BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//The Grant Desk//Calendar//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH NAME:The Grant Desk - Game Design X-WR-CALNAME:The Grant Desk - Game Design deadlines X-WR-CALDESC:Paid open calls\, fellowships and residencies in AI\, tech\, r esearch\, and digital and mixed-media arts\, sorted into the right pile. U pdated as new calls land on the desk. Filtered to: Game Design. REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT12H X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT12H BEGIN:VEVENT UID:feminist-gaming-fellowship-2026@artificialnouveau.github.io DTSTAMP:20260707T221112Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260712 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260713 SUMMARY:Deadline: Feminist Gaming Fellowship: Open Call 2026 DESCRIPTION:The Feminist Gaming Project is opening applications for its fir st Fellowship cohort: five fellows from different creative and research fi elds spending three months developing 3D assets\, tools\, and documentatio n for its Open Access Asset Library (OAL)\, a free\, open repository of in clusive 3D content created by\, with\, and for intersectionally feminist a nd diverse communities. Where mainstream marketplaces default to hyper-ath letic\, idealized\, or hyper-sexualized characters\, the OAL offers averag e bodies\, real postures\, everyday objects\, and the kinds of lives most games leave out (pregnancy and postpartum\, care work\, ageing\, disabilit y\, domestic labor). This first cohort is dedicated to 3D content. Support ed by the Creative Industries Fund NL and working across the Netherlands\, Türkiye\, Germany\, and the UK\, the project challenges exclusionary nor ms in how games are made. The fellowship offers a EUR 1\,000 honorarium pe r fellow over three months (half at start\, half on completion)\; mentorsh ip from the core team and advisors in feminist design\, game studies\, 3D production\, and digital culture\; a peer community across NL\, TR\, DE\, and the UK with biweekly meetings\; visibility through a travelling exhibi tion program\, publications\, and public events\; and authorship credited in the OAL under its license terms. Five roles are recruited (one fellow e ach): 3D Character Artist for inclusive base meshes\; 3D Character Artist for pregnancy and postpartum assets\; 3D Animator for neutral and everyday movement\; 3D Modeller for domestic and care-labor environments\; and Res earcher/Writer for documentation and the representation framework\; applic ants may rank up to two. Open to 3D artists\, animators\, modellers\, desi gners\, researchers\, and writers committed to inclusive and intersectiona l representation in games\; prior game-industry experience is not required \, and emerging creators\, underrepresented practitioners\, and researcher s at the intersection of games\, gender\, and culture are especially encou raged\, particularly those based in or connected to NL\, TR\, DE\, or the UK. To apply\, email feministgamingproject@gmail.com with a short statemen t (max ~500 words)\, a portfolio or work samples (a link is fine)\, and co nfirmation of availability for the three-month period\; name the role(s) i n the subject line or statement. The project explicitly asks applicants to write statements in their own voice rather than using AI-generated text. Indicative timeline: applications close 12 July 2026\; selection and notif ication late July\; fellowship period August to October 2026\; showcase an d publication November to December 2026.\n\nOrganisation: Feminist Gaming Project\nLocation: Remote across the Netherlands\, Türkiye\, Germany\, an d the UK\nAward: EUR 1\,000 honorarium per fellow (paid half at the start\ , half on completion)\nDuration: Three months\, August to October 2026\; m inimum ~6 hours per week (~75 hours total)\n\nMore: https://feministgaming .com/fellowship/index.html URL:https://feministgaming.com/fellowship/index.html LOCATION:Remote across the Netherlands\, Türkiye\, Germany\, and the UK END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:play-creative-gaming-festival-2026@artificialnouveau.github.io DTSTAMP:20260707T221112Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260628 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260629 SUMMARY:Deadline: PLAY26 Creative Gaming Festival: Open Call for Games & Pl ayful Media Works DESCRIPTION:PLAY is all about the creative use of digital games\, combining this culture with media art\, discourse and education. This year's theme\ , 'Hey\, listen! (Music & Emotion)'\, relates