The open calls of Évora_27 – European Capital of Culture constitute opportunities for artists, associations, institutions, and communities to be part of Évora_27’s artistic program, promoting dialogue, collaboration, and inclusion, and contributing to a positive cultural and social transformation of the Alentejo region.

Although the launch of a nationwide open call was not planned in the Application Book, financial support of €1.5 million was secured from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, through the Cultural Promotion Fund. This allows the Évora 2027 Association to expand and enrich the Évora_27 initiative with new projects. As stated in the press release of January 15, this investment will be made through the launch of a nationwide open call worth €1 million, along with an additional component of artist invitations, commissions, and co-productions valued at €500,000.

The open call “Linha do Vagar” invites cultural agents, artists, creators, and collectives, whether native, resident, or professionally active in Portugal, to submit projects across all artistic domains, aligned with European values, to be developed and presented in the context of Évora_27 – European Capital of Culture.

The competition jury is composed of John Romão, Jury President (Artistic Director of the Évora 2027 Association); Delfim Sardo (Curator, university professor, writer, art and architecture critic); Filipa Oliveira (Director of MNAC – National Museum of Contemporary Art); Magda Bizarro (Co-director of the Artistic Program of the Festival d’Avignon); and Mário Carneiro (General Director of the GDA Foundation).

Applications for the open call “Linha do Vagar” must be submitted by March 22, 2026. Additionally, as foreseen in the regulations of the open call “A Nossa Vez / Our Turn,” aimed at artists, associations, and cultural agents in the Alentejo, the Évora 2027 Association has decided to increase the funding for this competition by €300,000. This additional funding allows the creation of a new financing tier for larger-scale artistic projects, providing support of up to €100,000 per project. The application deadline has been extended to February 17, 2026, to ensure the full effectiveness of the application process and guarantee adequate participation conditions.

Thus, in total, four open calls are launched during the preparation of Évora_27 – European Capital of Culture, aimed at updating and consolidating the artistic program. In dialogue with the concept of Vagar, these open calls open the door to creation, programming, and mediation projects that should deepen and enrich the practices of artists, collectives, associations, and institutions, expand the connections between tradition and experimentation, promote diversity and inclusion, stimulate civic participation, and contribute to a more sustainable and just future, giving prominence to cooperation, interdisciplinarity, and cross-sector collaboration.