Fez, Morocco

Fez is one of those cities that changes how you work. The old medina pulls you into a dense mix of craft, street life, architecture, and slow routine, so the city becomes part of the residency rather than just the setting. If you’re looking for a place where walking, observing, and talking to people can feed the work, Fez is a strong fit.

Why artists choose Fez

The main draw is the medina. Fez el-Bali is one of the largest car-free historic urban areas in the world, and it’s packed with visual detail: carved doors, tiled courtyards, narrow lanes, markets, mosques, madrasas, rooftop views, and workshops that still operate in traditional ways. For artists, that means the city is not a backdrop you pass through. It’s a material source.

Fez also has a deep craft culture. Leather, metalwork, weaving, ceramics, wood, dyeing, zellij tilework, calligraphy, and paper traditions all have a visible presence. If your practice touches material research, process, or collaboration, this matters. You can spend a residency here learning by looking, asking questions, and watching how objects are made.

The other strength is pace. Fez can feel dense and active, but it’s not built around speed. That slower rhythm suits research-based work, writing, drawing, sound recording, photography, and social practice. It also helps if you need time away from the pressure to produce constantly.

Residencies to know

Nawat Fes

Nawat Fes is a funded residency in the historic medina. It’s hosted by the American Language Center Fes / Arabic Language Institute in Fez and is designed for international creators working across disciplines. The program is small, with two artists in residence at a time, which makes it feel focused and intimate.

What stands out most is the support. Residents receive housing at no cost and a stipend of about 12,000 Moroccan dirhams for the two-month stay, intended to cover food and personal expenses. The living setup includes a bedroom, private bath, basic studio, wifi, laundry, a shared kitchen, and a roof terrace with a view over the medina. It’s practical, not flashy, which is usually what you want for real work.

Nawat Fes also has a community-facing element. Residents are expected to create two opportunities for local audiences to engage with the work, and that exchange can happen in English or Arabic. If you like residencies that connect you to a place rather than isolating you from it, this is a good one to watch.

One important filter: Nawat Fes has specific eligibility rules tied to visa access, so check your passport status carefully before planning around it.

Fez Art Residency

Fez Art Residency is an artist-led program based in and around the medina. It’s flexible, place-based, and less formal in tone than a traditional production residency. That makes it appealing if you want room to research, sketch, write, or test ideas without a fixed output hanging over you.

The program offers free accommodation in private apartments within a traditional Moroccan townhouse, and the stay length is shorter and more adaptable than many residencies. The atmosphere is self-directed and quiet. Optional extras may include studio access, artisan visits, and cultural workshops.

Fez Art Residency works well if you want to stay in the city without a heavy program structure. It is especially useful for artists who prefer to move slowly, follow local rhythms, and let the city shape the work indirectly.

8WEEKSinFEZ

8WEEKSinFEZ is another place-based residency connected to Fez Art Residency. It leans into open-ended, low-pressure time in the city, with free accommodation and no production requirements. The idea is simple: give you space, then let the medina do its work.

This kind of residency suits artists who don’t need a packed schedule to be productive. If you work best by observing, writing, researching, or making small shifts in your practice, the format is a good fit. As with Fez Art Residency, check current program details carefully, since listings and structures can overlap.

What daily life in Fez feels like

Living in the medina means accepting a different kind of workspace. Cars don’t go everywhere, so you’ll walk more and carry materials by hand or with help. That can be a gift if your practice benefits from slowness, but it’s less convenient if you need large equipment or frequent deliveries.

The old city can be noisy, especially near busy streets or market areas, and older buildings vary a lot in light, ventilation, and comfort. Some spaces feel beautiful and calm; others feel patchy or communal in ways that may take adjustment. Expect textured daily life, not studio perfection.

Cafes can be useful for digital work, writing, or escaping a hot apartment. Rooftops are often the best part of a residency in Fez, especially in spring and autumn when the weather is comfortable enough to work outside for long stretches.

Budget, transport, and practical planning

Fez is usually more affordable than major art hubs in Europe or North America, but your costs depend heavily on housing and how much support your residency gives you. If accommodation is covered, you’re already in a much better position. If not, living costs can rise quickly in the better-located parts of the city.

Food is manageable if you cook and shop locally. Imported materials can be expensive or hard to find, so bring key supplies with you when you can. If your process depends on specific paper, pigments, electronics, or consumables, don’t assume you’ll find the same options there.

Petit taxis are useful for getting around the wider city. Inside the medina, walking is the norm. For arrivals and departures, Fez has rail connections and airport access, which makes travel workable even if the last stretch into the medina feels old-school and hands-on.

When to go

Fez is often most comfortable in spring and autumn. Those seasons are better for walking, rooftop work, and long stretches outdoors. Summer can be hot, especially if your accommodation doesn’t have strong cooling. Winter can be cool and damp in older houses, but some artists like that quieter atmosphere.

If you’re planning around an open call, start looking well in advance. Residencies in Fez tend to be announced months ahead of the stay. Keep an eye on the residency’s own site rather than relying on reposted listings, since details can shift.

Who Fez suits best

Fez is especially good for artists who want:

• time for research, reflection, or slow production
• direct contact with craft traditions and local making cultures
• a historic setting that genuinely shapes the work
• housing in or near the medina
• a residency that feels place-based rather than institution-heavy

If you need a polished studio complex, highly scheduled programming, or a very urban contemporary-art scene, Fez may feel looser than you want. If you’re open to texture, ambiguity, and everyday life as part of the residency, it can be exactly the right place.

How to prepare well

Bring a flexible workflow. Fez rewards artists who can adapt to different light, noise, and space conditions. A small toolkit often works better than a highly specialized setup.

Ask practical questions before you accept a place: Is the studio private? How reliable is wifi? How much natural light is there? Can you host visitors? Is there space for wet work, sound work, or larger materials? Can the residency help with artisan introductions if that matters to your project?

If you’re planning public-facing work, check language support early. English and Arabic may be used in some programs, and French is widely useful in Morocco. Clear communication will save you stress later.

For many artists, the real value of Fez is not just the residency offer itself. It’s the way the city holds attention. If you want your next residency to give you space, but also a strong sense of place, Fez belongs on your list.

To verify current listings and residency structures, start with the program sites for Nawat Fes and the Res Artis listing for Fez Art Residency, then compare with current open calls before you plan travel.