Residency


PADA offers artists a stimulating space to focus on their practice, work alongside artists from all over the world and engage with the local art scene.

Info

PADA Studios is an independent, non-profit, artist-led organisation based in Barreiro, on the south bank of Lisbon.

Founded in 2018, PADA offers artists the time, space, and support to develop their practice in a unique post-industrial setting. Our residency programme fosters dialogue, experimentation, and critical exchange within a collaborative environment.

Located within a former industrial park with roots dating back to 1885, the site provides artists with direct access to local fabricators, material resources, and the rich historical context of the area. This environment inspires innovation and hands-on production, supported by spacious studios, workshops and a dedicated gallery space.

At PADA, we promote interaction with the local community through projects and artistic interventions that engage with the environment. We are working to create a more environmentally sustainable residency and to encourage artistic practices that share this ethos. The application form asks artists to consider these aspects of their practice and describe how it may affect their project at PADA.

Programmes

PADA currently hosts 5 different residencies:

The International Residency is PADA's main programme, around which the other residency programmes are articulated. At full capacity PADA will host 13 artists at a time across all 5 programmes. These are inclusive and artists are encouraged to attend all social activities and events. To find out more about each individual programme, read below and go to the corresponding open call pages under ‘residency’ in the main menu.

Facilities

PADA Studios is a spacious 1000 m² converted warehouse located in the center of Baia do Tejo Industrial Park. Divided into two floors with a mezzanine overlooking the residency studios, the warehouse is home to PADA Gallery and all residency facilities. There is Wi-Fi and residents have access to the studios 24/7.

Located on the ground floor is:

  • 10 studios for the International Residency

  • workshop for wood and metal

  • small dark room

  • PADA Gallery

On the first floor:

  • studios for the Bolsa Barreiro and Alumni Studio

  • dedicated work space for Research Residency

  • large living area

  • communal kitchen

  • small library

Artists-in-Residence will be accommodated 5 minutes walk from the studios in 4 separate cottages in the beautiful and quiet area of Bairro de Santa Barbara - the old workers village. The accommodation is simple, naturally artists spend more time in the spacious communal areas of the studios as it is so close.

Each cottage has 3 private double bedrooms. There is a shared living room with washing machine, basic kitchen facilities and a bathroom. Wi-Fi connection is available throughout the apartment.

Check for images on the facilities here.

People working in an art studio, with one person kneeling and assembling an object on the floor, and another person sitting at a desk, surrounded by paintings, sculptures, and art supplies. There are large brown furry sculptures stacked in the foregr
Person kneeling and painting on a large canvas with orange and black paint, surrounded by plastic sheeting and paint supplies.
Person cleaning up trash on a beach with debris scattered on sand, with water and a city skyline in the background.
An artist working on a large abstract painting in an art gallery with three other abstract paintings on the white walls. The gallery space has industrial features and painting supplies on the table and floor.
A woman kneeling on the floor arranging a colorful striped textile in an art studio, surrounded by artwork, art supplies, and various art pieces leaning against the wall.
A young man wearing a gray sweatshirt looks at a geometric painted sculpture he holds in his hands in an art studio. There are art supplies and a large painted canvas in the background.
An artist sitting on a chair in a studio, working on a large abstract painting with black and yellow colors, surrounded by art supplies, scattered fabric or paper, and boxes, with another person in the background near the wall.
A team of four people working together to build and dress a large dog costume made of brown fur, with various props and costume parts on the floor and on a table nearby.
Four people hanging abstract artwork on a white gallery wall, inside a spacious, industrial-style art gallery.
Person wearing a gray hoodie and pink shorts climbing a large pile of tangled metal and bicycle parts outdoors on a sunny day with clouds in the sky.

International Residency

The international residency at PADA welcomes applications from artists in a variety of media for a duration of 1 or 2 months.

The residency is primarily self led and artists are expected to be self sufficient. The supplementary programme at PADA is designed to introduce artists to the area, to the Lisbon art scene and to encourage dialogue between those in residence.

Artists are provided with large studio space and accommodation in a private double bedroom. The international residency hosts 10 artists at a time and the residency as a whole welcomes 13, including the other programmes.

