DESERT 23°S: Arts & Ecology Research Residency

Eligibility

Eligible countries: No country restriction

Open to international artists, researchers and practitioners across contemporary arts, sound, writing, ceramics and research.

DESERT 23°S: Arts & Ecology Research Residency. Creative practice in dialogue with land, ecologies & planetary change. Deadline: 31 Aug 2026 Country: Chile This residency and research programme in the Atacama Desert, Chile invites artists and researchers to develop their work within a landscape shaped by climate, geological time and living cultural knowledge. Through field visits, collaborative activities, shared sessions and time for individual practice, the programme creates an immersive context for inquiry. It offers space to learn with the territory, build relationships and think critically within complex and fragile desert ecologies. This environment offers perspectives on both local dynamics and broader planetary processes, opening questions about how creative practice can reconfigure our relations with the natural world. Our objectives are to support the development of artistic work and research that engage with specific territories while reflecting on wider planetary questions. To cultivate a shared space for living, exchange and collective reflection between artists, researchers and local contexts. To encourage site-responsive, environmentally attentive practices that honour and respect local knowledge, ecologies and cultural patrimony. LOCATION The residency takes place near San Pedro de Atacama, within the wider territory of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, close to the ecosystems of the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos. This high-altitude desert landscape is shaped by extreme aridity, volcanic activity, salt flats, Andean wetlands, desert valleys and mountain foothills, forming one of the most ecologically, geologically and culturally significant regions in South America. Life here has long been sustained through fragile agricultural oases fed by Andean snowmelt, where human, mineral, water and non-human systems remain closely entangled. The territory is also of ancestral importance to Lickanantay communities, whose presence, agricultural knowledge, water management and relationships with the land continue to shape the region today. The surrounding area brings together deep geological time, living desert ecologies, post-extractive landscapes and contemporary forms of habitation. Situated between the Salar, the volcanoes and highland wetlands, the residency is embedded within a landscape inhabited by microbial mats, flamingos, wild camelids, endemic plant species and layered cultural histories, offering an engaging context for artistic research and ecological inquiry. RESIDENCY STRUCTURE The residency offers a focused period for artistic research, experimentation and dialogue rooted in the Atacama Desert. The programme is process-based rather than outcome-driven, supporting participants to develop work in relation to territory, ecological conditions and shared inquiry. The rhythm of the residency balances our curated programme and your self directed practice. Participants are invited to work at their own pace, responding to the landscape, materials, questions and relationships that emerge through direct contact with the place. The programme concludes with a light public or shared moment, shaped together with the group, according to context. The residents are supported during their stay by the La Wayaka Current team in collaboration with locally based collaborators. Duration of residency Join for 2-3 weeks: • SEP 27 – OCT 18, 2026 • OCT 24 – NOV 14, 2026 • NOV 20 – DEC 11, 2026 (final places) Accommodation Shared accommodation at the residency base with communal living spaces. Basic local lodging with wifi and electricity. (private rooms may be requested subject to availability) Disciplines, work equipment and assistance The residency is open to international artists, researchers and practitioners working across different fields, including contemporary arts, visual arts, sound, music, writing, ceramics, audiovisual practices, performance, research and site-based work. -- Curated Programme: including up to 60 hours programmed activities for artists to connect to territory with local guidance. Field Visits: Visits to ecological and cultural sites to take your practice and process into new forms. Territorial Encounters: sharing sessions alongside local collaborators and community members to inform and immerse yourself on-site through meetings, talks and other cultural activities. Residency Team & Coordination: On-site coordination and daily support by the team. Food & Kitchen: Weekly shared meals, access to communal kitchens and regular supply runs every week into town. Transport & Access: Local transport for programmed activities, shared bicycles, and national park entry fees included on programme visits. Pre-Residency Support: Personalised guidance before arrival (travel, packing and preparation). Peer Exchange and Sharing: A collective public or internal sharing at the end of the residency and peer exchange sessions throughout to share creative process as well as with our network of alumni and community. Funding Support: Guidance for funding and applications, including letters of ainviation and support with applications.Studio / Workspace Workspaces: Shared outdoor working areasFees and support This residency operates through a participation fee. La Wayaka Current is an independent, artist-led, non-profit platform and does not receive regular institutional funding. Contributions cover the real costs of this programme working in a remote desert environment and sustain our collaborations, accommodation, shared resources and on-the-ground coordination. We do not accept funding from extractive industries. All support for the residency comes from aligned cultural partners and participant contributions. We work with a sliding-scale model to keep the programme as accessible as possible. Partial and full support is offered each season depending on availability. We’re also happy to provide guidance or letters for external funding applications. Full value of the residency: £2,600 GBP Reduced fee with financial aid: £2,200 — Bracket 1 (available to everyone) £1,900 — Bracket 2 (limited) £1,600 — Bracket 3 (limited) Scholarship • Fully Supported Scholarship (1-2 places per year) We can also offer additional support on a case-by-case basis for Latin American artists, Indigenous and BIPOC artists, and local artists from the region. Expectations towards the artist We are looking for people who: • Are interested in research and creative processes in dialogue with territory • Are open to a collective format of living, exchange and learning • Are willing to take part in field-based activities Finished outputs are not a requirement as the residency is conceived as a space for process, exploration and experimentation. Application information APPLICATION TIMELINE Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The next deadlines are: August 31, 2026 SELECTION PROCESS Selection is carried out by La Wayaka Current in dialogue with locally based collaborators. We consider: – The relevance of the proposed work to the residency context – The potential for development within the territory and program – The diversity of practices within the group HOW TO APPLY To apply, please complete the online application form. www.lawayakacurrent.com/apply

How to apply

Complete the online application form on the organizer's website.