to mixtape culture and the s haring of bonds and feelings with the people you like and love. The open c all invites artists and developers to submit games or playful media works (including alt.ctrl\, interactive theatre and performances) for one of thr ee strands: the Creative Gaming Awards (works that let players get creativ e in or with them\, including the Most Creative Game Award)\; the core exh ibition 'Hey\, listen!' (works fitting this year's Music & Emotion theme)\ ; and Focus Hamburg (a Local Artists Feature for artists and developers ba sed in Hamburg). All games shown in the festival exhibition are eligible f or the Audience Award\, chosen by festival visitors and honoured at the Aw ards Show. Selected projects are showcased to an international audience. N OTE: this is a festival exhibition and awards open call rather than a paid grant\; no artist fee is stated. The Call for Games & Playful Media Works is open until 28 June 2026 (Calls for Talks and Workshops follow). Submit via https://www.playfestival.de/en/play26-submissions-are-open.\n\nOrgani sation: PLAY - Creative Gaming Festival\nLocation: Hamburg\, Germany\; int ernational submissions welcome (with a Focus Hamburg feature for artists a nd developers based in Hamburg).\nAward: Exhibition and awards opportunity \, NOT a paid grant: selected works are showcased to an international fest ival audience. Awards include the Most Creative Game Award and an Audience Award (all games in the festival exhibition are eligible\, voted on by fe stival visitors). No artist fee is stated.\nDuration: Festival 2026 (exhib ition and awards show)\n\nMore: https://www.playfestival.de/en/play26-subm issions-are-open URL:https://www.playfestival.de/en/play26-submissions-are-open LOCATION:Hamburg\, Germany\; international submissions welcome (with a Focu s Hamburg feature for artists and developers based in Hamburg). END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:she-got-game-emerging-talents-2026@artificialnouveau.github.io DTSTAMP:20260707T221112Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260901 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260902 SUMMARY:Deadline: Game Design Emerging Talents: She Got Game DESCRIPTION:She Got Game is a Pro Helvetia mentoring programme promoting eq ual opportunities in the Swiss and international game industry\, supportin g the representation of women in management positions through dialogue wit h experienced international experts from the game industry. The call is ai med at professional game designers who identify as women from the regions of Pro Helvetia's liaison offices: the Arab region\, East Asia\, South Ame rica\, South Asia and Vietnam\, and West\, Central\, East and Southern Afr ica. ELIGIBILITY: Emerging Talents are game developers or game studios who se relevant training or registration (self-employed\, sole proprietorship\ , or company) dates back less than seven years. Selection criteria include digital content for devices such as computers\, consoles\, mobile devices \, or mixed-reality devices requiring a high level of interaction\; clearl y defined objectives in terms of participation and career\; originality\, feasibility\, degree of innovation\, and marketability of the project\; an d project leaders holding the copyright and rights of use. Excluded: commi ssioned work and projects that are part of an advertising or promotional c ampaign\, and purely technological projects without obvious narrative and/ or aesthetic content. WHAT IS OFFERED: individual coaching and input talks on project development\, business strategy and finances\, marketing\, PR\ , and pitch training\; involvement in a growing community of female game d evelopers\; potential access to international trade fairs\; CHF 3\,000 tow ard the production of a prototype or demo version\; and up to CHF 250 per week toward childcare or children's travel expenses when attending interna tional trade fairs (a budget must be presented in advance). All modules ar e conducted in English\; the programme is a time-consuming commitment of r oughly 30 hours over six months\, plus potential additional time attending events or trade fairs. APPLICATION: submit a short CV (including educatio n/training\, nationality\, and residency status in Switzerland)\, a short description of the current project (type and genre\, gameplay\, platform\, development status\, target audience\, with relevant visual material\, ma x. 10 A4 pages)\, a project portfolio\, and expectations regarding the pro gramme's objectives. All documents should be submitted in English\; if not possible\, applications may be submitted in German\, French\, or Italian. KEY DATES: applications open 1 July 2026\; submission deadline 1 Septembe r 2026\, 23:59 CEST\; notification of decision in November 2026\; earliest project start 1 January 2027. Apply via the Pro Helvetia application port al.