CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR A RESIDENCY GRANT
UNIDEE Residency Programs and A.M. Qattan Foundation are pleased to announce an open call for a two-month research residency at Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellarte Onlus in Biella (Italy) during the autumn of 2025.
About UNIDEE
In 1999 Michelangelo Pistoletto founded Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellarte Onlus’ programme of artists’ residencies for art and social transformation. The programme is open to artists and professionals from all over the world and it aims at providing instruments for “artivators”, i.e. subjects working at the boundaries between artistic practices, processes of social change and collaborations with communities external to the art world, weaving together moments of interdisciplinary research, exchange of knowledge and practical activities. The objective of the programme is to provide the participants with the inspiration, motivation and instruments to activate, develop or strengthen artistic initiatives based on the involvement of local ecologies. UNIDEE-University of Ideas started as an international programme of 4-month residencies (1999-2013), to then evolve this model focusing on season long research themes and developing four types of residency of different durations and with different objectives, grouped under the general heading of UNIDEE Residency Programs: UNIDEE Modules, Research Residency, Connective Residency and UNIDEE Projects.
More info: https://www.cittadellarte.it/unidee/
About the Research Residency
A 2-month research residency programme based on the relationship between participatory art practices and the socio-political transformation of society. The research residency will provide time and space for the selected artist to commit to their practice and project, will be supported by the UNIDEE curatorial team, and will be able to have development conversations through focused meetings with targeted experts who will enrich and help frame their practice and projects.
The selected artist will also have the opportunity to engage with other international research residency residents, UNIDEE modules participants and mentors from different contexts to confront in a collaborative way key issues and challenges for an integrated and socially engaged artistic practice.
Duration: 15th September to 14th November 2025
About the grant
The residency offered through this joint grant (A. M. Qattan Foundation & UNIDEE / Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellarte Onlus) includes:
- Round trip travel from Palestine to Italy (including airport/Biella private transfer);
- Travel insurance and visa fees;
- 2 months' stay at Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto: single room in our premises shared with other international residents – inclusive of cleaning services, use of shared studio space and workshop facilities;
- Based on the research of the selected resident, expert visits, curatorial meetings, networking sessions will be organised;
- Study and research trips will be organised with the residents group to Venice (for four days), Turin and Milan (for one day each) to engage with the international art scene in Italy
(hotel, food and travel are covered by the grant); - Up to 300€ budget for project production and communication, translations;
- A per diem allowance of 1000€;
- If the resident is interested and has research related to the theme of UNIDEE 2025 Residency Modules he/she could participate (we will announce the themes and mentors this summer).
Eligibility criteria (all the conditions below are met)
- You are a resident of Palestine
- You were born during, or after 1989
- You have not previously been the recipient of an overseas residency from the A. M. Qattan Foundation
- You have a fluent knowledge of English.
Please note that the residency dates are fixed, and no change can be accepted.
Selection procedure
A. M. Qattan Foundation will prepare an initial shortlist of candidates, amongst whom the curatorial board at UNIDEE residency programs will select one residency grant winner.
Final results will be announced by Thursday, 10th July 2025.
How to apply
Applicants must submit the applications form by email to: residency@qattanfoundation.org stating: “QATTAN/UNIDEE application (your name)” as a subject line with attached:
To apply you need to submit the following documents:
- Fill in the application form at the end of this open call (in English only);
- a single document containing a 1) detailed CV (2-page limit) and 2) a portfolio including up to three recent projects (in PDF format, max 6MB)
Total weight of attachments in one email: max 10Mb.
Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, 14th May 2025
Only digital submissions are accepted.
To download the detailed call and application, please click here.