Free Artist Residencies in Portugal

Caldas Cidade Criativa

Caldas da Rainha, Portugal

Caldas Cidade Criativa, in collaboration with the Caldas da Rainha Arts and Design School of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (ESAD.CR) and the Chair in Arts and Culture Management, offers annual international ceramic artist residencies. These residencies are designed for international artists from other UNESCO Creative Cities outside Portugal. Participants will receive accommodation, studio access, and opportunities to engage with the local community through open studio sessions and collaborations with local ceramic artists. The program aims to foster artistic exchange, cultural dialogue, and the development of innovative ceramic projects.

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

Lisbon, Portugal

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian), a renowned international foundation, facilitates impactful residencies under its program, "Bauhaus of the Seas Sails." These residencies, including "Radical Waters – Concrete Matters," "Eating Between Tides," and "A Call to the Sea," are designed to foster innovative approaches across various disciplines—integrating art, science, and community engagement. Each residency is fully funded and supports interdisciplinary collaboration to explore and address environmental and societal issues through artistic and scientific lenses.

Museu Zer0

Cooperativa Agricola de Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo, Portugal

Museu Zer0 is a digital art museum and living laboratory located in the former silos of the Cooperativa Agrícola de Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo, Portugal, dedicated to supporting digital artistic creation, research, innovation, and community engagement. It hosts artist residencies as part of its opening program, challenging artists to create works in dialogue with the site's industrial heritage, with a current call for residencies open until March 13, . The facility includes immersive rooms, creative ateliers, and incubation spaces for artistic startups, revitalizing the Algarve countryside through technology and local heritage.

School of Arts

Porto, Portugal

The School of Arts at Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto hosts artist residencies funded by multiple programs including InResidence (Porto Municipality) and the Gulbenkian Foundation. The residency provides space, time, and assistance for research, experimentation, and production in fields such as Cinema, Sound, Photography, New Media Art, and Heritage Conservation, with results publicly presented upon completion.

Theatre in Palm

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Theatre in Palm Residencies offers a unique opportunity for emerging theatre artists to develop professionally and expand their networks across Europe. Hosted in 12 partner countries, these two-week residencies focus on collaboration, inspiration, and the creation of shareable works. Each residency will produce a co-production in various forms, emphasizing themes like social impact, equality, and environmental sustainability. Participants will receive travel, accommodation, and compensation. The program aims to foster cross-cultural exchanges and enhance the visibility of emerging artists in the European theatre scene.