Visual arts residency opportunity for emerging European artists

Revisiting a former ADP theme from 2016, “The Future of Water” challenges artists to reflect upon the myriad ways in which water affects our societies. This includes both challenges — including pollution, scarcity and conservation — as well as water’s application in future innovations and technologies.

The ADP offers emerging European visual artists a three-month residency, enabling them to develop their practice and create a new (body of) work(s), boosted by the mentorship of a renowned artist. In 2024, the residency will take place over three months between the Cité internationale des arts in Paris for two months (September-October), and neimënster in Luxembourg for one month (November). The laureates will be mentored by acclaimed Franco-Italian artist Tatiana Trouvé, as well as professor, theorist and art critic Christophe Kihm.

Eligibility criteria

• Born after 1 January 1989 (in the case of an artist duo, both members must be aged 35 or under)
• EU national (in the case of an artist duo, both members must be EU nationals)
• Fluent in English

Budget and duration

The residency will take place from the beginning of September until the end of November 2024.

The EIB Institute will cover the artist’s travel costs to Paris, from Paris to Luxembourg, and from Luxembourg.

The artist will receive an €80 flat-rate daily allowance to cover his/her living costs during the residency and all or part of the production costs, and will be provided with a live-in studio space.

In addition to the above, the artist will be granted a contribution towards production of €500 at the beginning of the residency and a success fee of €1 000 at the end of the residency, provided that he/she has produced a work or body of works.

Upon completion of the residency, the EIB may consider acquiring an artwork produced on-site by the artist.

Application procedure

All applications must be submitted through the online form available here.

Required documents

• A CV in English (maximum four pages) including education, work experience, solo and group shows, and media coverage.
• A cover letter (in English) with ideas to be explored during the residency, in line with the proposed theme (maximum 700 words).
• A portfolio (maximum eight pages in A4 PDF format) to showcase a representative selection of the applicant’s works.

Please note that proof of nationality and age will be requested if shortlisted.

Selection procedure

A jury — consisting of Tatiana Trouvé (the mentor), members of the EIB Arts Committee, a representative of the Cité Internationale des Arts, a representative of neimënster and external art advisors — will select the candidate based on the artistic quality of his/her work, his/her motivation and his/her potential to make the most of the opportunity offered by the residency, as well as the relevance of his/her practice to the cultural context of the EIB Institute.

The selected candidate will be informed of the jury’s decision by email at the end of May 2024.

Application deadline: Midnight (GMT+2), Sunday, 31 March 2024.

Any application failing to comply with the requirements will be automatically disqualified.

More information & application here

About the European Investment Bank (EIB) Institute

The EIB Institute was set up within the EIB Group (European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund) to promote and support social, artistic, cultural, and academic initiatives with European stakeholders and the public at large.

One of its flagship initiatives is the Artists Development Programme (ADP). The ADP offers European visual artists a residency mentored by an internationally renowned artist. It enables artists to develop their practice and work on the production of an artwork without any material constraints.

Upon its completion, a series of events mark the end of the residency: an exhibition, the introduction of the artists to appropriate public fora, and, typically, the acquisition of the programme’s artworks by the EIB to enrich its contemporary art collection.

About the Cité internationale des arts

The Cité internationale des arts is an artists’ residency centre that brings together artists in the heart of Paris and allows them to implement a creative or research project in all disciplines.

For periods of two months to a year, in the Marais or in Montmartre, the Cité internationale des arts allows artists to work in an environment conducive to creation and open to meetings with professionals from the cultural milieu. Artists in residence benefit from customised support from the Cité internationale des arts team and the opportunity to meet and exchange with more than 300 artists and art professionals of all generations, nationalities, and disciplines.

In collaboration with its many partners, the Cité internationale des arts calls for applications on specific themes and/or projects several times a year.

About neimënster

Neumünster Abbey Heritage Site for Culture, also known as neimënster, is a historical site in Luxembourg City with a rich history spanning four centuries. Originally a Benedictine abbey, it later served as a military bastion and prison, including during the Nazi occupation. Today, it is a cultural center focused on restoring its spiritual vocation and promoting humanist values.

neimënster hosts a wide range of events, including concerts, conferences, arts performances, festivals, and exhibitions. Many of these events are free, and the public parts of neimënster are open seven days a week. Additionally, neimënster provides support and space for artistic experimentation through artist residencies, offering accommodations and workspaces for resident artists, and the possibility of public work-in-progress presentations.