OPEN CALL
GROW: RESIDENCY

3 November 2026 – 29 January 2027
Submission deadline: 7 September 2026

We invite young creatives aged 18–30 of all crafts – wood, textiles, design, production, technology, art or a related field – to apply for the opportunity to grow your creative practice

Submit Application Form
Download Open Call

What is GROW?

GROW is a residency for young creatives who are motivated to take their creative practice or business to the next level, from idea to prototype, from experiment to direction, or from early project to established practice.

Over three months, six selected residents will work from maker’s collaborative workshop space at LITRA in Jernbanebyen, Copenhagen. Here, you will have access to professional workshops within woodwork, textiles, digital fabrication and more, machines, tools, material support, mentorship and a community of creative professionals.

You can apply with a project, a product idea, a material experiment, a small collection, an installation, a sustainable business idea or another creative practice you want to develop. You might be working with textiles, wood, technology, materials, art, design, production or a related craft.

GROW is not about having everything figured out from the beginning. It is about having the motivation and direction to use the residency as a space to test, build, learn and grow.

What do you get?

As a resident you get free access to various resources such as memberships, material support and mentorships.

  • Workshop access

    Workshop access

    You will get a full-time maker membership with 24/7 access to workshops, machines and tools.

  • Material support

    Material support

    Get up to 10,000 DKK for material costs.

  • Mentorship

    Mentorship

    You will be matched with a relevant mentor from maker's community of professionals or from our wider network.

  • Community

    Community

    Access to maker’s community of 60+ creative professionals across different crafts and fields.

  • Space to work

    Space to work

    Access to shared workspaces, flex desks, meeting areas and professional facilities.

How to apply?

Deadline: 7 September 2026

Read the Open Call and submit the application form before Monday 7 September, 23:59 CET.

To apply, fill in information about yourself and your project, and upload visual material of the project you want to work on in the application form. You can also upload a portfolio, but this is optional. All text should be written in English.

Please note that you need a Google account to access and submit the form. If this causes any issues, or if you do not have a Google account, email us and we will find a solution.

Download Open Call
Submit Application Form

What are the requirements?

  • GROW is open to applicants who:

    • are between 18 and 30 years old

    • are based in Denmark during the residency

    • work hands-on with materials, craft, design, production, technology, art or a related field

    • have a project or creative practice they want to develop further

    You can apply as an individual or as a team. We have six available resident spots in total.

  • The jury will select the residents based on the overall potential of each application. They will score applications from 1-5 based on:

    Clarity — Is your idea easy to understand?
    Fit — Is maker the right place for your project?
    Feasibility — Can it move forward within the residency?
    Contribution — What could you give back?
    Practice trajectory — How could GROW help you grow?

    We aim to select a diverse group of residents across backgrounds, perspectives and technical skills.

  • 3–4 November 2026
    Kick-off at maker

    27 November 2026
    Community day

    7 December 2026
    Midway evaluation

    18 December 2026
    Community day

    28–29 January 2027
    Final showcase and celebration

    As a resident, you are expected to be present on the dates listed above.

Learn more about who can apply, how residents are selected, and the key dates during the residency.

Meet the jury

The residents will be selected by a jury of professionals working across design, craft, circularity and materials.

  • Henry Glogau

    Henry Glogau

    Architect & Circular Design Specialist, 3XN/GXN

    Henry brings experience from architecture, circular design and material innovation. His work explores how design can respond to environmental challenges through practical, low-tech and regenerative solutions.

  • Siri Bahlenberg

    Siri Bahlenberg

    Creative Director, maker

    Siri brings deep knowledge of maker’s workshops and community. With a background in industrial design, interior architecture and spatial design, she will help assess how each project can grow at maker.

  • Maja Brix

    Maja Brix

    Fashion Designer & Owner, MAJA BRIX

    Maja brings strong experience from fashion, textiles and sustainable design practice. As the founder of MAJA BRIX and former designer at Henrik Vibskov, she knows how to grow independent creative practices.

FAQ

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions below.

  • Your practice does not have to be fully developed. It can be early-stage, experimental or still taking shape. What matters is that you have a direction you want to explore and a motivation to grow.

  • No. We understand that many young creatives need to combine GROW with work or study, and there is no minimum weekly attendance.

    If you are selected, the frequency of your attendance will be planned individually with you. However, GROW is a hands-on residency, and applicants who can spend time at maker regularly, ideally at least one or two days a week, will be prioritised.

    Residents are also expected to attend mentor sessions and be present for the key dates listed in the open call.

  • No. It doesn’t matter whether you are a student or working, as long as you are also trying to develop your own practice within craft, design, architecture, art, engineering, materials, production or a related field.

  • Yes. You must be based in Denmark during the residency, as we expect residents to actively use maker’s physical facilities in Copenhagen.

  • GROW is part of Ungesporet, an initiative with multiple activities, focused on creating better access for young people who want to develop their craft or creative practice.

    As Tuborgfondet supports projects for people up to the age of 30, applicants for GROW must be between 18 and 30 years old.

  • Yes. Fill out and submit one form together.

    A team will share one mentor and one material budget of up to 10,000 DKK. All team members get a full-time maker membership for the residency period.

  • You will receive a full-time membership at maker including access to maker’s workshops, machines, tools, safety courses, community and mentor support during the residency.

    Each resident or team also gets up to 10,000 DKK for materials. Costs are reimbursed against receipts. The budget covers materials and production costs for your project.

    It is not a fee or a stipend.

  • No. There is no fee to take part, and no cost for your membership during the residency.

  • Your mentor can help you develop your project. This could be through feedback, industry knowledge, technical insight or support with business development, depending on what is most relevant for you.

Questions?

For questions about GROW, please contact us at residency@maker.dk

Prisca Vilsbøl
Designer and project lead
+45 6133 6043

Sarah Coster
Communications and project manager
+45 2235 3620

A project supported by Tuborgfondet

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