Organizer Information

Textile Art Factory is a project by Lottozero, developed in collaboration with the Prato Textile Museum and Studio Corte 17, with support from the Tuscany Regional Program FSE+ 2021–2027. The initiative merges contemporary art with textile practices through two residency cycles that promote non-formal training, research, and production specifically for Italian-speaking artists and curators under 36 who are currently unemployed, unoccupied, or inactive, and not enrolled in any study or training programs.

Title & Description

Textile Art Factory – Artist Residencies 2026
The program launches its first open call to select four artists for a six-month residency in Prato (Italy), running from February 16 to August 16, 2026. Residents will work within a textile-focused environment, combining artistic practice with research, production, and local engagement. Participants will have access to Lottozero’s textile lab, the Museo del Tessuto archives, and Studio Corte 17’s industrial network, interacting closely with textile manufacturers, artisans, and professionals. The residency includes workshops, theoretical sessions, mentoring, site visits, and culminates in a collective exhibition curated by a resident curator, accompanied by a digital and print-on-demand catalogue.

Category

Textile Art, Contemporary Art, Research, Curatorial Practice

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • be 18–35 years old;
  • hold at least a high school diploma;
  • be unemployed, unoccupied, or inactive, or employed with the intention of starting a self-employed or entrepreneurial activity in the cultural sector;
  • not be enrolled in study/training programs simultaneously;
  • for foreign citizens: Italian language level B1 minimum.

Benefits

  • Six-month residency (Prato, Italy)
  • Access to textile lab, museum archives & industrial network
  • Workshops + theoretical training + mentoring
  • Studio & company visits within Prato district
  • Production of new works
  • Final collective exhibition
  • Catalogue publication (digital + print-on-demand)

Key Dates

  • Residency Period: February 16 – August 16, 2026
  • Application Deadline: December 31, 2025 — 23:59 CET

Location

Prato, Italy

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the official form:
🔗 https://www.lottozero.org/textile-art-factory

Additional Information

Personal data will be processed exclusively for the selection procedure in accordance with EU Regulation 679/2016 (GDPR).