OPEN CALL: Zaratan Residency Lisbon + Annual Grant Opportunity

Zaratan - Arte Contemporânea is an independent, artist-run, and non-profit organization situated in the vibrant centre of Lisbon. Our residency program provides an immersive laboratory for international artists, curators, and researchers from all disciplines to develop their practice outside traditional institutional frameworks.

We focus on process-based research and experimental production. The program is designed to foster professional growth, cross-cultural exchange, and deep engagement with the local art scene. Residents are encouraged to take creative risks in a supportive and multidisciplinary environment.

Selected participants benefit from a private bedroom in a shared apartment, alongside 24/7 access to our communal working studios. Beyond the physical space, the residency includes regular curatorial mentoring from the Zaratan team and integration into our network of technical and institutional partners, including the official Portuguese Network of Contemporary Art (RPAC).

A major highlight of our program is the Annual Grant, which is awarded to one selected artist per year, fully covering the residency fee and providing a production stipend. For regular, ongoing applications, the residency is fee-based, but we actively assist selected candidates by providing official letters of support to help them secure external funding from their home countries.

The residency period typically lasts from 4 to 12 weeks and culminates in a public presentation. This outcome can take the form of an open studio, an artist talk, a performance, or an exhibition, allowing residents to share their work and interact directly with the local public.