Organizer Information
Fondazione Campania Welfare is an Italian social and cultural foundation committed to community development, welfare initiatives, and participatory cultural projects. Through residency programs, educational initiatives, and public engagement activities, the foundation supports artists, cultural practitioners, and local communities in developing projects that create meaningful social impact. Its residency platform, OASis In the Park, is situated within Parco San Laise, a former NATO military base in the Bagnoli district of Naples that is currently undergoing an extensive process of cultural and social regeneration.
Following the successful first edition, known as San Laise Open Lab, the foundation is launching the second cycle of OASis In the Park. The program aims to connect contemporary artistic practice with local communities through collaborative, educational, and socially engaged projects. By bringing together artists from diverse disciplines, the residency seeks to transform public space into a site of creativity, dialogue, and collective participation.
Title & Description
OASis In the Park Residency 2026 – Naples, Italy
OASis In the Park is an international residency opportunity for artists interested in participatory, socially engaged, and community-focused artistic practices. Hosted at Parco San Laise in Naples, Italy, the residency offers artists the chance to develop projects that actively engage local communities while contributing to the ongoing cultural regeneration of the Bagnoli area.
The residency will take place between September and October 2026, with each selected artist spending approximately two weeks on-site. Rather than focusing solely on individual artistic production, the program encourages artists to design projects that foster interaction, collaboration, education, and social activation.
Artists are invited to propose original initiatives such as workshops, co-creation activities, community-based artistic interventions, training programs, public engagement projects, or socially relevant creative research. While the organizers particularly welcome projects involving children, young people, and local residents, proposals addressing broader social issues and community needs are equally encouraged.
The residency values multidisciplinary approaches and welcomes artists whose practices can generate meaningful engagement, encourage dialogue, and create tangible outcomes relevant to the local context. Selected participants will work within a unique environment that combines artistic experimentation with civic participation, contributing to the transformation of a historically significant site into a vibrant cultural hub.
Categories
The residency welcomes applications from artists working in a wide range of disciplines, including:
- Visual Arts
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Photography
- Filmmaking
- Audiovisual Media
- Video Art
- Street Art
- Graffiti
- Textile Art
- Fashion Design
- Material-Based Practices
- Music
- Sound Art
- AI-Based Art
- Installation Art
- Spatial Design
- Interior Design
- Lighting Design
- Light Art
- Illustration
- Graphic Arts
- Community Arts
- Social Practice Art
- Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Practices
Artists from other disciplines are also encouraged to apply if their work can contribute meaningfully to community engagement and social participation.
Eligibility
- Open to international artists from all countries.
- Emerging, mid-career, and established artists are eligible.
- Individual artists and multidisciplinary practitioners may apply.
- Applicants should have an interest in socially engaged, participatory, or community-based artistic practices.
- Artists working with children, youth groups, and local communities are especially encouraged to apply.
- Projects should demonstrate relevance to the local context and potential social impact.
- Applicants must be able to undertake a residency stay of approximately two weeks during the September–October 2026 residency period.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Artist fee of €1,300
- Fully funded residency participation
- Accommodation during the residency period
- Travel expenses covered by the program
- Meals covered by the program
- Production costs covered by the program
- Opportunity to develop a socially engaged artistic project
- Access to local communities and cultural networks
- Participation in a cultural regeneration initiative in Naples
- Professional visibility through the residency program and partner organizations
- Opportunity to collaborate with residents, community groups, educators, and local stakeholders
The residency provides substantial support, enabling artists to focus on creative development and community engagement without the burden of major residency-related expenses.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following materials:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) – maximum 2 pages.
- Portfolio – may include images, links, videos, documentation, or examples of previous work.
- Artistic Project Proposal – maximum 2 pages, including:
- Description of the proposed project.
- Community engagement strategy.
- Intended activities and methods.
- Expected outputs and outcomes.
- Relevance to the local context.
The organizers note that selected proposals may be refined and further developed during the selection process.
How to Apply?
Applications should be submitted by email to: fcw.oasis@gmail.com
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 26 June 2026
- Notification of Selected Artists: July 2026
- Residency Period: September – October 2026
- Residency Duration: Approximately two weeks per selected artist
Location
Bagnoli, Naples, Italy
Additional Details
- Projects should emphasize participation, collaboration, and community engagement.
- Artists are encouraged to propose workshops, educational activities, co-creation processes, and socially oriented interventions.
- The residency operates across multiple spaces within Parco San Laise rather than a single studio environment.
- Multidisciplinary and cross-sector approaches are strongly encouraged.
- The specific focus of each project may be adjusted in consultation with organizers during the selection phase.
- The residency forms part of a broader effort to support cultural regeneration and social activation within the Bagnoli district.
- Selection will be based on:
- Artistic quality and originality.
- Capacity for socially engaged practice.
- Relevance to local needs and context.
- Clarity and feasibility of the proposed project.