Organizer Information
The residency program Deniz Villaları: Ecological Crossings is jointly initiated by the French Institute in Turkey and the Goethe-Institut Izmir, in collaboration with a network of local and Mediterranean cultural partners.
The French Institute in Turkey operates as part of France’s global cultural diplomacy network, supporting artistic exchange, contemporary creation, and international mobility through residencies, exhibitions, and cultural programs. Its focus includes strengthening artistic dialogue between France, Turkey, and broader international regions, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary and socially engaged practices.
The Goethe-Institut Izmir is part of the worldwide Goethe-Institut network, Germany’s cultural institute dedicated to promoting international cultural cooperation, supporting contemporary artistic production, and facilitating intercultural exchange. Its İzmir branch plays a key role in fostering Mediterranean cultural connections, especially through programs addressing ecological transition, urban studies, and experimental artistic practices.
Together with their Mediterranean partners, these institutions have developed Deniz Villaları as a cross-border residency framework that merges artistic research, environmental awareness, and mobility across coastal and maritime geographies.
Title & Description
Deniz Villaları Residency 2026 – Ecological Crossings Residency Program
It is a multidisciplinary artistic residency focused on ecological transformation in the Mediterranean basin. The program supports artistic research and production that engages directly with environmental systems, maritime spaces, and the socio-ecological realities of coastal regions.
The residency is structured as an immersive and process-oriented experience combining land-based and sea-based components. Selected artists will participate in a program that begins with preparatory webinars introducing ecological frameworks and Mediterranean environmental dynamics. These sessions aim to contextualize the residency within broader ecological debates and prepare participants for field-based artistic inquiry.
The core of the program consists of a five-week residency period between September and October 2026, including a collective sea-based research phase (approximately 1–10 September, depending on weather conditions) and a one-month stay in a partner residency location near the Mediterranean coast. During this time, artists are encouraged to develop new work, conduct site-specific research, and engage with local environments and communities.
The program also emphasizes exchange and knowledge-sharing. Artists will collaborate with local cultural actors, researchers, and environmental practitioners. Public restitution is an essential component, including exhibitions, performances, presentations, or public discussions organized in partner institutions.
The residency concludes with optional participation in workshops for young artists in late October, reinforcing the program’s educational and intergenerational dimension.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Audiovisual / Film / Video
- Sound Art / Music
- Performance / Dance
- Public Space Practices
- Journalism / Media
- Literature / Writing
- Art Criticism
- Curatorial Practices
Eligibility
The call is open to professional artists and cultural practitioners who meet the following criteria:
- Must be a national of France, Germany, Greece, or Turkey, or have legally resided in one of these countries for at least three years.
- Open to emerging, mid-career, and established practitioners across relevant disciplines.
- Applicants must be able to provide proof of civil liability insurance (required only after selection).
- International mobility within the eligible countries and the ability to participate in a maritime residency component is required.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected artists will receive a fully supported residency package, including:
- Round-trip travel support up to €450 between the artist’s country of residence and the residency location
- Full accommodation covered by host partner institutions
- Production grant of €1,000
- Subsistence allowance of €1,000 or provision of meals by the hosting institution
- Access to equipped workspaces adapted to artistic production needs
- Curatorial, logistical, and production support throughout the residency
- Access to local networks of cultural professionals, researchers, and environmental experts
- Opportunity for public presentation of work (exhibition, performance, talk, or screening)
- Optional participation in educational workshops with young artists
A sea-based residency component may be mandatory depending on project relevance and logistical availability of partner vessels.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (maximum 4 pages)
- Artistic portfolio (maximum 15 pages), including approximately 10 works with full captions
- Links to audiovisual or sound works (e.g., Vimeo, YouTube, SoundCloud) if applicable
- Residency project proposal (2–4 pages), including:
- Motivation for applying
- Research focus and conceptual approach
- Expected outcomes
- Preferred residency location(s) (up to two choices from partner sites)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 May 2026
- Selection Announcement: 19 June 2026
- Online Preparatory Seminars: July 2026
- Residency Period: September–October 2026
- Sea residency phase: approximately 1–10 September 2026 (weather-dependent)
- Public restitution and activities: during and after the residency period
- Workshops for young artists: late October 2026 (optional participation for residents)
Location
The residency takes place in Turkey and selected Mediterranean partner locations, with a hybrid structure including:
- Coastal residency sites in Turkey or Mediterranean partner countries
- Maritime residency segment aboard partner vessels in the Mediterranean Sea
Additional Details
- Selection is made by a jury composed of artists, curators, and institutional representatives from partner organizations.
- Only selected applicants will be contacted.
- The program strongly encourages interdisciplinary approaches that connect ecological thinking with artistic experimentation.
- Flexibility regarding sea-based mobility is essential, as maritime conditions may influence scheduling.
- The residency prioritizes process-oriented research rather than fixed production outcomes.
Contact for inquiries: denizvillalari@ifturquie.org