"Call for proposals for the programming that will be part of the Fifth International Architecture Biennial of the Basque Country Mugak/"

The International Architecture Biennial of the Basque Country Mugak/, organized by the Department of Housing and Urban Agenda of the Basque Government, will celebrate its fifth edition between October and November 2025 across the three Basque capitals. Mugak/ continues its aim to be an open space, the result of collaboration between various agents, becoming a meeting point with citizens and establishing itself as one of the main architectural events in the Atlantic Arc.
The Open Mugak/ call aims to financially support cultural programs that will be part of the Mugak/ 2025 Biennial.

In its 2025 edition, Mugak/ focuses on the theme "Castles in the Air."

Over time, utopias have demonstrated their ability to guide and shape theworld’s evolution towards more desirable scenarios. In them, we seek visions of harmonious, fraternal, and supportive communities; illusions of freedom and desires for fairer and more egalitarian forms of social order; innovations in productive, economic aspects and in our relationship with the world and with each other. Many of today's political and urban proposals (universal suffrage, gender equality, minority rights, skyscrapers, garden cities, mass public transport, and so on) were once deemed utopian. After the First World War, historian, philosopher, and urbanist Lewis Mumford, author of The Story of Utopias, argued that the most important task of the moment was to "build castles in the air," advocating for a proactive and visionary attitude.
The fifth edition of the International Architecture Biennial of the Basque Country Mugak/ invites participants to share spaces of collective reflection and experimentation to explore what architectural utopias of our time can help us move towards the better futures we wish to inhabit. A border meeting place that allows us to navigate between the urgencies of the moment and the emergence of proposals projecting us towards possible futures.
Projects submitted to this call must maintain a direct relationship with the theoretical framework proposed by this year’s biennial: https://www.bienalmugak.eus/en/castillos

This call is open to any entity and/or individual, both nationally and internationally, with the capacity to enter into a contract.

Programs such as talks or conferences, research and publication presentations, visits, exhibitions, audiovisual pieces, performances, actions, or any other open and free cultural activity may be submitted.
Initiatives must be financed, managed, and produced entirely by the entities submitting proposals.
Proposals must justify their connection to the theme of this fifth edition of Mugak/, “Castles in the Air.”

Having a confirmed venue for the program will be positively valued. However, depending on the content and format of the selected proposal, the biennial organization may offer the possibility of using one of the available spaces in the three capitals:

Donostia-San Sebastián:
● IAE_Institute of Architecture of Euskadi (conferences and other activities can take place in the council hall or cloister)
● Installation "Lightness and Protest: Embroidery as a Feminine Utopia"" in Alderdi Eder

Bilbao:
● "Etxenoi" Pavilion in Plaza de las Mujeres
● COAVN Bizkaia

Vitoria-Gasteiz:
● Installation "Utopia: No Entry" in Plaza de la Virgen Blanca
● COAVN Araba

The organization may agree to change the venue with the approval of the submitting team or individual.

Projects will be scheduled in coordination with the Mugak/ biennial during October and November 2025 in the following cities:

●Donostia-San Sebastián: between October 9 and October 31, 2025
● Bilbao: between October 16 and November 7, 2025
● Vitoria-Gasteiz: between October 23 and November 13, 2025

*If a proposed date is already reserved for official events, the Mugak/ Biennial will seek alternative dates for rescheduling the activity.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Quality of the Proposal
The clarity, coherence, and conceptual strength of the project will be assessed, as well as its ability to capture interest and generate impact within the event's context.

2. Level of Development and Quality of Descriptive Detail
The degree of specificity and thoroughness in the project description will be evaluated, including aspects such as objectives, action plan, implementation phases, and expected results, reflecting a well-structured and well-founded plan.

3. Level of Argumentation, Deliberation, and References
The quality of reasoning, the ability to justify creative decisions, and the use of relevant references to support the proposal will be considered.

4. Theoretical Quality of the Proposal
The conceptual rigor and intellectual solidity of the project will be assessed, ensuring that it is based on relevant and well-articulated theoretical frameworks.

5. Originality of the Proposal
Priority will be given to projects that present innovative ideas or unique approaches, avoiding the repetition of proposals supported in previous editions.

6. New Projects Not Previously Supported >
This criterion aims to encourage the inclusion of novel initiatives that enrich the event with fresh perspectives.

7. Preference for Unpublished and/or Original Projects Presented for the First Time at Mugak/
The selection process seeks to highlight proposals that stand out for their creativity and exclusivity, adding value to the event’s framework.

8. Relevance to the Theme
The proposal must clearly justify its relationship with the central themes and reflections of this edition, demonstrating its pertinence and conceptual alignment.

9. Target Audience, Outreach, and Mediation Potential
A clear definition of the project's target audience will be valued, as well as its potential to engage and mediate with different audiences.

10. Interdisciplinary Integration with Other Cultural Fields br>Proposals that incorporate elements from other cultural disciplines, fostering interdisciplinarity and conceptual richness, will be prioritized.

11. Reach and Means of Dissemination
The project's communication plan will be analyzed, including the breadth of its reach and the effectiveness of the proposed dissemination strategies.

12. Feasibility of the Proposal
The practicality of executing the project will be taken into account.

13. Profile of the Promoting Team
The experience, capabilities, and diversity of the team responsible for developing the project will be assessed to ensure their suitability for its execution.

14. Collaborating Entities
The involvement of institutions or collaborators that enhance the project and provide it with greater solidity and visibility will be valued.

15. Territorial Balance
In an effort to balance programming across the three capitals, the Mugak/ biennial will give positive consideration to projects proposed to take place in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Selected entities and individuals must not disclose the chosen proposal or their participation before it is officially announced by the Mugak/ Biennial.
For future publications, teams must coordinate with the Mugak/ Biennial communication team to disseminate results according to a set schedule and aesthetic criteria.
Intellectual property rights will remain with the authors. Selected authors will temporarily grant reproduction and exhibition rights to the Biennial organization for use in media, exhibitions, publications, and promotional activities, always acknowledging authorship.
The Department of Housing and Urban Agenda, along with Cluster Habic and collaborating companies, may disseminate all or part of the submissions through exhibitions and publications, citing the source and authorship unless anonymity is requested by contestants who are not awarded.
Works submitted may be published in print, digital, and online formats under the same conditions as exhibition materials.

Proposals must be submitted via the online portal of the Mugak/ Biennial by 11:59 PM on May 10, 2025.
Required documents:

Completed web form including:

• Contact details
• Information on sponsorships or supporting entities
• Project location
• Two representative images (minimum 2048 px, royalty-free or with appropriate usage permissions)
• Descriptive project report using the provided template (Download template)

Files must be uploaded following this naming convention:

• TITLE_MEMO.pdf
• TITLE_IMAGE 1.JPG
• TITLE_IMAGE 2.JPG

The guidelines will be available on the Mugak/ Biennial website.

Questions regarding the call should be sent via email to: info@bienalmugak.eus