PADA’s unique residency program emphasizes dialogue, collaboration, and integration within the local context, an approach that sets it apart through its commitment to meaningful exchange and the opportunity to build lasting networks. Residents are immersed in the local context through guided tours of the industrial park, a visit to the Industrial Museum with access to CUF archives, and a curated exploration of Lisbon’s art scene. Technical inductions and access to workshops in metal, wood, ceramics, and screen printing are available, along with ongoing guidance. Curatorial support includes artist presentations, one-to-one studio visits, group critiques, and meetings with guest curators to foster critical dialogue and professional growth. The residency culminates in a final group exhibition in the dedicated gallery space at PADA and Open Studios. Documentation across the residency is integral and PADA’s social media platform is utilised to disseminate each artist’s practice during the residency.

The cost of the international residency is 1550€ per month. This includes studio and accommodation as well as all facilities at PADA. It does not include flights. The residency doesn’t provide the artists with meals nor materials.

Applications are done via an Open Call. More information on the International Residency page.

Bolsa Barreiro

PADA Studios with the financial support of Câmara Municipal do Barreiro has developed a bursary for visual artists originally from and/or based in Barreiro.

Yearly, 3 emerging local artists will benefit from this bursary, attending PADA´s main residency programme alongside the International Residency for 3 months each. In addition to all the activities included in the main programme, Bolsa Barreiro artists have access to all studio facilities, including an individual studio. At the end of the annual cycle, the 3 artists will feature in an exhibition in PADA Gallery.

This bursary is focused in supporting recently graduated artists, assisting their professional development. The residency fee is fully supported by Câmara Municipal do Barreiro and PADA.

More information on the Bolsa Barreiro page.

Bolsa PADA

Bolsa PADA 2026 is a bursary for artists with Portuguese nationality and/or permanent residency in Portugal to participate in PADA's international residency programme.

Awarded artists will benefit from all features included in PADA’s international residency programme. This includes studio space and access to all PADA facilities, accommodation, programme of activities, curatorial and technical support, final group exhibition, open studios and other events, plus professional documentation of their work.

Considering all current programmes and bursaries at PADA, the studios can accommodate 13 artists at the same time. PADA provides artists with the space to explore practices, concepts, new ideas and materials and to develop a project while receiving feedback and support. Participants are also encouraged to propose talks and workshops, and to engage with the local art scene. The support, networks and creative environment offered by PADA encourages professional/artistic development and international contacts.

At the conclusion of the residency, artists are invited to showcase their work in PADA’s gallery as part of a group exhibition, which will run in conjunction with open studios.

More information on the Bolsa PADA page.

Bolsa Odemira

Bolsa Odemira is a bursary supported by Município de Odemira for artists originally from or living in Odemira to participate in an one-month residency of PADA's international residency programme in September.

Awarded artists will benefit from all features included in the international residency programme. This includes studio space and access to all PADA facilities, accommodation, programme of activities, curatorial and technical guidance, final group exhibition, open studios and other events, plus professional documentation of their work.

Considering all current programmes and bursaries at PADA, the studios can accommodate 13 artists at the same time. PADA provides artists with the space to explore practices, concepts, new ideas and materials and to develop a project while receiving feedback and support. Participants are also encouraged to propose talks and workshops, and to engage with the local art scene. The support, networks and creative environment offered by PADA encourages professional/artistic development and international contacts.

At the conclusion of the residency, artists are invited to showcase their work in PADA’s gallery as part of a group exhibition, which will run in conjunction with open studios.

More information on the Bolsa Odemira page.

Research Residency

This programme is designed to appeal to those who want to spend time with the community at PADA but don't need a studio space. Aimed at writers, curators, researchers or desk based artists this residency will provide accommodation and a work space at PADA studios.

The opportunity will be in line with the international residency programme and participants are welcome to join in with all social aspects of the programme. We hope this will bring diversity to the activities at PADA and increase the trans-disciplinary nature of the residency as a whole.

The cost is €550/month (1 or 2 months of stay). PADA is a not for profit association and currently receives limited financial support. We encourage selected artists to apply for personal funding to cover all costs involved.

More information on the Research Residency page.

Alumni Studio

This programme provides the opportunity for PADA alumni to return to continue a project they started or simply to come back to visit us in Barreiro.

Exclusive to alumni this programme is more autonomous, artists are provided with accommodation and studio but are not included within the curatorial programme and will not take part in the International Residency group show.

Nevertheless, artists under this programme are welcome to attend some of the activities of the main programme and have access to all facilities at PADA, including workshops and a 36m2 studio space.

The cost is €1000 for 1 month and €1900 for 2 months. PADA is a not for profit association and currently receives limited financial support. We encourage selected artists to apply for personal funding to cover all costs involved.

More information on the Alumni Studio page.

 

For more information feel free to contact us.