RECLAIMING COLONIAL STREETS
Their Names. Our Stories.
Six Streets. Six Artists. Six Artistic Interventions.
San Nicolas, Aruba | 2026–2027
An Invitation to Reinterpret the City
Art Rap Foundation invites contemporary artists to participate in Reclaiming Colonial Streets, an artistic research project exploring the relationship between history, public space, community memory, and contemporary art in San Nicolas.
Six streets in San Nicolas bear the names of Dutch painters. But what about the stories of the people who have lived, worked, and shaped these streets?
The project will select six artists to investigate six streets, developing artistic interventions informed by historical research and engagement with local communities.
Artistic approaches may include visual art, installation, performance, sound, digital media, participatory practices, and other forms of contemporary expression.
Who Can Apply?
The Open Call welcomes contemporary artists working across disciplines, with the following order of priority:
- Artists from or closely connected to San Nicolas.
- Artists from elsewhere in Aruba.
- Foreign-born artists with at least five years of established professional artistic practice based in Aruba.
Curators may submit applications on behalf of artists, provided they have the artist’s authorization. All artists, including those represented by curators, will be subject to the project’s independent selection process and curatorial direction. Submitting an application on behalf of an artist does not grant the representative a curatorial role within the project.
Applications may also be submitted on behalf of deceased artists by authorized living representatives, subject to the same selection criteria and project requirements.
Selection and Participation
Six artists will be selected by an independent committee of three professionals.
Each selected artist will be assigned one of the six streets through a curatorial process considering the relationship between their artistic practice and the location.
Selected artists will participate in a six-month research and development phase involving historical inquiry, community engagement, and the creation of a site-responsive artistic intervention.
Application Period
Opens: November 1, 2026
Deadline: November 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM (Aruba Time, UTC−4)
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Submission Requirements
- Artist CV — Maximum 3 pages.
- Motivation Statement — Maximum 500 words explaining why you wish to participate in Reclaiming Colonial Streets.
- Initial Artistic Idea — Maximum 500 words responding to the question: What could you envision doing artistically in one of the six streets? A fully developed project proposal is not required.
- Links to Artistic Work — Website, online portfolio, social media profiles, or other links where the selection committee can view your work.
- Acceptance of Terms and Conditions — Applicants must read and accept the official Open Call Terms and Conditions before submitting their application.
How to Apply
All applications must be submitted exclusively through the official Google Form.
Application Form:https://forms.gle/gE6YwRn9La7FXzmz6
Applications submitted by email or through other channels will not be considered.
Organized by Art Rap Foundation
Concept, Design, and Curatorship: Nelson Gonzalez
ZEER TROPISCH Art House — San Nicolas, Aruba
Contact: artrapfoundation@gmail.com
Their Names. Our Stories.
Download the Complete Open Call
Download the complete Open Call here before submitting your application.