The Sant’Orsola Museum, together with the Calliope Arts Foundation ( calliopearts.org ) and the Levett Collection / FAMM, is promoting two residencies for female artists of all ages, dedicated to highlighting the contribution of women to contemporary artistic practices. The residencies are conceived as a time for research, experimentation, and development of an original artistic project, with the technical and curatorial support of the museum.

Sant’Orsola, a former Benedictine convent later transformed into a tobacco factory and then a reception center after World War II, is a place deeply connected to the stories of generations of women who lived or worked there (nuns, cigar makers, refugees, and displaced persons). As the custodian of this memory, the museum today invites new artists to develop contemporary practices capable of engaging with the site’s stratifications and opening new perspectives on the present.

The research findings will be incorporated into the Sant’Orsola Museum’s 2027 cultural program and presented to the public during a four-month open period, contributing to the dissemination and promotion of residency projects nationally and internationally.

ELIGIBILITY AND RESIDENCE CONDITIONS

The call is aimed at:

Female artists – available to stay in Florence for the entire duration of the residency – with good knowledge of Italian, English, or French

The selected artists will be welcomed to Florence for a two-month residency, between October and December 2026. During their residency, the artists will benefit from:

• Research and production grant of €1,700 net per month
• Accommodation and workspace at Villa Il Palmerino, the project’s cultural partner
• Curatorial and technical support
• Financial support for the project’s artistic production

During the residency, at least one open studio or public presentation of the work process is planned.

For more information and to learn how to apply, download the complete announcement.

Applications Deadline: March 30, 2026, to be submitted to info@museosantorsola.it, with the subject line: “Application – Calliope Arts and the Levett Collection / FAMM for Museo Sant’Orsola Residency.”

To find out more about the residencies, visit the link below