INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCY
2026 OPEN CALL
Our International Residency Programme welcomes artists from different disciplines to stay from 1 or 2 months. We will favour artists who have researched and propose projects suitable to the residency and the surrounding environment.
Applications for 2026 are now open. Application deadline is the 19th October 2025 and artists will be notified by the beginning of November 2025.
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+ PADA 57: April-May (7th April 2026 - 2nd June 2026)
+ PADA 58: June-July (9th June 2026 - 3rd August 2026)
+ PADA 59: September (1st September 2026 - 28th September 2026)
+ PADA 60: October-November (6th October 2026 - 30th November 2026)
Preferred dates are asked on the application form. If you would like to apply for alternative dates please let us know. Your flexibility in dates is greatly appreciated and helps us schedule.
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Application is done via an Open Call.
This is what you will need to apply and begin your preparations:
Personal details and contacts
Your preferred period and duration of stay
Cover letter introducing yourself and your motivation (max. 300 words)
Artist statement describing your practice/research and areas of interest (max. 300 words)
Project proposal indicating any particular project you would like to propose for the residency (max. 300 words)
Optional workshop or other event proposal (max. 200 words)
Portfolio (max. 10 pages, 12MB)
CV
A few sentences about how your project will minimise its impact on the environment
A few sentences on why you want to do the residency and your expectations of it
As an international residency, artists applying must be comfortable communicating in English and application must be written in English.
The residency includes
Programme of Activities and Support
We believe dialogue is important for a rich studio practice, and the residency programme has been developed with this in mind. By organising monthly activities, artists have the opportunity to engage with each other and develop new contacts.
PADA provides structured opportunities for artistic development through a programme of tours, presentations, critiques, and mentoring:
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Artists are taken to the Industrial Museum, where a local historian will do a brief introduction to the history of Companhia União Fabril (CUF). Artists that would like to work with the archives, can make further meetings.
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PADA provides a 2h walking tour to the restricted areas of the industrial park (old Sotinco Paint Factory and the North side of the Industrial Park) to introduce artists to the contemporary reality of the area.
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The curator of the residency prepares and conducts a tour to some galleries, artist-run spaces, artists’ studios and other exhibitions venues or projects in Lisbon. This is aimed to expand the artists network within Lisbon and showcase some of the Portuguese art scene.
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At the start of the residency, artists give a short, informal 10-minute introduction to their practice. These sessions are led by the residency curator and PADA’s founder, who also outline the programme ahead.
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Artists receive two in-depth studio visits with the curator—early and mid-residency—to discuss goals, ideas, and progress. These meetings support critical reflection and professional exchange.
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Mid-residency group critiques are held in the studios, offering artists the chance to present their work-in-progress and receive feedback from peers, the director, and curator.
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Final critiques are held in the gallery, where each artist presents up to three finished works. The session supports final exhibition planning and culminates in the selection of works for the concluding group show.
Facilities
36 m2 studio
Accommodation in a private double bedroom
Access to all PADA Studios facilities, including gallery and workshop
Access to the restricted areas of the Industrial Park
Selection criteria
• Quality of work and commitment
• Applications that take into consideration PADA´s unique location and facilities
• Unique perspective and approach
• Interest and willingness to work and live in a community of artists
• Clarity and focus of proposal
After applying
Artists will be informed by the 16th May about the success of the application.
After receiving the invitation the artist will be asked to pay a 50% deposit to hold their place in the program within 14 days and two-part agreement between the prospective resident and PADA will be signed. A copy of that agreement can be requested in advance should you have any questions.
Cancellations have to be announced with as much notice as possible. In the case of cancellations at short notice refunds may not be possible.
We encourage artists to apply for individual funding to cover the residency costs. Make sure to inform us as soon as possible when applying for funding. We help all successful applicants with letters of support.
Residencies will begin and end in the indicated dates, so artists should arrange transport to arrive or depart accordingly. The Check-In and Checkout shall happen within PADA’s team working hours (Monday to Friday 11am to 5pm).
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
