Mission

The Playground Residence is dedicated to offering professional musicians the time and space to engage in practice-based research and development, or to create new and innovative work. As a music creator, you require adventures and the mental space that may not be readily available at home. Connecting with like-minded artists and industry professionals can broaden your horizons. Our mission is to provide a creative playground - a space where professionals can connect, learn from each other, and collaborate to contribute to a healthier and kinder planet through music.

Why?

There are several "whys." Here are some important ones:

- Music is an art form that continuously renews and evolves. It is not only an art form but also a significant economic system, especially in genres like pop, jazz, and contemporary music. Popular music and the industry surrounding it often prioritize efficiency and quick moves. However, to create great music, time is essential. That's why we steer clear of short writing camps and one-day studio sessions. We provide the time and space needed to recharge and build an international network in a supportive environment.

- We aim to provide a safe haven for performing, creating, and organizing musicians, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background. Given that many professional musicians are male, we strongly encourage non-males to apply! Our inclusive playground is always diverse in terms of gender (male/female/non-binary), and our team assists residents in fostering and maintaining an inclusive mindset with one another.

- The recent COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that musicians were unable to engage in a crucial aspect of their profession: playing together in person (aside from live performances for audiences). Musicians establish networks by playing together and enjoying each other's company. Through The Playground Residence, we offer the time and space needed to create music and connect with each other.

How?

- The Playground Residence provides professional musicians with a space to create and engage, not just for a weekend but for at least ten days at various locations across Europe.

- It's about the process, not just a product. For musicians who prefer working in solitude, we offer private rooms and workspaces. Additionally, we provide shared group spaces and larger studios, allowing for a balance between collaboration and privacy.

- The entire artistic product remains with the creator. Unlike writing camps, at The Playground Residence, musicians retain all rights and credits to their songs and other created materials.

- The Playground Residence caters to professional musicians seeking to recharge, broaden their horizons, or simply find new inspiration. Our focus is on professionals - musicians, content creators, and entrepreneurs - ranging from 21 to 100 years old.

- In addition to providing a creative playground for musicians, we offer various activities for residents to participate in, with a focus on social and environmental issues. These activities range from city tours and gender equality workshops to campfire gatherings and business meetings and listening sessions with record companies.

- Several residency projects are held every year. In addition to the main residencies, we organize four peer meetings and gatherings per year, both in the digital realm and in collaboration with our partners in The Netherlands, Poland, and in Germany.

About

The Playground Residence takes place at different locations around Europe. Sometimes in a big metropolitan city, close enough to vibrant clubs to enjoy a good party, and far enough away to truly focus on your own new music and ideas. Other times in a quiet environment, surrounded by nature.

There are multiple music writing rooms available, each equipped with studio monitoring, an audio interface, tables, chairs, and power supply. Some rooms are also equipped with a full band backline. Our group accommodations can host up to 20 residents, with several rooms featuring private bathrooms and various communal spaces such as living rooms, a small theater, a bar, and a garden.

For whom

The Playground Residence is designed for professionals – creators, performers, and organizers. We welcome professionals from all European countries, with specific budgets allocated for professionals from The Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine. If you are seeking a place to immerse yourself in your music, develop your business plan, and connect with peers in a collaborative environment to share meals and ideas, then this is the place for you!

Where?

We are currently working with partners in Poland, Lithuania, Germany, Belgium, England, and in the Netherlands. And we are always looking for new partner organisations.

When?

Up next: 

- 10-day residency around mid summer night in Antaliepte, Lithuania
- 10-day residency on water, The Netherlands, from Antwerp to Rotterdam
- 10-day residency in Berlin, Germany, from July 27 till August 6 2026 
- 10-day residency in Aldenburgh, England in September 2026 (open call TBA)

- 10-day residency in Antaliepte, Lithuania in November 2026 (open call TBA)
- 30-day residency in Nijmegen, The Netherlands in January 2027 (open call TBA)
- several meet-ups and writing camps in NL, DE, LT, PL and BE (open calls TBA)
- several Erasmus+-projects in Lithuania, and in Croatia (together with Songs For Rights and Innovators Valley)

Finished 2025:
- 50-day residency at De Basis Nijmegen for Culture Moves Europe (Netherlands)

- 10-day On Water edition on De Vrijbuiter (Netherlands)

- 10-day Berlin edition at Regenbogenfabrik (Germany)

- 10-day residency in Antaliepte (Lithuania)

- 7-day Songs for Rights in Zagreb (Croatia)
- 7-day Songs for Rights in Barcelona (Spain)

Finished 2024:
- 10-day Sopot edition (Poland)

- 10 day Berlin edition (Germany)
- 10 day Nijmegen edition (Netherlands)
- 14 day Erasmus+-project Sounds Like Heritage (Lithuania)

Finished 2023:
- 10 day Berlin edition (Germany)
- 4 day Nijmegen reunion (The Netherlands)

- 4 day Deventer reunion (The Netherlands)

Finished 2022:
- 10 day Berlin edition (Germany) 

Open calls online:

Currently online, till April 1, 2026: Lithuania (14-24 June), Antwerp to Rotterdam (1-11 July), Berlin (27 July - 5 August). 

Application and selection

Residents for The Playground Residence are selected based on the provided portfolio and a questionnaire. We invite those in whom we believe and whom we want to give a chance to create new work or continue working on a project. Those who come are not here by chance.

All applications will be reviewed and selected by our advisory board (more information provided below). Each applicant will receive a written explanation after the selection process. When forming the group, we focus on:

- Creating a diverse group with different social backgrounds, genders, genres, etc.

- Demographic spread (21-100 years old)

- Different skills (we aim to mix songwriters, managers, drummers, etc.)

- Various social backgrounds

- Full availability (participants must commit to the entire residency period without hopping on or off for just a day or two)

- We invite professional artists prepared to immerse themselves in their artistic process.

- We invite artists with a broad and international approach to their work.

Arrangements

During The Playground Residence, you will receive:

- Full board 
- Public transport on-site included

- Time and space to work on your own music and collaborate with peers

- Interesting lectures on music and non-music-related subjects

- Meetings with industry professionals

- Numerous jam sessions and studio sessions

In return, we may ask you to share your The Playground Residence experience during peer meetings that we organize at various locations in the digital universe and at our residency locations. This way, you can actively participate in creating knowledge about informal and non-formal learning in pop music.

Things you need to take care of:

- Paying your participation fee prior to arrival

- Arranging your trip to the residency location and back home

- Bringing your own musical instrument

How much does it cost?

The costs depend on the specific edition. We aim to keep the costs for participants between €35 and €50 per person per day. This results in participation fees between €350 and €500. Sometimes local partners offer even bigger discounts. We mention those in the application form.The remaining costs are covered by our partner organizations in various European countries. We announce the exact terms for each edition at the specific information pages of each residency.