REINTERPRETING THE PRESENT THROUGH TRADITIONAL PORTUGUESE AZULEJO

About the Open Call

Contemporâneo 2025 invites visual artists, illustrators, and creative minds to participate in a unique one-week residency set in the rural Portuguese countryside. We will approach the azulejo as a dialogical space: a field of action for redesigning hypothetical collective memories, deconstructing the past to attempt to replace it with a fluid and elusive present. This will be a liberating, allegorical, and provocative act of dismantling, reformulation, and recrystallization of our times, using ceramic tile as the medium. Over seven days, we will explore tile painting and facilitate collective dialogue spaces where significant themes for the group can organically emerge. It will be a moment of connection, artistic exploration, communal living, and shared critical reflection. The residency takes place from August 11–17, 2025, at Volavan – Fermil / Figueiredo das Donas, Portugal. It will host 8 creators selected through an open call. The format is an immersive journey of exploration and creation, shaped by collaborative dynamics and culminating in a final exhibition. The residency will focus on practical workshops to master the traditional technique of painting on azulejos, as well as structured and informal moments of dialogue and exchange among participants.

What is Offered

A fully equipped ceramic studio, a natural environment ideal for creative focus, accommodation and meals throughout the residency, artistic guidance, and a final presentation open to the community.

Requirements

Open to visual artists, illustrators, and creative minds. 8 creators will be selected through an open call. Participation requires a fee for the residency (360 EUR for shared room, 480 EUR for private room) which covers meals, studio use, and materials.

How to Apply

Submit your application by June 10, 2025, via the application form linked on the website.