Organizer Information
Aviário Studio is an artist-run creative playground located in the countryside near Ferreira do Zêzere, in central Portugal. The studio occupies a renovated aviary that has been converted into several equipped workshops, with facilities supporting disciplines such as printmaking, ceramics, wood, metal, sculpture, installation, drawing, painting, photography, and bookbinding. Its scope of activity spans self-directed and guided art residency programs, technical training, and assisted production support for visual artists at different career stages. The studio also maintains dedicated on-site accommodation for residents in the nearby town center.
Title & Description
Aviário Studio Art Residencies
Aviário Studio offers artist residencies of flexible length and format, giving visual artists time, space, and access to specialized workshop equipment to research, experiment, and produce new work. Three residency formats are offered: a Self-Directed Residency, for artists who wish to work independently on research and/or production; a Guided Residency, structured around a customized training and creative-guidance plan for artists wanting to learn a new medium or deepen a technique; and an Assisted Production Residency, for artists with existing technical knowledge who need well-equipped workshops and extra production support to realize a specific project.
Categories
- Residency
- Visual Arts
- Craft
Eligibility
- The Self-Directed Residency is conceived for emerging, mid-career, and established artists who wish to work independently on research and/or production
- The Guided Residency is designed for artists who want to discover a new medium or deepen their skill in an existing art technique
- The Assisted Production Residency is intended for artists with technical knowledge who are focused on producing a specific outcome
- No age, nationality, or other eligibility restriction is stated in the source
Program Benefits & Awards
- Full access to workshops for the duration of the residency (equipment use based on demonstrated experience, or after joining paid beginner training)
- Individual working space
- Assistance preparing for the residency ahead of the artist's visit
- For the Guided Residency: a customised training and creative-guidance plan, with training hours depending on the chosen technique(s) and the artist's goals
- For the Assisted Production Residency: access to well-equipped workshops and additional production help, scaled to the amount of assistance requested
- Extra technical, training, or creative guidance available on request during a Self-Directed Residency, subject to a fee and availability
- Optional short presentation of the artist and their work shared on Aviário Studio's website and social media at the end of the residency, with the resident's consent
Application Fee
This is a fee-based residency; costs depend on the type of service and duration requested, and a personalized quotation is provided after applying. As stated in the source, published base prices are:
- Aviário Studio (studio access only): €30 for 1 day; €150 for 1 week; €300 for 2 weeks; €450 for 3 weeks; €600 for 4 weeks
- Aviário Studio + Home (studio access plus accommodation): €60 for 1 day; €360 for 1 week; €720 for 2 weeks; €1,080 for 3 weeks; €1,440 for 4 weeks
- Aviário Support (additional one-on-one technical help): €20 per hour
- Meals and materials are not included in any of the above
- Payment terms: 50% of the fee is due to secure a place, with the remainder due upon arrival; material and service expenses are payable at the end of each week
Application Requirements
- Personal Info
- Brief description of your project
- Online portfolio (or 5-8 images instead)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 12 July 2026
Location
Aviário Studio, near Ferreira do Zêzere, central Portugal
Additional Details
- Materials and consumables are not included in the residency fee; artists are expected to bring or purchase their own, with a limited selection available for sale at the studio
- The studio does not execute residents' art pieces, and training/technical assistance is not included by default
- Each client must sign a Release of Liability and Letter of Agreement before participating, and artists are strongly advised to obtain their own insurance covering workplace accidents or health issues during the residency
- Aviário Studio does not provide packing or shipping services for artworks at the end of a residency; any work or materials left behind become part of Aviário Studio's collection or are recycled into new materials
- If staying in Aviário Studio's accommodation, artists may bring a partner who will not join the studio (paying only for their own accommodation); children and pets are not allowed
- The accommodation is a shared house roughly 2 km from the studio, with single and double rooms, free Wi-Fi, and weekly linen/towel changes but no maid service