Open Call: Castello Art Residency (Umbria, Italy)
Theme 2026: “Sacraments: Echoes”
Castello Art Residency invites artists from all disciplines to a 10-day international residency in Umbria, Italy.
This year’s theme is “Sacraments: Echoes” — an exploration of medieval culture, sacred imagery, and religious symbols that have shaped European art history, reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary practices and new media.
Context
The residency is situated in the heart of Umbria, surrounded by cities that preserve some of the most significant masterpieces of medieval and early Renaissance art:
Arezzo - home to Piero della Francesca’s celebrated fresco cycle “The Legend of the True Cross” (1450–1466) in the Basilica of San Francesco. This work bridges biblical narratives with humanist sensibilities and is considered a cornerstone of Renaissance art.
Assisi - a spiritual center tied to Saint Francis, where the Basilica of San Francesco houses frescoes by Giotto, Cimabue, and Lorenzetti. These works mark a turning point in Western art, transitioning from iconographic tradition to a more human-centered vision of spirituality.
These cities, with their frescoes and sacred spaces, will serve as inspiration and a point of dialogue for participating artists.
Contemporary Relevance
Today, artists revisit these traditions through video art, digital collage, VR installations, 3D sculpture, sound art, and performance. Ancient symbols and rituals are reimagined in the digital era, becoming part of a global cultural conversation about spirituality, values, and transformation.
The residency invites artists to engage with this dialogue: to reflect on how sacraments and sacred echoes can be experienced and reinterpreted in the 21st century, bridging the past with contemporary expressions.
Residency Details:
• Dates: mid-April 2025 (10 days)
• Location: Umbria, Italy
• Format: individual and collective work, discussions, open presentations for the local audience
• Participants: up to 5 international artists
• Language: English/Russian
We Provide
• Accommodation in a historical villa in Umbria
• Daily meals during the residency
• Basic production budget for materials (up to €100–150 per artist, upon agreement)
• Curatorial and organizational support
• Publication of your project on our platforms
• A collective exhibition/presentation at the end of the residency
Expectations
• Exploration of the theme “Sacraments: Echoes” in dialogue with the historical context of the region
• Artist talk presenting your practice
• Final presentation / performance / exhibition at the end of the program
Financial Conditions
• Covered by the residency: accommodation, meals, and a limited materials budget (€100–150 per artist).
• Travel expenses to and from the residency site are self-funded.
• Additional production costs beyond the provided budget are also the responsibility of the artist.
Eligibility
• Applicants must hold either visa-free entry to the European Union or a valid Schengen visa covering the residency dates in April 2025.
• Please note: If you do not already have a valid visa at the time of applying, we will unfortunately not be able to confirm your participation.
Consulting
*The residency is an independent and self-funded initiative. At this moment, we are unable to provide additional grants or travel support. Our hope for the future is to collaborate with cultural institutions and partners to expand opportunities for participating artists.
How to Apply
Please send your application to sisters.room.space@gmail.com with the following documents as separate PDF files (each not exceeding 15 MB for easy upload and access):
1. Project proposal (max. 500 words)
2. Portfolio (5–10 works)
3. CV (optional, can be included in the portfolio)
Additionally, please include links to all your relevant online platforms — Instagram, personal website, and any other professional art-related social media.
Application deadline: December 20, 2025
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