Playful Obscura Residency 2027: Apply by 1 November
Playful Obscura Residency Invites Africa-Based Artists to Create Arthouse Games in Ethiopia
Africa-based artists working at the intersection of games, digital art and interactive experiences have until 1 November 2026 to apply for the third edition of the Playful Obscura Arthouse Games Residency.
Organized through a partnership involving A MAZE., Goethe-Institut Addis Ababa, Creative HUB Ethiopia, the British Council and Alliance Ethio-Française, the program will bring two selected artists to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a three-week residency from 25 January to 14 February 2027.
The residency is part of GamesConnect AFRICA, an initiative supporting creative experimentation and connections across the continent’s games and playful-media ecosystem.
Who is the residency for?
Playful Obscura is designed for artists based in Africa who work with arthouse games and playful media. Eligible creative practices may include:
Game design and experimental game development
Digital art
Interactive installations
Playful media and related artistic experimentation
The program is relevant to artists who treat games as an artistic medium rather than working exclusively on conventional commercial game products.
Applicants should demonstrate their creative practice through materials such as a portfolio, project proposal and relevant links. The selection process considers the artistic merit of the work and its potential to develop within the three-week residency.
What does the residency cover?
The published call lists the following support for selected residents:
Return flights
Accommodation
A production budget of up to €1,000
A €300 stipend
The residency gives participants dedicated time to develop their work and engage with an international network of creative practitioners and organizations.
Work produced through the residency is expected to be exhibited at A MAZE. / Berlin 2027, creating a further opportunity for the selected artists to present their practice beyond the residency itself.
Applicants should read the full call carefully to understand the production expectations, travel arrangements and any other participation conditions.
How to apply
Artists should prepare materials that clearly demonstrate their work in arthouse games or playful media. These may include a portfolio, project proposal and links to previous or ongoing projects.
Applications submission must be through the official Playful Obscura open call.
Application deadline: 1 November 2026.
The organizers also scheduled an online question-and-answer session for 22 October 2026. Since that date has passed, prospective applicants should check the official page for any published recording or updated guidance rather than assume another session will be held.
Why this opportunity matters
Game development and interactive art can offer African artists ways to explore storytelling, identity, technology and social questions outside traditional exhibition formats. However, experimental work often requires time, equipment, specialist support and access to networks that may be difficult to secure independently.
A residency that combines production support with an opportunity to exhibit internationally can help artists develop work that might otherwise remain at the concept stage.
The opportunity is limited to two selected artists, so applicants should focus on presenting a clear artistic direction and a project that can realistically progress during the residency.
Editorial note: The call specifies artists based in Africa. Applicants should confirm all requirements and submission instructions on the official page before applying.
