Open Call for Applications: ERIAC-Villa Romana Residency Programme
Artist Residencies at Villa Romana in Florence for Two Roma Contemporary Artists
In their fifth consecutive collaboration, the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) and Villa Romana are once again uniting to continue the residency programme in Florence, extending a unique opportunity to two talented Roma contemporary artists.
This exciting initiative draws upon the ground-breaking work, expertise, and vision of both institutions to realize a unique opportunity for international artists with self-declared Roma origin and marks a significant step in recognition of the importance of Romani contemporary art practice today.
Through the cooperation of Villa Romana and ERIAC, the residency offers artists the opportunity to focus entirely on their work, to seek an exchange with other artists and fellows at the Villa Romana and in the regional environment, and to engage with the art historical heritage on site.
The program will support two selected artists and commits itself to give visibility to Romani contemporary arts. The works produced during the Roma contemporary art residencies will be exhibited at ERIAC’s art spaces at a later stage. An international jury is responsible to review the portfolio of the candidates and select the two artists for the 2024 residency program.
Members of the International Jury:
Elena Agudio (art historian and curator, director of Villa Romana)
Daniel Baker (artist, curator of FUTUROMA at the 2019 Venice Biennale)
Robert Gabris (artist, former Villa Romana resident)
Timea Junghaus (curator, art historian, executive director of ERIAC)
Maria Lind (curator, writer, educator, and Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of Sweden in Moscow)
Schedule, Stipendium and Legal Requirements:
The residencies will take place throughout 2024 (in September and October), and the selected artists will be provided with a guest room in the Villa Romana for one month each.
The selected artists receive a monthly stipend in the amount of 1.000 euros. Travel expenses are also covered, but the applicants have to make sure to have the necessary legal documents (for ex. VISA) in place and are allowed to legally reside in Italy.
Application Deadline:
Sunday, 31 March 2024
Jury Session:
April 2024
Eligibility Requirements:
Visual artists with self-declared Roma identity, whose work provides a special contribution to contemporary art production.
We do not require a detailed description of the planned project.
Please send your application by 31 March 2024 to eriac@eriac.org with the subject line: 2024 Villa Romana residency application.
In the application package, please include:
- Portfolio (digital, in PDF format, if possible)
- Updated CV with contact details
- Month of the residency you are applying for (September or October)
- Self-declaration of Roma identity
2023 – Erik Tollas
2022 – Dariya Kanti and Luna De Rosa
2021 – L’uboš Kotlar and Norbert Oláh
2020 – Robert Gabris and Małgorzata Mirga-Tas
You may read here about the experiences of last year’s artist in residence Erik Tollas, who referred to Villa Romana as “a house which is a home”.
Norbert Oláh, artist in residence in 2021 also shared his “Thoughts After Florence” on the RomaMoMA blog.
Villa Romana is a place of contemporary artistic production and of international exchange. Founded in 1905 by artists and patrons, it still operates as a non-profit association. Every year it hosts four Villa Romana award winners (this year: Jessica Ekomane, Diana Ejaita, Samuel Kortey Baah, Pınar Öğrenci), as well as international guest artists. With its programme of workshops, exhibitions, and a wide range of public events, Villa Romana strives to promote interaction between artists and the public, to engage and support different local communities and expand its international network. The current programme launched by the new director unfolds under the title: A House For Mending, Troubling, Repairing.
ERIAC was officially established on 7 June 2017, in Berlin, Germany. The Institute is a joint initiative of the Council of Europe (CoE), the Open Society Foundations (OSF), and the Roma Leaders’ initiative – the Alliance for the European Roma Institute. ERIAC has a unique mandate as the first transnational organization for the recognition of Roma arts and culture. The Institute functions as a transnational creative hub, supporting the exchange of creative ideas across borders, cultural domains, and Romani identities. ERIAC highlights the numerous and multifaceted Romani contributions to European culture, talent, success, and achievement, as well as documenting the historical experiences of Romani people across Europe.
www.eriac.org