La Napoule Art Foundation - International collective residency

Exploratory residency

Residency brief

Established informally by Marie Clews, who began inviting artists to stay at the Château as early as 1951, the artist residency was formally instituted in 1987. It is open to all disciplines and welcomes artists of all nationalities. Each year, five sessions of four weeks each provide a research and creation residency for around fifty artists. Residents are selected based on their application portfolios by a committee of culture professionals representing each discipline, prioritizing criteria of quality and excellence.

Two categories of applicants are privileged: emerging artists for whom the Foundation's support is invaluable, and renowned artists seeking rejuvenation within the unique setting of La Napoule. Among all the artists hosted in residence, several Nobel laureates, Goncourt Prize winners, leading visual artists, and composers have already benefited from the inspiring atmosphere of the Château. To name a few, writers such as Gao Xinjiang, Nobel Prize in Literature in 2000, Jean Echenoz, Goncourt Prize 1999, Marie Nimier, Claire Messud, Christa Wolf. Visual arts are also well represented as the Château has had the privilege of hosting residents like Marie-Ange Guilleminot, Koo Jeong-a, Daniel Firman, Will Cotton, Faith Ringgold, among others.

The residency is founded on the importance placed on the principle of collective experience, personal, professional, and artistic discovery with the support of a peer group. This program creates opportunities for dialogue and exchange between cultures and arts, and for exploring common interests with a productive and positive purpose.

  • Thematic focus Literature, Visual Arts, Performing Arts
  • Location Château de La Napoule
  • Dates Autumn 2024
  • Length of stay 1 month
  • Apply Now

Location

The Château de La Napoule has a long and storied history. While the site was first discovered by the Romans over 2,000 years ago, during the medieval era, a fortress was then erected on the site, which itself was destroyed and rebuilt several times.

In 1918, it was bought by the American couple Henry and Marie Clews who spent 17 years transforming this building into an artistic retreat.

Like a small Villa Medici, the Napoule Art Foundation offers artists a unique environment for research and an exceptional working atmosphere. The diversity of nationalities, artistic disciplines, and working methods of all these artists fully promotes exchanges. Moreover, the geographical location of the Château de la Napoule, situated on the shores of the Mediterranean, in the heart of a region rich in cultures and historical and artistic testimonies, is ideal for creators. During their stay at La Napoule, artists are led to discover a space and a time conducive to artistic creation and inspiration. The Château is a privileged place for reflection, encounter, and understanding.

Residency conditions

  • The resident will be provided with a studio space in which to work. Studios are located throughout the Château property, some inside the castle and some in towers on its grounds. Artists are asked to address any specific requirements for studio space in their applications.
  • The resident will be housed in a single room in the recently renovated Villa Marguerite, located across a small street from the Château. Rooms are equipped with private baths and each has sea or garden views. Wireless internet is available in the Villa’s common areas. Linen service is provided weekly. There is a washing machine, dryer, and clothesline at the Villa for residents’ use.
  • The resident will be provided breakfast and dinner on weekdays. Meals are often held in the Château’s gothic dining room, providing the opportunity for exchange and community. For lunches and weekend meals, residents have full access to the kitchen in the Villa Marguerite to store and prepare their own food. The village of La Napoule also offers numerous restaurants and cafés just a few blocks from the Villa and Château.
  • The resident will receive a fixed stipend of INR. 30,000 per month to cover his/her living expenses.
  • The resident will receive a residency grant of INR. 50 000 per month.
  • The resident’s travel costs to and from his/her home address will be covered by the French Institute in India.

Eligibility criteria

  • Proficiency in English is required for the applicant