\n\nOrganisation: Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council)\nLocation: Remote/i nternational mentoring programme\; applicants must be based in one of Pro Helvetia's liaison-office regions (Arab region\, East Asia\, South America \, South Asia and Vietnam\, and West\, Central\, East and Southern Africa) .\nAward: CHF 3\,000 toward the production of a prototype or demo version\ , plus individual coaching and community access\; potential access to inte rnational trade fairs. When attending trade fairs\, applicants with childc are responsibilities can request up to CHF 250 per week for childcare or c hildren's travel expenses. No application fee.\nDuration: Six-month mentor ing programme\, approximately 30 hours total commitment\; notification in November 2026\; earliest project start 1 January 2027.\n\nMore: https://pr ohelvetia.ch/en/find-support/game-design-emerging-talents-she-got-game-3/ URL:https://prohelvetia.ch/en/find-support/game-design-emerging-talents-she -got-game-3/ LOCATION:Remote/international mentoring programme\; applicants must be base d in one of Pro Helvetia's liaison-office regions (Arab region\, East Asia \, South America\, South Asia and Vietnam\, and West\, Central\, East and Southern Africa). END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:prohelvetia-game-design-pre-production-2026@artificialnouveau.github.io DTSTAMP:20260707T221112Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260901 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260902 SUMMARY:Deadline: Game Design Emerging Talents: Pre-Production DESCRIPTION:Pro Helvetia's Game Design Emerging Talents pre-production gran t supports early-career game designers in developing playable prototypes f or digital games. Emerging Talents are game developers or studios whose ga me-design education or company foundation dates back less than seven years . ELIGIBILITY: requires a connection to Switzerland (Swiss citizenship\, o r permanent residency with regular artistic activity in Switzerland)\; not open to practitioners without a Swiss connection. At least 50 percent of participants must be Swiss citizens or permanent residents whose place of work is in Switzerland. AMOUNT: up to CHF 20\,000\, plus possible addition al coaching. Deadlines twice a year: 1 March (23:59 CET) and 1 September ( 23:59 CEST). Apply via the Pro Helvetia portal.\n\nOrganisation: Pro Helve tia (Swiss Arts Council)\nLocation: Switzerland-based emerging game design ers and studios.\nAward: Up to CHF 20\,000\, plus possible additional coac hing. No application fee.\nDuration: Pre-production / prototype phase\; de adlines twice yearly (1 March and 1 September).\n\nMore: https://prohelvet ia.ch/en/find-support/game-design-emerging-talents-pre-production URL:https://prohelvetia.ch/en/find-support/game-design-emerging-talents-pre -production LOCATION:Switzerland-based emerging game designers and studios. END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:prohelvetia-game-design-production-2026@artificialnouveau.github.io DTSTAMP:20260707T221112Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260901 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260902 SUMMARY:Deadline: Game Design Emerging Talents: Production DESCRIPTION:Pro Helvetia's Game Design Emerging Talents production grant fu nds the production of digital games based on advanced prototypes or vertic al slices. Emerging Talents are studios whose game-design education or com pany foundation dates back less than seven years. Applicants must be legal entities (sole proprietorships accepted if willing to convert). ELIGIBILI TY: requires a connection to Switzerland (Swiss citizenship\, or permanent residency with regular artistic activity in Switzerland)\; not open to pr actitioners without a Swiss connection. At least 50 percent of participant s must be Swiss citizens or permanent residents whose place of work is in Switzerland. AMOUNT: up to CHF 50\,000\, requiring a matching grant of equ al value from own or third-party funding. Deadlines twice a year: 1 March (23:59 CET) and 1 September (23:59 CEST). Apply via the Pro Helvetia porta l.\n\nOrganisation: Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council)\nLocation: Switzerla nd-based emerging game studios.