Description of residency program
The Italian word for clay “creta” seemed perfect to express our commitment to creating an international reference point for ceramics and the arts in the eternal city of Rome. What material better expresses the timelessness of art? Moreover, taken as and other arts through events, cultural ‘happenings’, demonstrations, lectures, seminars, courses and didactic visits, workshops, exhibitions and artist residencies. c.r.e.t.a. rome was created to serve as a point of encounter for international exchange between artists, collectors, donors and the public.
We are located in the mid 16th-century Palazzo Delfini in the historical center of Rome, just blocks from the Capitoline Hill on one side and the Jewish quarter on the other. The area is filled with art galleries, artist ateliers, restaurants and wine bars. We also have a second residency in the countryside near the lake of Bracciano which is particularly indicated for collaborative projects, artist who want to do reduction firings and those wanting to bring their partners and/or children.
The interdisciplinary program has hosted more than 140 resident artists from 24 countries and 5 continents since 2013. Emerging, mid-career and established artists selected by an international committee converge on Rome for periods of 1-3 months. In addition to clay, CRETA Rome has hosted fiber artists, graphic artists, painters as well as writers thereby integrating ceramics into the contemporary art sphere.
CRETA Rome has been chosen by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts as an NCECA International Residency Partner Program in 2015 and 2020.
Duration of residency
2020 residency program
SUMMER 2020 residencies (4 weeks)
Deadline 15 MARCH 2020
3-30 JUNE
1-28 JULY
FALL 2020 residencies (5 weeks)
Deadline 15 MAY 2020
2 SEPTEMBER-6 OCTOBER
7 OCTOBER-10 NOVEMBER
11 NOVEMBER-15 DECEMBER
Announcing dates for 2021 residency program
SPRING 2021 residencies (5 weeks)
DEADLINE 15 SEPTEMBER 2020
24 FEBRUARY-30 MARCH
31 MARCH-4 MAY
5 MAY-8 JUNE
SUMMER 2021 residencies (4 weeks)
Deadline 15 FEBRUARY 2021
9 JUNE-6 JULY
7 JULY-3 AUGUST
Accommodation
In the residency in the city center, housing is provided in the historical centre of Rome or across the river in Trastevere, within 15-20 minutes walking distance of the creta rome studios and are well connected to public transportation. The apartments give artists an opportunity to experience a typical Italian neighborhood. Housing is completely furnished with towels, linens, blankets, and pillows plus weekly laundry service. Public transportation, supermarkets, laundry services, and inexpensive restaurants are all within easy access. Residents are not allowed to have overnight guests. In our studio in the countryside, spouses/partners are allowed.
The countryside residency includes accommodation in a one-bedroom house with a garden complete with fruit trees. There is a full kitchen and laundry facilities. Linens and towels are provided. The nearest train station is 2,5km away. We have two bikes available for residents use. From the train station there are regular trains that run to Rome in about 40 mins. There is also a shuttle bus from the train station to the town of Anguillara on the lake, stopping along the way at supermarkets.
Disciplines, work equipment and assistance
Our international residencies for ceramicists, visual artists and writers include a shared equipped studio (for equipment, see below), accommodation in the historical center of Rome, and technical assistance in procuring materials for your work, firings, etc., advice on museums, galleries and sites in Rome and beyond. The final group show gives artists an opportunity to exhibit their work produced during the residency.
residency in the countryside is still in Rome, but lies on the border with the nearest town, Anguillara Sabazia, one of three Medieval towns on the lake of Bracciano. This is a particularly good option for artists working on collaborative projects or who seek tranquility for writing. Resident artists can bring their spouses/companions and/or families (supplemental fee). We provide a weekly shopping run, technical assistance in procuring materials, firings, etc., advice on museums, galleries and sites in Rome and beyond.
Studio / Workspace
c.r.e.t.a. rome has two different residency options, one in the historical center of Rome and a second in the countryside of the city.
In the historical center, shared studios are provided in a mid 16th-century palace in the historical center of Rome, just blocks from the Capitoline hill and the Jewish quarter. Artists will have access to the studios 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Internet and printing/scanning facilities are available.
There are individual work tables and shelving units. For ceramists, there are electric kilns and wheels plus a broad range of equipment and tools for working with clay including ceramic wheels, an extruder and a slab-roller. We will arrange for all the material which you require to be delivered to the studio and provide technical advice in glazing, firing, etc. We have a front-loader high-fire kiln (1300C) which is 46x46x68cm and 2 high-fire top-loader kilns (1320C) that are 45cm high and 40cm in diameter. We also have a small high-fire test kiln.
In the countryside residency, artists have a well-equipped private studio. For ceramic artists, there is access to both electric and gas kilns, with options for reduction firing. The facilities include a professional electric wheel, a spraying booth, several low-fire kilns: an electric 150lt kiln, a 500lt. gas kiln, a 100lt luster kiln, 2 raku kilns (60lt and 120lt), and a high-fire kiln (60lt).
Fees and support
€2500 (4 weeks), €3000 (5 weeks) for studio space, housing, some technical assistance and the final group exhibition.
Expectations towards the artist
Artists are encouraged to display the work created during the residency period. The final exhibition will be held in the c.r.e.t.a. rome gallery in c.r.e.t.a. rome studio in the historical center of Rome, just minutes from Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline museums on one side and the Pantheon on the other.
Application information
Application deadlines:
SUMMER 2020 residencies (4 weeks)
Deadline 15 MARCH 2020
FALL 2020 residencies (5 weeks)
Deadline 15 MAY 2020
SPRING 2021 residencies (5 weeks)
DEADLINE 15 SEPTEMBER 2020
SUMMER 2021 residencies (4 weeks)
Deadline 15 FEBRUARY 2021
To apply for a residency, please submit the following to cretarome@gmail.com by the application deadline for each period. We encourage you to apply early since we review applications as they arrive on the 1st of every month.
-application form
-curriculum vitae
-artist statement (250 words max)
-project proposal (500 words max)
-10 images (jpeg or pdf) image list: year, dimensions, preferred residency period
how you found us!
A selection committee composed of artists, art critics and historians carefully evaluates applicants based on their artistic experience, merit and project proposal.