SPARSE Plus Symposium 2025 (Praha) – Open Mic – otevřená výzva

English follows

We are looking for eight voices to shake up the space between theory and practice.

At the SPARSE Plus Symposium 2025 held in Prague, Czech Republic, on October 8 and 9, 2025, we are launching an Open Mic – and you are invited to speak up.

What we are looking for

Short, energetic contributions – stand-up rants, mini-lectures, poems, manifestos, songs, quizzes, reflections, even video or performative readings.

You can speak (or sing) from practice, from frustration, or from passion.

Guiding questions for inspiration

• Have you had a great – or challenging – experience working in rural areas?
• Is decentralisation the solution, or just a comforting illusion?
• Do you have doubts or strong motivation to change something?
• What should the cultural community hear – and what is often left unsaid?

What we offer

• 5 minutes of space with a mic.
• A 100 EUR honorarium.
• An audience of cultural professionals, researchers, and people from the field.
• A chance to be one of 6 selected speakers through this open call – plus 2 more will be chosen live on the spot during the Symposium.

How to apply

Please send us:

• A short bio (max. 500 characters),
• A brief description of your contribution (what and why you want to share, max. 1,000 characters),
• Your preferred format (spoken word, performance, video, etc.),
• A 60-second video where you tell us what you plan to do and how it will look – just a simple recording so we can get a sense of you and your style.

Deadline: September 17, 2025

Selected participants will be contacted by: Ondřej Wald

Send your applications to .

We look forward to hearing voices that are bold, uncertain, provocative, or poetic.