The Franco-German cultural institute KULTUR ENSEMBLE PALERMO reunites since 2021 the Institut français Palermo and the Goethe-Institut Palermo. It has been developing an interdisciplinary cultural programme that includes artist residencies. In October 2024, the Bottega, an artist’s studio located within the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, was inaugurated.

KULTUR ENSEMBLE PALERMO is offering two three-month residencies in 2026.⁠ ⁠The Franco-German Youth Office is a partner in this call for applications, which funds residencies for people under 36.raum 2027

Residency periods 2027

11 .January—4.⁠ ⁠April
20. September—12.⁠ ⁠December

Die Residenz bietet:

• Time to research and create in Palermo and Sicily

• Access to an artist studio at the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa (The Bottega, a 115 m2 space, shared with other residents)

• One return journey between the residents’ home and Palermo (500 euros max. RT per person)

• A residency grant of 1,500 euros per person per month

• Accommodation in the city with private rooms and shared common

  spaces.

• A budget of up to 500 euros for research, creation and production

  costs of the project; expenses from this budget must be agreed in

  advance with the Institutes

• Assistance in establishing contacts with the cultural network and

  local institutions

An event for the project’s presentation is not mandatory. An eventual presentation can be discussed with the institutes during the residency.

Application requirements

• Practice or project that justifies the need for a studio (the Bottega)

• Project related to Palermo, Sicily or the Mediterranean region

• Format of the application: Franco-German duo (German/French nationality or working in Germany/France)

• Under 36 years old at the time of the residency (FGYO requirement)

• Willingness to participate in at least two educational activities (presentation of work, workshop with schools in Palermo, etc.)

• Willingness to provide communication material for the Institutes’ social networks and to participate in a short video interview

• Be free from other professional commitments during the residency

• Proof of civil liability insurance and health insurance valid abroad for the duration of the

  residency

Required documents

All documents must be submitted in a single PDF file. Applications must be sent in duplicate, one in French or German and the other in English, to the following address by midnight of September 6th 2026: kulturensemblepalermo@gmail.com

• Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages per person) of all persons involved in the project, including contact details and date of birth

• Project description with justification for the need for a studio (max. 1 page)

• Portfolio (max. 10 pages in total) presenting the applicants’ artistic practice or research

Selection procedure

The applications will be submitted to an Italian-French-German jury of qualified experts, who will decide end of September 2026 on the awarding of the residency. Residents will be notified by e-mail. The names of the jury members and the selected projects will be published on Kultur Ensemble Palermo’s Instagram profile and on the social media of the Goethe-Institut Palermo and the Institut français Palermo.

For questions regarding the residency programme and the call for applications, please contact:
Goethe-Institut Palermo : bianca.bozzeda@goethe.de
Institut français Palermo : judith.testault@institutfrancais.it