Buinho Creatives Residency (Portugal) — 2027

Eligibility

Eligible countries: No country restriction

Buinho Creatives Residency (Portugal) — 2027 Deadline: 11 Dec 2026 Country: Portugal The Buinho Residency Programme welcomes artists, writers and researchers from all creative backgrounds to live and work in Messejana, a small historic town in the Alentejo, southern Portugal. Residencies are process-based. Artists come to develop their own work, to research, or to respond to the landscape, the light and the daily life of the town and its community, with time, quiet and good studios to do it in. Since 2016 we have hosted visual artists, painters, photographers, writers, poets, performers, sculptors, curators, designers and researchers from every continent, and we receive around 60 artists a year, with an average stay of a month and a half. Alongside the studios, residents have free access to our labs: a FabLab (laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC, vinyl cutting), a Precious Plastic recycling workshop, a textile lab (sewing, digital embroidery, tufting) and a shared metal workshop. Using them is never a requirement, but many artists find a new direction in them. More at buinho.pt/residency-2. To get a feel for Messejana, watch this short video. Duration of residency The minimum stay is two weeks and the maximum is two months. Residencies start on the 1st or the 15th of each month, between February and December 2027. We accept two-week stays so that artists with work commitments (teachers, for example) are not excluded, but we encourage longer stays: research, production and the experience of the place all benefit from time. Accommodation Residents live in our houses in the centre of Messejana, each with bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, shared living space and studios: Casa da Avó, on the main square: two spacious studios overlooking the square, two private bedrooms at the back, a courtyard, a terrace, a fireplace for winter and a small jewellery lab. Casa de São João, a 19th-century shepherd’s house on the museum street, at the top of the hill, with a garden view over the town. Its high white-walled studios and quiet setting suit visual artists and writers. Casa da Padaria, a former traditional bakery, with a cosy living room and kitchen and a small patio. More private, well suited to writers, researchers and visual artists. Casa Buinho, our headquarters: a contemporary open-space house with a central studio and a backyard workshop, home to the FabLab and the Precious Plastic workshop. Rented as a whole house to one resident. Every house has high-speed internet (Starlink) and free Wi-Fi, a private desk in each bedroom, linen and towels, and individual storage space. There is a weekly cleaning service; residents look after their own laundry and keep the shared spaces tidy. Disciplines, work equipment and assistance Buinho values an eclectic mix of residents. We welcome painters and visual artists, writers and poets, photographers, illustrators, sculptors, performers, video and sound artists, curators, designers, makers and researchers, of all ages, nationalities and career stages. Each resident receives curatorial and production support. The programme also includes artist talks, open studios, encounters with the local community and with traditional artisans, and free weekly tutorials for those who want to try the labs (3D modelling and printing, laser cutting, textile, plastic recycling).Studio / Workspace Each house has its own studio, shared or private depending on the house and the project. Some studios are made for painting, drawing and large-scale work, with easels, natural light and big white walls; others are quiet rooms for writing and research. All residents can also use our labs: FabLab: laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC routers, vinyl cutters and an electronics bench. Precious Plastic: a community recycling workshop where plastic waste becomes material for new work; bioplastics equipment is being added. Buinho Educativo: a second digital fabrication room and a textile lab with sewing machines, digital embroidery and tufting, shared with a local sewing club. Also our space for workshops and exhibitions. Metal workshop, shared with the parish of Messejana, for welding, metalwork, larger sculpture and the large CNC.Fees and support We receive no public or private funding for the residencies. Fees cover the running costs of the houses, studios and labs, and a full-time production assistant. Monthly fees for 2027: Casa de São João, larger bedroom with private bathroom: 1,000€ Casa de São João, other bedrooms (shared bathroom): 900€ Casa da Avó: 1,000€ Casa da Padaria: 1,000€ Casa Buinho (whole house, one resident): 1,300€ Two-week stays cost half the monthly fee. Fees include the bedroom, shared spaces, studios, labs and equipment. There is no application fee. An accompanying person has a 50% discount but must share the accommodation, to support couples, artists with children or artistic collaborations. After acceptance we ask for a deposit of 50% of the total; the balance is paid during the first week of the residency. The deposit is fully refunded only for cancellations made in writing at least 5 months before the start date; otherwise it is non-refundable and dates are non-transferable. We are happy to issue acceptance letters for artists applying to mobility grants. Expectations towards the artist We encourage residents to make the most of the place and of the support available, at their own pace. Residents are invited, but never required, to share their work with the community: a talk, a workshop, or an open studio at the end of the stay. Application information Send by email to [email protected]: a short CV; a portfolio (PDF or link); a short description of the project or work you want to develop during the residency; your preferred dates and house. Writers, researchers and curators may send writing samples (up to 10 pages) instead of a portfolio. Applications are reviewed by our curatorial committee on artistic quality, relevance of the project and motivation. We value multidisciplinarity and actively support emerging artists; the level of scrutiny of the portfolio is proportionate to the artist’s experience. More information in our Residency Guide (PDF).

What to submit

CV, Portfolio, Work samples, Other

How to apply

Email CV, portfolio or writing samples, project description, preferred dates and house.