A MAZE. Opens Applications for Playful Obscura Residency

The Goethe-Institut and A MAZE. have opened applications for the third edition of Playful Obscura, a residency for artists based in Africa who work with arthouse games and playful media. Two artists will spend three weeks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 14, 2027, and the work they make will be exhibited at A MAZE. / Berlin 2027. Applications close Nov. 1, and an online Q&A with former residents and the organizers takes place Oct. 22. Goethe-Institut South Africa announced the call in an Instagram post on Oct. 16.

The residency is part of GamesConnect AFRICA, a project commissioned by the Goethe-Institut, with Creative HUB Ethiopia, the British Council and Alliance Ethio-Française as partners. It is open to game designers, digital artists and installation artists at emerging and mid-career stages. In the call, Thorsten S. Wiedemann, A MAZE.'s artistic director, describes what the residency is looking for: "It could be a playable poem or essay, a statement, or a digital moment that leaves a lasting impression on us as players."

Each resident receives return flights, housing, a shared workspace, a production budget of up to 1,000 euros and a stipend of 300 euros. Applicants should be able to work independently as solo makers, and a jury from the partner organizations makes the selection.

The 2026 edition took place in Accra, Ghana, from April 13 to May 1, according to Games Industry Africa. A MAZE. / Berlin returns May 5 to 8, 2027.

For more reading, see Killscreen on the A MAZE. / Berlin 2027 dates, the full call from Goethe-Institut South Africa and Games Industry Africa on the Accra edition.