Artist in residency: 2027 open call

to apply: open call 2027

Setteuarciate is an interdisciplinary art residency centering ecological relationships. As the steward of setteuarciate, I live and consult from my studio in the Abruzzo region of Italy— specifically the medieval village of Pacentro. The first residency begins in April and the last residency ends in October.

The setteuarciate studio is set in a 18th-century stone cantina surrounded by life in the village. My workspace is equipped with tools as well as recycled and salvaged materials that lend themselves to my creative process. If you are looking for more context about life in Pacentro, please read the 2026 open call for details.

Setteuarciate is an intimate residency experience designed to mentor one artist at a time, allowing for focused creative development, personal reflection, and meaningful connection.

Groups or collectives of artists are also welcome to apply together. Group applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the size of the group, the nature of the project and the logistics of the residency. Artists applying as a group should include information about their collective practice, shared intentions for the residency.

Setteuarciate is self-funded residency, as travel and stay must be covered by participants. There is currently no deadline for the open call — it will close once all seven spots are filled. Priority for requested dates is given on a first come, first serve basis.

There is a €20,00 fee for those most intent on applying to the residency. Find details and the application form in the link here.

For artists that may be looking for funding, it is possible to apply to grants such as Culture Moves Europe or look for other external sources of funding. For example, during the 2026 cycle one of the selected artists won a grant from the city of Berlin to participate in the residency. Please indicate in your application if you intend to apply for external funding and if selected to participate, setteuarciate is able to provide a letter of recommendation.

Each artist will receive dedicated time and mentorship before the residency and during to prepare for their time in Pacentro. Each resident is featured on the In Situ section to document the residency.

Informed by where the artist is at in their process, they are invited to co-host a community offering or an open studio. Suggested activities include performances, readings, listening sessions, shared meals or walks into the mountain.

Below is a list of the selected residency periods for 2027. The format is 10 days and each residency includes at least one open studio.

one: April 2 – 12

two: April 23 – May 3

three: July 2 – 12

four: July 23 – August 2

five: August 13 – 23

six: September 3 – 13

seven: September 24 – October 4

If you are intrigued by setteuarciate but a full residency does not feel like it fits your needs consider joining me and Silvia Bianchi of BoccadiValle for Mountain Camp. Next year we will offer two weeks of Mountain Camp in Abruzzo: May 28 - June 3 and June 18 - 24.

Please share the open call with anyone in your circle that you think needs a hug.

The 2027 edition is devoted to a flower that kept grabbing my attention this year, commonly known as the Naked Man orchid, Orchis italica. The orchid is whimsical and I love the relationship it has with pollinators.

My hope is that the setteuarciate community and artists in residency next year will give special attention to this tribe of Eucerini bees living in the Majella. I feel kinship with the bee because the males have a special adaptation to perfume themselves with the scent of orchids to attract a mate.

As we move deeper towards agroecological transition in Europe, the human relationship with bees and beekeeping will inevitably change. To address these questions, I propose biweekly monitoring in Pacentro in alignment with the EU pollinator monitoring schemes.

Artists in residency are invited to participate in pollinator monitoring while they are in Pacentro. I am always present as a mentor during the residency and artist can also approach the bees in the apiary if this relationship between pollinator - human adds to the framework of the artists’ process or curiosity.

If setteuarciate members would like to participate in the pollinator monitoring project, I will host biweekly sessions starting April 2027 to collect data in and around the setteuarciate apiary. I will report findings here for readers and decide where to share the data with relevant bodies dedicated to reporting for the nature restoration framework.

In order to respond to the growing setteuarciate community, I will publish the artist profiles for the In Situ section written both in Italian and English. Setteuarciate members can enjoy reading in their chosen language or take the opportunity to immerse themselves in a piece written in a language that they are learning. This is thanks to a growing interest of readers in Italy and rightfully so I want this information to be accessible.

Setteuarciate membership is still available on an annual basis — for €120 members get access to all substack articles, invites to member only events, early access to classes and discounted prices for workshops and yoga classes. To become a member you can sign up via the setteuarciate website or pledge here on substack as a founding member.

I am also setting aside some dedicated time next year to offer consulting and mentorship for anyone who might be interested in discussing creative projects.

Thank you to all the artists in residency for 2026 and setteuarciate members who support the project. It is an honor to slowly build a community in Pacentro that is turning towards embodiment and relationship.