PRACTICING
THE FUTURES
An Open Call for the 2026
Social Impact Residency & Festival.
July 7 – 19, 2026 | Italy
STARDUST 002
1. Identify social cause
2. Generate the artworks
3. Raise funds through sales
4. Direct funds to selected organisation
The Challenge: How can art sustain the ground it stands on?
Stardust 002 is a laboratory for social impact. We are seeking two international artists to join two local artists for a two-week residency. Together, we will create a collective exhibition for the Vinili Vinelli festival.
For this edition, cocoex collaborates with the cultural festival Vinili & Vinelli under the theme “Practicing the Future.” The festival seeks to give back to the territory that hosts its community and activities. In alignment with this intention, Terra Nuda has been selected as the partner NGO, working to strengthen local well-being by facilitating access to artistic and cultural initiatives in rural and remote areas.
Within this context, selected artists will develop an exhibition responding to the curatorial theme. Each artist will define, in agreement with cocoex, the share of proceeds they retain, and the share allocated to Terra Nuda. cocoex operates solely as a facilitator, supporting Vinili & Vinelli’s commitment to giving back to the local community.
We want bold, spatial works that act as fundraising tools—generating the financial or social capital needed to secure the future of this residency.
The Pillars
PARTICIPATORY
"Gamified" formats that turn the audience into active contributors.
REGENERATIVE
Low-impact processes and materials that can be sold or leveraged to raise funds.
SITE-RESPONSIVE
Interventions that engage the unique landscape and architecture of Volpedo and Montacuto.
Locations
Cascina La Zerba — Volpedo, AL The organic estate of Cantine Volpi, set among the rolling vineyards of the Colli Tortonesi. A working landscape shaped by over a century of winemaking — and a family that has long put the territory before the bottle. From sponsoring local sport to hosting schools, committing staff to environmental clean-ups, and pioneering organic certification in the region, Cantine Volpi has been a consistent pillar of this community since 1914.
Terra Nuda — Montacuto, AL A rural artist residency in the hills of Alessandria, and the partner NGO of this edition. A place built on the belief that art and culture also belong in remote and rural communities.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Artist grant: €200 (international) / €100 (local)
Support: 2 weeks accommodation provided at Terra Nuda for international Artists.
Outcome: A public intervention/exhibition during the Vinili Vinelli Festival.
Essentials
READY TO PRACTICE
THE FUTURE?
Everything you need to know about the residency—from the site specifics to the application process—is detailed in our official brief.