Drawing is an essential part of the production process for artists working in many mediums, and comes in many forms. Historically overshadowed by the monumental mediums of sculpture and painting, in contemporary art drawing is re-emerging as a powerful and intimate medium of its own.
As part of the L'AiR Arts programs, the immersive two-week Drawing Research Residency offers a stimulating experience of intercultural exchange, research and professional development. Participants have the opportunity to build lasting connections with fellow residents, expand their network of Paris-based arts practitioners, visit relevant organizations and present their own work in Paris.
This curated residency program is designed to enable participants to study drawing in historical and contemporary contexts during Paris Drawing Week. Professional visits will be organized to relevant contemporary art institutions and fairs, including Drawing Now, Salon du Dessin, and Drawing Lab Paris. Artists will also have the chance to explore the historic Montparnasse district with our residency art historian and visit prominent artistic venues, such as the Zadkine Museum-Atelier and the Giacometti Institute.
During the residency, artists are encouraged to reflect and exchange ideas with their fellow residents. We organize facilitated discussion sessions with curators, who offer portfolio readings and mentorship. Participants may also use shared work space and are invited to prepare talks or workshops related to their practices.
"I learned a great deal about the contemporary practice of drawing in Paris and at the same time was given access and insight into important historical drawing collections. All the artists in residence were from different locations across the globe so we were able to share knowledge about our respective home art scenes. A hugely important experience overall." - Marianne Walker, London, United Kingdom (Artist-in-Residence, 2019)
At the end of the residency, residents are invited to the studios of Paris College of Art (PCA) for a drawing workshop. Using experimental tools developed and created by PCA Masters in Drawing students, the aim of this workshop is to immerse participants in a sensorial and physical experience encouraging them to think about the body and gesture in the act of drawing. The experimental drawings created in the workshop will be exhibited at the PCA Gallery in Paris’s 10th arrondissement. The exhibition, launched with a vernissage reception, will present the tools and drawing instructions of the workshop and the selected outcome.
2021 Residency
Meet artists-in-residence
March Dates TBA (two weeks)
Drawing Research Residency includes:
Travel, art materials and stipend are not included.
Residency fees
As a not-for-profit organization, our residency fees only aim to cover the costs, already subsidized by our individual and institutional partners (equivalent to a scholarship of over 1000 euro per selected participant). The residency fees cover all the components, from the accommodation, most meals and local transportation, to creative space and curated programming over the residency period.
Some further financial support and scholarships are available. For more information, please see our Funding page.
Application and Selection Process
The program is open to artists and cultural professionals at any stage in their career. Participants will be selected based on the quality of their applications, and their relevance to current drawing discourse. Submissions from all countries are welcome, but an intermediate level of English is required in order to understand and interact within the international community.
Applications are reviewed by a panel of international and Paris-based arts professionals. The selection process includes an open call application and panel process, nominations and invitations.
2020/21 applications are closed.
As part of the L'AiR Arts programs, the immersive two-week Drawing Research Residency offers a stimulating experience of intercultural exchange, research and professional development. Participants have the opportunity to build lasting connections with fellow residents, expand their network of Paris-based arts practitioners, visit relevant organizations and present their own work in Paris.
This curated residency program is designed to enable participants to study drawing in historical and contemporary contexts during Paris Drawing Week. Professional visits will be organized to relevant contemporary art institutions and fairs, including Drawing Now, Salon du Dessin, and Drawing Lab Paris. Artists will also have the chance to explore the historic Montparnasse district with our residency art historian and visit prominent artistic venues, such as the Zadkine Museum-Atelier and the Giacometti Institute.
During the residency, artists are encouraged to reflect and exchange ideas with their fellow residents. We organize facilitated discussion sessions with curators, who offer portfolio readings and mentorship. Participants may also use shared work space and are invited to prepare talks or workshops related to their practices.
"I learned a great deal about the contemporary practice of drawing in Paris and at the same time was given access and insight into important historical drawing collections. All the artists in residence were from different locations across the globe so we were able to share knowledge about our respective home art scenes. A hugely important experience overall." - Marianne Walker, London, United Kingdom (Artist-in-Residence, 2019)
At the end of the residency, residents are invited to the studios of Paris College of Art (PCA) for a drawing workshop. Using experimental tools developed and created by PCA Masters in Drawing students, the aim of this workshop is to immerse participants in a sensorial and physical experience encouraging them to think about the body and gesture in the act of drawing. The experimental drawings created in the workshop will be exhibited at the PCA Gallery in Paris’s 10th arrondissement. The exhibition, launched with a vernissage reception, will present the tools and drawing instructions of the workshop and the selected outcome.
2021 Residency
Meet artists-in-residence
March Dates TBA (two weeks)
Drawing Research Residency includes:
- Accommodation in either a private or shared room (based on your preferences and availability, see Centre page)
- Flexible meal plan, based on half-board of buffet breakfast and either lunch or dinner of traditional French cuisine (with a to-go option)
- Welcoming and closing dinner / reception at a historic restaurant or an artistic venue
- Curated cultural program (professional visits, meetings and other facilitated group activities co-hosted with our program partners)
- Shared work space and open studio event
- Drawing workshop and a small exhibition
- Portfolio readings and discussion sessions with curator
- Support for artists to encourage integration
- Exposure on L'AiR Arts website and social media
- Access to the Centre's facilities including, plenty of common areas, cafe, an outdoor terrace and garden, laundry facility, meeting rooms and internet access (wifi) for personal laptops
- Paris Museum Pass and/or admission to a special venue/event
- Paris metro tickets
- One year L'AiR Arts alumni membership to support intercultural exchange
Travel, art materials and stipend are not included.
Residency fees
As a not-for-profit organization, our residency fees only aim to cover the costs, already subsidized by our individual and institutional partners (equivalent to a scholarship of over 1000 euro per selected participant). The residency fees cover all the components, from the accommodation, most meals and local transportation, to creative space and curated programming over the residency period.
Some further financial support and scholarships are available. For more information, please see our Funding page.
Application and Selection Process
The program is open to artists and cultural professionals at any stage in their career. Participants will be selected based on the quality of their applications, and their relevance to current drawing discourse. Submissions from all countries are welcome, but an intermediate level of English is required in order to understand and interact within the international community.
Applications are reviewed by a panel of international and Paris-based arts professionals. The selection process includes an open call application and panel process, nominations and invitations.
2020/21 applications are closed.
Additional Opportunity for Drawing Practice
After a stimulating two weeks in Paris, those artists interested in more arts production time with a continued focus on drawing, can combine the Drawing Research Residency in Paris with the Drawing Practice Residency in the French countryside, at our residency partner La Porte Peinte Centre pour les Arts, located in Noyers sur Serein, a stunning medieval village in Burgundy.
With the aim of interrogating, deepening and extending one’s practice, the two phases are designed to be complementary. Artists have the option to add two or four weeks directly after Paris. For more details and to apply, please visit this page.
After a stimulating two weeks in Paris, those artists interested in more arts production time with a continued focus on drawing, can combine the Drawing Research Residency in Paris with the Drawing Practice Residency in the French countryside, at our residency partner La Porte Peinte Centre pour les Arts, located in Noyers sur Serein, a stunning medieval village in Burgundy.
With the aim of interrogating, deepening and extending one’s practice, the two phases are designed to be complementary. Artists have the option to add two or four weeks directly after Paris. For more details and to apply, please visit this page.
Image: Drawing workshop facilitated by the Paris College of Art, as part of the L'AiR Arts Drawing Research Residency 2019