\nAward: Up to CHF 50\,000\, requiring a ma tching grant of equal value from own or third-party funding. No applicatio n fee.\nDuration: Production phase\; deadlines twice yearly (1 March and 1 September).\n\nMore: https://prohelvetia.ch/en/find-support/game-design-e merging-talents-production URL:https://prohelvetia.ch/en/find-support/game-design-emerging-talents-pro duction LOCATION:Switzerland-based emerging game studios. END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:prohelvetia-game-design-post-production-2026@artificialnouveau.github.i o DTSTAMP:20260707T221112Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260901 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260902 SUMMARY:Deadline: Game Design Emerging Talents: Post-Production DESCRIPTION:Pro Helvetia's Game Design Emerging Talents post-production gra nt funds the dissemination and marketing of advanced game-design projects. Emerging Talents are studios whose game-design education or company found ation dates back less than seven years. Applicants must be legal entities (sole proprietorships accepted if willing to convert). ELIGIBILITY: requir es a connection to Switzerland (Swiss citizenship\, or permanent residency with regular artistic activity in Switzerland)\; not open to practitioner s without a Swiss connection. At least 50 percent of participants must be Swiss citizens or permanent residents whose place of work is in Switzerlan d. AMOUNT: up to CHF 20\,000\, plus potential individual coaching. Deadlin es twice a year: 1 March (23:59 CET) and 1 September (23:59 CEST). Apply v ia the Pro Helvetia portal.\n\nOrganisation: Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Coun cil)\nLocation: Switzerland-based emerging game studios.\nAward: Up to CHF 20\,000\, plus potential individual coaching. No application fee.\nDurati on: Post-production\, dissemination and marketing phase\; deadlines twice yearly (1 March and 1 September).\n\nMore: https://prohelvetia.ch/en/find- support/game-design-emerging-talents-post-production URL:https://prohelvetia.ch/en/find-support/game-design-emerging-talents-pos t-production LOCATION:Switzerland-based emerging game studios. END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:prohelvetia-she-got-game-switzerland-2026@artificialnouveau.github.io DTSTAMP:20260707T221112Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260901 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260902 SUMMARY:Deadline: Game Design Emerging Talents: She Got Game (Switzerland) DESCRIPTION:She Got Game is a Pro Helvetia mentoring programme promoting eq ual opportunities for women in the Swiss and international game industry\, supporting the representation of women in management positions through di alogue with experienced international experts. This is the variant for pro fessional game designers FROM Switzerland who identify as women (a separat e variant exists for practitioners in the liaison-office regions). Emergin g Talents are developers or studios whose relevant training or registratio n dates back less than seven years. ELIGIBILITY: requires a connection to Switzerland (Swiss citizenship\, or permanent residency with regular artis tic activity in Switzerland)\; not open to practitioners without a Swiss c onnection. WHAT IS OFFERED: individual coaching on project development\, b usiness strategy\, finances\, marketing\, PR\, and pitch training\; a grow ing community of female game developers\; potential access to internationa l trade fairs\; CHF 3\,000 toward a prototype or demo\; and up to CHF 250 per week toward childcare or children's travel when attending trade fairs. Roughly 30 hours over six months. Submission deadline 1 September 2026 (2 3:59 CEST)\; notification November 2026. Apply via the Pro Helvetia portal .\n\nOrganisation: Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council)\nLocation: Profession al game designers from Switzerland who identify as women.\nAward: CHF 3\,0 00 toward prototype/demo production\, plus mentoring\, community access\, and potential trade-fair access\; up to CHF 250 per week childcare support for international events. No application fee.\nDuration: Six-month mentor ing programme (approximately 30 hours total)\; notification November 2026. \n\nMore: https://prohelvetia.ch/en/find-support/game-design-emerging-tale nts-she-got-game URL:https://prohelvetia.ch/en/find-support/game-design-emerging-talents-she -got-game LOCATION:Professional game designers from Switzerland who identify as women . END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR