In May 2026, for the fifth time, an artist will be invited to participate in an artist residency in Nida. This residency program is part of the international photography symposium “NIDA. Meeting Photography.” The program is implemented in collaboration with the Vilnius Academy of Arts' Nida Art Colony. The residency aims to actualize photography both as a medium and as a means of expression. The program is oriented towards artists who promote critical thinking in their work, question established cultural field practices, and are sensitive to social and political changes or current issues.

The open call attracted 64 applicants from 25 countries, with 180 projects submitted for review.

The selection jury included book designer Gytis Skudžinskas, patron Audronė Tylaitė, exhibition curator and chair of the Lithuanian Photographers Association Vilma Samulionytė, and head of the Nida Art Colony Egija Inzule.

Evaluation criteria encompassed the significance and relevance of the proposed topic, the applicant’s previous experience, and the applicant’s interest and ability to actualize their work by combining local specificity, the expanded field of photography, and their creative practice.

In 2026, the residency at the Nida Art Colony will host artist Simon Chang, who lives and works in Slovenia and Taiwan.

In 2024, Simon attended the photography symposium and presented his work. According to the artist, “he has always been interested in whether photography can rehumanize those who have been dehumanized.” Having been a migrant in Europe for over twenty years, he chooses to work within communities, often on complex topics, focusing on people whose voices are rarely heard, communities marginalized from mainstream society, and mental health issues in both Central Europe and post-conflict regions, among others.

Simon Chang, after graduating from the Department of Communication Arts at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei, moved to Prague, Czech Republic, and in 2004 was admitted to the master's program in photography at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU). He currently resides in Ljubljana. In 2011, he received the Kaohsiung Award, and in 2018 and 2020, the Golden Tripod Award. These are two of the most prestigious contemporary art and book publishing awards in Taiwan. Chang's works have been exhibited in museums and galleries across Europe and Asia.

Works created during the residency program will be published in print and presented in the main program of the international photography symposium “NIDA. Meeting Photography” in 2026.

The other 20 authors who received the highest scores will participate in the evening projection program at the “NIDA. Meeting Photography” symposium in 2026.

Participating Authors:

• Abdelrahman Alkahlout (Palestine / Turkey)

• Badubazendu (Mexico)

• Louisa Boeszoermeny (Germany)

• Agata Ciaston (Poland)

• Camilo Errante (Colombia)

• Emilija Filipenkovaitė (Lithuania)

• Marcel Herbst (Switzerland)

• Joel Jimenez Jara (Costa Rica / Spain)

• Alexander Komenda (Finland)

• Alwin Maigler (Germany)

• Antoine Neufmars (Belgium)

• Stefanos Paikos (Greece / Germany)

• Tina Rowe (United Kingdom)

• Nuno Serrão (Portugal)

• Ola Skowrońska (Poland)

• Gianluca Sodaro (Italy)

• Arnas Špaka (Lithuania)

• Hiro Tanaka (Japan)

• Soushi Tanaka (Japan)

• Stig Marlon Weston (Norway)

Simon Chang. Zhuangwei Township, Yilan County, Taiwan. February 16, 2023

Simon Chang