studio coordinators in good time and they will see what is possible.

What digital equipment does MASEREEL have at its disposal?
In addition to a RISO Duplicator, a RISO ComColor and a Trotec Speedy 400 laser cutter, we also have a UV printer, an Océ plan plotter and an Epson inkjet printer.

What is your largest screen printing format?
Our studio has several screen printing frames. The largest format is A0 (1189 x 841 mm). The other formats vary from 300 x 400 mm to 700 x 900 mm.

What techniques do you offer for photographic printing?
There are various ways to print a photographic image. Using a CMYK split, you could screen print the photo. With a UV printer or a RISO machine, you can print the image directly, with minimal editing in Photoshop. In addition to digital printers, there are also options for working with photo polymer or offset photography.

Is it possible to learn more about graphic etching techniques such as Toyobo plates or polymer film at MASEREEL?
Certainly, we can work this out together with you.

What are the dimensions of the digital printers?
The Epson printer is 114 cm wide and the Océ Plotter is 90 cm wide. The paper comes in rolls, so you can determine the length yourself. The maximum format for the UV printer is A2 and for the RISO printers A3.

Should I be concerned about my health in the studios?
We use safe inks and materials as much as possible and encourage techniques that are less harmful. Protective equipment is available for materials that do pose risks. However, we recommend that you always bring your own PPE (gloves, apron and sturdy footwear).

Do you have any medical conditions that could affect your ability to work with certain products? If so, please discuss this with the studio coordinators in advance to avoid any risks.

Can I bring an assistant?
Residents are expected to be able to work independently in the studio. If an assistant is required for medical reasons, this can be discussed in advance with the studio coordinators.

Can my partner or a visitor also work in the studio during my residency to create their own work?
No, the studio is only accessible to selected residents.

… about the application and selection

How can I apply for a residency at MASEREEL?
Applications for residencies can only be submitted via the digital application form available on our website during the Open Call application period.

In which language should I register?
You can register in either Dutch or English.

Can I apply spontaneously?
No, you can only apply for a residency using the digital registration form available on our website during the Open Call application period. Spontaneous applications will not be considered.

What information do I need to provide when applying?
In addition to an artistic statement and a clearly formulated project proposal, we expect a well-founded motivation, a recent portfolio (work no older than five years) and a concise CV.

Do I have to pay a registration fee to apply for a residency at MASEREEL?
No, registering for a residency is free of charge.

How are applications assessed?
The selection committee, consisting of internal and external jury members, assesses all applications based on the quality of your work, your positioning as an artist and your capacity for experimentation, as well as the urgency of your proposal and your motivation.

Is it possible to participate in a Development Residency simultaneously with one or more other artists?
If you wish to participate in a Development Residency simultaneously with one or more other individual artists, please state this clearly in your separate applications. Individual artists must each submit a separate application, and your applications will also be assessed separately.

If, on the other hand, you work as a collective, please contact us first to discuss the possibilities. In the future, we will also organise Collective Residencies again; these are short residencies (approximately ten days) specifically for collectives.

When will I find out if I have been selected?
The selected candidates for Development Residencies starting from June 2026, will be contacted in early 2026. Due to the large number of applications, it is unfortunately not possible to provide personal feedback if you have not been selected.

… about MASEREEL

Can I view works by the artist Frans Masereel at MASEREEL?
No, MASEREEL is a contemporary arts centre with an artist-oriented programme and an international residency programme for artists and critics. When it was founded in 1972, the name was chosen as a tribute to Frans Masereel, one of the most important graphic artists of the 20th century, who had died shortly before. However, he never worked in our studio, and we do not have any work or expertise directly related to him.

I think I own a work by Frans Masereel. Can you verify this?
No, we do not have the expertise to do so.

I found a work with the dry stamp of MASEREEL (formerly Frans Masereel Centrum). Can you provide me with more information?
The dry stamp indicates that the work was produced in our studio. If you would like more information, we can try to identify the artist and when he or she resided at MASEREEL based on good documentation (e.g. a clear photo of the work and the signature). You can find more information here.

Is MASEREEL open to visitors?
Visits to MASEREEL are possible during exhibitions, RHIZOMA, Open Masereel and other events. Group tours are also possible by appointment. However, in order to ensure that our residents can concentrate on their work, spontaneous visits are not possible.

How did your collection come about?
Since 1972, residents – in consultation with the studio coordinators – have donated a maximum of three works to the MASEREEL collection at the end of their residency. These representative works bear witness to the research and development of each resident during their stay. With more than 20,000 works, the collection has grown into a valuable archive of contemporary printed matter.

Can I apply for an internship or volunteer position at MASEREEL?
Certainly, every year we have openings for a few motivated interns, both for our residency programme (supporting and guiding residents) and our artistic activities (project management, communication, public relations, collection, etc.).

Enthusiastic volunteers are always welcome to join public projects such as RHIZOMA or Open Masereel.

Does MASEREEL provide financial support to selected residents?
No, unfortunately we are unable to offer grants or fellowships to our residents. Once you have been selected for a residency, you will receive an official confirmation letter from us. We recommend that you use this letter to seek support from private funds, government agencies, educational institutions, etc.