Organizer Information

Residenza Lago Scuro is an experimental residency program established in 2019. It is hosted at Cascina Lago Scuro, an 18th-century biodynamic farm, dairy, and laboratory located in Northern Italy. The program is a "labor of love" stewarded by a dedicated team of organizers in collaboration with the farm’s family.

Title & Description

Residenza Lago Scuro Fall 2026: Open Call for the Fifth Cohort.

This self-directed, interdisciplinary residency invites eleven global citizens to live, learn, and make on a functioning regenerative farm. The program bridges cultural and agricultural arts, encouraging dialogue between diverse creatives—from scientists and chefs to fine artists and engineers. Residents are invited to explore the concept of "site-as-quarry," incorporating the farm’s natural and reclaimed materials into their practice while engaging with the ancestral atmosphere of the manor and courtyard.

Categories

All Disciplines, including Visual Arts, Food/Agriculture, Music, Writing, Performance, Engineering, and Ecology.

Eligibility

  • Global Citizens: Open to international creatives from all backgrounds and disciplines.
  • Profile: Seeking self-sufficient, curious, and respectful individuals whose practice would benefit from a slow, sustainable environment.

Program Benefits and Awards

  • Scholarship for Regenerative Creativity: The Fall 2026 cohort is cost-free for selected residents.
  • Coverage: The scholarship covers core expenses including accommodations, shared meals, project materials, offsite activities, and visiting speakers.
  • Accommodation: Shared rooms in a beautiful 19th-century two-floor villa with laundry and kitchen facilities.
  • Workspace: Access to 30 acres of grounds, including a letter-press studio, ceramics studio, industrial kitchen, and open courtyard.
  • Human Library: A curated series of casual lectures and meals with visiting Italian and European researchers and practitioners.

Fees

  • Application Fee: $30 USD.
  • Residency Fee: None (covered by the scholarship).
  • Travel: Residents are responsible for their own travel to and from Italy.

Application Requirements

  • Submission: Complete the official online application form before the deadline.
  • Documentation: At the end of the stay, residents must provide digital documentation of their time and leave a permanent or digital mark of their project on the farm.

How to Apply?

Apply via the official form on the residency website. The organizers evaluate based on the merit of ideas rather than writing quality.

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: June 7, 2026 (Midnight EST).
  • Program Dates: September 20 – October 1, 2026.

Location

Italy, Cremona (Cascina Lago Scuro, Stagno Lombardo).

Additional Details

Residents are required to participate in farm life, such as harvesting or bread baking, and are required to assist in preparing group dinners. Dietary restrictions are self-managed in a dedicated residents' kitchen.

Website Link: Residenza Lago Scuro Official Website