Overview
Founded in 2015 and offering residencies since 2017, Studio Faire is an artist-run contemporary art space, studio complex, and residential retreat located in the historic market town of Nérac (Lot-et-Garonne region, South West France). Operated by Scottish creative duo Julia Douglas (mixed media artist/designer) and Colin Usher (photographer/musician/designer), the initiative is housed in a Maison de maître mansion built around 1830. The property features period architecture, private bedrooms, dedicated work areas (such as The Garage Studio, The Garden View Room, and The Usher Hall), fully fitted self-catering kitchens, mature walled gardens, and a fruit park.
Objectives
Studio Faire aims to support the development of creative ideas and new works by offering uninterrupted time, comfortable self-catering accommodations, and workspace for unselfconscious experimentation without strict production obligations. Grounded in interdisciplinary feedback and community engagement, the platform seeks to serve as a meeting place for international partnerships, host cultural events (such as concerts, lectures, and open studios), and contribute directly to the local cultural landscape and economy of Nérac and Gascony.
Programs / Opportunities
- Self-Funded, Self-Directed Residencies: Short-term residential stays lasting either 2 weeks (13 nights) or 4 weeks (27 nights) for up to three international residents at a time, offering private bedrooms, dedicated or live/work studios, shared bathrooms, kitchen facilities, and garden access.
- Creative Facilities & Workspaces: Specialized workspaces including The Garage Studio (tailored for visual artists and makers), The Garden View Room (equipped with desks for writers and researchers), and The Usher Hall (a spacious live/work studio suite).
- Local Cultural Programming & Events: Hosting open studios, lectures, concerts, and talks to connect visiting artists with local residents and regional creative networks.
Target Community
- Multidisciplinary Creative Practitioners: International visual artists, writers, screenwriters, sculptors, performers, textile artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and academic researchers.
