The Zu Gast bei Urbane Künste Ruhr programme is aimed at artists and collectives interested in working in the Ruhr region and in a contemporary perspective on the region and its themes.

It offers the opportunity to develop a situation-specific project during a three-month research residency, which is presented in a curated exhibition the following year. Every year, two places are awarded in cooperation with the Stiftung Geschichte des Ruhrgebiets and the Stiftung Industriedenkmalpflege und Geschichtskultur, as well as two residencies for artists with a focus on performance.