Villa Romana Residency in Florence for Roma Contemporary Artists 2026
LifeStrings (still image 1), 2022. Photo Maria Polodeanu for Reel Master Productions © Rosamaria Kostic Cisneros, from The Romani Cultural and Arts Company Archive
The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) and Villa Romana continue their collaboration to support a contemporary artist of Roma origin, through an artistic residency programme in Florence. For the seventh consecutive year, this program provides a dedicated space for artistic research, production, and dialogue within an established international context.
The residency builds on the shared commitment of ERIAC and Villa Romana to advancing contemporary Roma art practice and developing a community of arts and culture practitioners around these institutions. It offers selected artists the opportunity to focus on their work, engage in critical exchange with fellow residents and the regional art scene, and explore Florence’s historical and contemporary artistic landscape. The program aims to support the professional development of Roma artists and contribute to the broader recognition of Roma contemporary art.
Monika Kováčová, The Horned Ones, ongoing series, 2023
metal welding technique, bronze cast, upper part 60 × 20 cm, lower part: 140 × 40 cm
Photo by Lisa Vlasenko, ERIAC
The 2026 edition also encourages the selected artist to develop an artistic project attentive to the agency of communities and members of the Roma diaspora, through socially engaged artistic practices beyond the exhibition space. Applicants are invited to consider how their artistic research and production may foster dialogue, reciprocity, and meaningful forms of presence through collaborative, participatory, or locally embedded approaches, as well as through sustained engagement with the lived realities of Roma communities.
The programme particularly welcomes practices that connect local experiences with broader social, historical, and transnational perspectives. The further development and specific format of such a project would be discussed separately and agreed with ERIAC beyond the scope of the residency programme.
An international jury will review applications and select one artist for the 2026 residency programme. We encourage Roma contemporary artists to apply and take part in this opportunity for artistic development and professional visibility.
Members of the international Jury:
- Elena Agudio (art historian and curator, director of Villa Romana)
- Robert Gabris (artist, former Villa Romana resident)
- Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka (scholar, anthropologist, executive director of ERIAC)
- Maria Lind (curator, writer, educator, director of Kin Museum of Contemporary Art in Giron/Kiruna)
- Romy Rüegger (artist, writer, and researcher, former Villa Romana resident)
Schedule, Stipendium and Legal Requirements:
The residency will take place throughout 2026, specifically in October or November, with the artist residing at Villa Romana for one month.
The selected artist will be provided with a guest room at Villa Romana, offering the necessary facilities and working conditions to focus on their artistic practice and engage in dialogue with other artists.
The artist will receive a monthly stipend of 1,000 Euros. Travel expenses to and from Florence will also be covered by ERIAC.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring they have the necessary legal documents, such as a valid VISA, to legally reside in Italy during the residency period.
Application Deadline:
Monday, 22 June 2026, 17:00 CET
Jury Session:
July 2026
Eligibility Requirements:
Visual artists with self-declared Roma identity, whose work provides a special contribution to contemporary art production.
Please send your application by 22 June 2026 to eriac[at]eriac[dot]org with the subject line: 2026 Villa Romana residency application.
In the application package, please include:
Portfolio (digital, in PDF format, if possible), including a short description of your artistic practice and conceptual framework, as well as a brief outline of the project you intend to potentially develop.
Updated CV with contact details
Month of the residency you are applying for (October or November)
Self-declaration on Roma identity
Former Villa Romana Residents, International Guest Artists who participated in the program:
2025 – Romy Rüegger and Monika Kováčová
2024 – Charly Bechaimont and Lila Loisse
2023 – Erik Tollas
2022 – Dariya Kanti and Luna De Rosa
2021 – L’uboš Kotlar and Norbert Oláh
2020 – Robert Gabris and Małgorzata Mirga-Tas
About Villa Romana and ERIAC:
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: Charmaine Poh, Susanne Sachsee, Mikołaj Sobczak, Gülbin Ünlu), 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 European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC), founded in 2017, is a transnational organization promoting the artistic production, cultural heritage, and creative expression of Roma communities across Europe. ERIAC acts as a hub for Roma-led innovation in the visual and performing arts, literature, film, and cultural theory, and has played a leading role in presenting Roma culture at major international art events (documenta 15, Milan Triennale, Manifesta 14, Autostrada Biennale, Roma Pavilion-collateral events at the Venice Biennale, Barvalo exhibition at MUCEM). It regularly curates exhibitions for visual artists and emerging talents in its gallery space in Berlin. Through these initiatives, ERIAC continues to foster Roma artistic excellence, develop, and amplify Roma voices in contemporary visual arts.
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