Open Calls launched for a Southeast Asian Solarpunk Art Project
Art Residency (September 25-30th) and Digital Art Exhibition (October 4th)
We are looking for artists, designers, futurists, environmentalists, and dreamers! In collaboration with EnergyLab Asia, a non-profit driving Cambodia's energy transition, in collaboration with Micro Galleries, a global art collective, Sambor Village hotel in Kampong Thom and Seapunk Studios, a network of creatives around Southeast Asia, two open calls are being launched for artists as part of a new project celebrating "Solarpunk" with a unique Southeast Asian twist. The project seeks to inspire a hopeful, sustainable future through art, countering climate pessimism and empowering local communities.
What is Solarpunk?
Solarpunk is a growing art and literary movement that stands as a stark contrast to dystopian visions like cyberpunk. It imagines and actively works towards a better world where nature and community thrive, powered by renewable energy and rooted in community-based practices. The "solar" represents optimism and a focus on clean energy, while the "punk" embodies a countercultural, DIY ethos. This project aims to cultivate a distinctly Southeast Asian version of this movement, integrating local culture, traditional knowledge, and resilient ways of life.
"Stories and art plant seeds, fertilizing the world we want to see flourishing, greener and fairer for all," said a spokesperson for the project. "We believe it is crucial to create a Southeast Asian version of this movement, connected with the local culture, aesthetics, and climate-adapted practices."
The project will culminate in an exhibition during Clean Energy Week in Phnom Penh, and includes a residency in Sambor Village, Kampong Thom, for Cambodia-based artists to collectively explore these themes.
1. Open Call for Digital Art Exhibition
This open call invites artists, designers, and creatives from across Southeast Asia to submit digital artwork for an exhibition to be held at F3 - Friends Futures Factory in Phnom Penh on October 4th, as part of Clean Energy Week.
What to submit: Digital artwork that envisions a sustainable, hopeful future rooted in local culture and community resilience.
Who can apply: Artists of any medium and career level, primarily from Southeast Asia.
Location: F3 - Friends Futures Factory in Phnom Penh.
Date: October 4th, 2025.
Submission Details: Artists retain full copyright, and printing costs for the exhibition will be covered by the organizers.
Link to Submit: https://forms.gle/eBZyjCiMFUjnkha39
Submission Deadline: September 25th, 2025.
2. Open Call for Art Residency
This separate open call is for artists based in Cambodia to participate in a unique art residency. The residency offers a peaceful, collaborative environment for in-depth exploration of Solarpunk themes.
What to expect: A week of collective exploration, workshops, and time to work on art pieces. The program includes visits to local indigenous communities to learn from their expertise in land stewardship and a tour of the Sambor Prei Kuk temples for ancestral inspiration.
Who can apply: Cambodian/Cambodia-based artists of any medium and career level.
Location: Sambor Village in Kampong Thom.
Dates: September 25th-30th, 2025.
Details: Transportation, accommodation, and guided tours to Sambor Prei Kuk temples and indigenous communities are covered as a learning/inspiration experience.
Link to Submit: https://forms.gle/LFUTVV4VAvNxGWMd9
Submission Deadline: September 18th, 2025.
About the Organizers:
EnergyLab Asia: A non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating Cambodia's clean energy transition. More at: https://cleanenergycambodia.org/cleanenergyweek
Micro Galleries: A global art collective that uses art to engage in climate action. More at: https://microgalleries.org/
Sambor Village: A partner venue and inspiration for the project, connected with a network of creatives exploring a Southeast Asian Solarpunk movement. More at: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Feature-g1024989-d1599613-zft9165-Sambor_Village.html
Seapunk Studios: A network of creatives, researchers, tech-savy and innovators spread around the region exploring Solarpunk with Southeast Asian characteristics. More at: https://seapunk.asia/
Artists for both calls do not need prior knowledge of the movement but are encouraged to learn more on this topic at seapunk.asia.
This project is a pilot initiative and a conversation starter, aimed at building a community of creatives committed to imagining and creating a brighter future for Cambodia and the region.
For all inquiries, please contact Miguel Jeronimo at +855 10298091 (Telegram & WhatsApp).
More contact and information links
Website: https://microgalleries.org/solarpunk/
Fb event page Residency: https://www.facebook.com/share/16yeQ3cuoe/
Fb event page Exhibition: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A4BDvjxDP/