La Marelle is a cultural institution which is used to hold writers’ residencies and plays host to a permanent literary scene comprising festivals, lectures, series of panel discussions or meetings, retrospectives, workshops and more. The authors-in-residency are invited to develop literary writing projects (novels, poetry, theater, young adult, comic), with the option of integrating other artistic fields: writing for radio, digital media, music or the fine arts.
La Marelle thus positions itself as a space for new encounters, experiences, intersections, brainstorming and more. La Marelle offers the opportunity to undertake active and dynamic residencies that are best suited to projects which are in their infancy or already in progress.
La Marelle has two residency spaces: one located within the cultural centre “La Friche de La Belle de Mai” in Marseille and the other at the Villa Deroze in La Ciotat.
The resident will be hosted at the Villa Deroze on the heights of La Ciotat, 35km from Marseille. La Ciotat is a picturesque 17th-century town with a fishing port, beautiful coastal scenery and easy access to the beach. It is located close to the Parc National des Calanques, known for its rocky landscapes and white sand beaches.
The Villa Deroze used to be the home of pharmacist Gilbert Deroze, who spent the last years of his life practicing sculptures and hosting artists at his home. His daughter, Danielle Deroze, decided to turn it into a residency space to keep this spirit alive.