Ceramics Residency

Open Call for Residency Applications

***FULL LIST OF WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY!***

Thank you to all those who applied!!

We’ve received an incredible response to our first open call, and we’re genuinely excited to dive into reviewing each application now that the submission period has closed.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be carefully going through all submissions, and by the end of November, we’ll announce the finalists. Finalists will be notified privately before we share the news on our Instagram and on this page.

Stay tuned!!

Requirements

  • 2+ years of professional experience for applicants with a degree or professional certification in ceramics/arts / visual arts or
  • 4+ years of professional experience for self-taught applicants
  • a solid work plan and/or a strong concept for the work they want to develop with us

We are offering two different types of residency: 

  1. Independent residency
  2. Ceramics mural residency

The independent residency program is directed at artists who are looking for an opportunity to deepen existing work or develop new ideas. We will select between 6 and 9 artists for this mode.

The ceramics mural residency program we will select 2 artists to develop ceramics murals installations in the town of Salemi.

Residency conditions

We provide free of charge:

  • Pick-up and drop-off from Palermo airport on arranged dates
  • Accommodation with a private room in a shared flat within walking distance of the studio
  • Mon-Fri breakfast and lunch
  • Possibility to participate in cultural activities together with our students
  • Private working space at the convent, accessible 24/7
  • Unlimited access to studio facilities and infrastructure 
  • Materials and tools (to be requested in advance)
  • Technical assistance and mentorship from our staff
  • Possibility to leave pieces for sale at the studio gallery with a 40% commission

Artists working on murals for the town will also receive a fee of 500€. 

Residents developing personal work (not mural) will not receive any fee.

We ask:

  • For at least one piece to be donated to the Salemi Ceramics permanent collection

We do not offer:

  • To cover for the costs of flights or other transport to Sicily
  • Pick-up and drop-off from/to airports other than Palermo airport
  • To cover the costs of shipping pieces made during the residency

Studio Facilities

Our studio is currently equipped with:

  • 2 high-temperature kilns, 70 and 125L (in 2025 we will purchase a 400L Nabertherm kiln with approx height of 80cm and build a 260L fast firewood kiln)
  • 300W and 400W wheels
  • large slab roller
  • vacuum pugmill
  • extruder
  • tools for hand-building, wheel throwing, and glaze preparation
  • white stoneware with impalpable grog (PRAI from Sio2)
  • materials and minerals for glaze making

If residents need specific materials they can request them in advance.

How to apply

To apply you must submit our application form.

You may apply for 2 different modes of residency: 

  1. Independent residency
  2. Ceramics mural residency

You will be able to select your preferred modality in the application form. 

The form will request your personal details as well as:

  • CV and bio (max 1 A4 page, or 2 slides)
  • Project proposal (max 1 A4 page, or 2 slides)
  • Portfolio of recent work (max 4 A4 pages, or 8 slides)

Please have all these documents ready before you start your application.

Selection procedure

The selection process is carried out by a committee of internal and external judges, including the Salemi Ceramics team and international professionals. 

The applications will be assessed based on:

  • Quality of existing work 
  • Quality and feasibility of project proposal
  • Evidence of the applicant's technical capacity to develop the proposal
  • Evidence of the applicant’s capacity to work with high-quality standards

We will also look for a balance between International and Italian applicants, professional background, gender and age. We believe that a group that is as diverse as possible is very valuable for mutual exchange.

At Salemi Ceramics, we believe that equal opportunities are extremely important and we want to create a welcoming and inclusive environment in which people have the opportunity to flourish. We encourage everyone from different backgrounds, ages, experiences, cultural and ethnic backgrounds to register.

Please note that unfortunately, we are not currently able to provide accommodation and all-round access for people with disabilities.