2025 DreamSpace Artist Residency (Italy)

Artist Residency Program in Italy

The Artist Residency Program in Italy is an artist-run initiative designed to provide artists with the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new environment, fostering creativity, reflection, and artistic growth.

Located in a culturally rich and inspiring setting, the program offers artists from various disciplines a chance to explore new ideas, experiment with different mediums, and engage with the local culture and community.

Set in a serene and inspiring location, the residency emphasises the exploration of three key themes: space, community, and wellbeing.

• Space / Wā / Spazio: The residency provides artists the freedom to experiment and expand their creative boundaries in a new physical and cultural space. The Italian setting, known for its historical and artistic significance, offers a unique backdrop that encourages artists to reflect on their sense of place and how their surroundings influence their work.
• Community / Hapori / Communità: By engaging with local Italian communities and other international artists, the residency fosters meaningful cultural exchanges. This interaction allows for the sharing of knowledge, traditions, and artistic practices, creating a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued and celebrated.
• Wellbeing / Hauora / Benessere: A key focus of the residency is on the holistic wellbeing of the artists. The program integrates activities that promote mental, physical, and spiritual health, such as mindfulness practices and opportunities for relaxation and reflection. With the concept of food as medicine, daily meals focus on clean eating and seasonal organic foods. This emphasis on wellbeing ensures that artists can fully engage with their creative process while maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle

Residency Structure

Duration and Timing: 

21 days: 21 July - 10 August 2025 (correlates with Vinalia Wine Festival)

21 days: 22 September - 12 October 2025 (correlates with Harvest and Mushroom Festival)

Location: 

Participants are accommodated in a functional, renovated private home, in the mediaeval village of Guardia Sanframondi. Guardia is a small mountain town situated in the region of Campania surrounded by olive groves and vineyards.

 The accommodation is walking distance to local supermarkets, cafes and restaurants. 

The closest international airports are Naples-Capodichino (1  hour drive) and Rome-Fiumicino (2 hour drive).

Pick up from the airport and drop off at the end of the residency will be provided. If you choose to come via train or other means of transport I can let you know the best way to arrive in the village.

Accommodation and Facilities:

We offer each artist a private room and a shared studio space at Palazzo Marotta, which was once one of Guardia’s oldest and most stately residences. 

     

Residents also have shared use of a large kitchen and lounge room. We host up to 4 artists at a time in a couple of different houses only a short walk apart.  We can also accommodate artist couples/pairs who wish to share living and/or working spaces. 

Daily Schedule: 

During the stay we offer workshops on various art forms (could be music, literature or business skills), traditional craft, meditation and food health. We also offer excursions once a week to significant historic sites and visits to local craft makers that showcase the traditional ways, foods and culture specific to that region. A weekly dinner will allow you to enjoy some of the local dishes.

Sample weekly plan

Finale Exhibition:

An exhibition will take place in the final week of the residency. This will showcase the works the participants created during the programme, plus any other completed pieces they may want to bring to exhibit. Local artists will also be invited to exhibit.

The exhibition will take place in the town Castle or in a prominent community palace. During the week of Vinalia, the town attracts around 10,000 people a day for a 10 day festival.

The exhibition will provide opportunities for the artists to develop their professional networks, learn valuable event planning skills and share their work with an international community.

Applications and Next Steps:

We encourage all interested particpants to download the attached Overview document.

The attendnace fee for 2025 is NZD$20,467 which includes accomodation, meals, excursions, airport transfers, studio, exhibition and primary craft materials.  Attendees will self fund their own flights and general pocket money for the duration.

Next steps: expressions of interest are to be made by email dreamspace@windsorgallery.art