C.R.E.T.A. Rome is an international center for ceramics and the visual arts that organizes artist residencies, relaunching the concept of the ‘Grand Tour’ to rediscover the immense cultural heritage that Rome represents. Co-founded as a non-profit organization by American art historian Lori-Ann Touchette with Italian sculptor Paolo Porelli, its name reflects the bilingual character of the center: “CRETA”, the Italian word for clay, combined with the English spelling of their city, “Rome”.

Located in the heart of the historical center, between the Capitoline Hill and the Jewish quarter, the main studio of CRETA Rome in the 16th-century Palazzo Delfini reflects the layering of the eternal city. Rising above the ruins of ancient Roman apartments, the building backs onto the Crypta Balbi Medieval museum. The 15th-century vaulted gallery space preserves the memory of St Ignatius who composed the rules of the Jesuits here. It also concealed and thus saved a Jewish family during the Holocaust. The position of the studio in the historical center provides direct contact with Roman life and a second studio in the countryside offers the possibility of reduction firing, collaborative projects, and for artists to be accompanied by their partner and/or family.

The acronym C.R.E.T.A. spells out their main activities: ceramics, residencies, exhibitions, teaching, and the arts. Ceramics animates the entire project, combining Paolo’s 30-year experience in functional and sculptural ceramics with the Lori-Ann’s academic approach. Paolo teaches, provides technical assistance and curates exhibitions. A specialist in sculpture and Rome through the 18th century, and modern/contemporary ceramic art critic, Lori-Ann administers the program and provides art-historical support.

The interdisciplinary program has hosted more than 200 resident artists from over 30 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.

Interaction with the local and international community is an important aspect of CRETA Rome’s mission. 8-10 exhibitions per year provide a forum for resident artists to present their work to the public as the culmination of their experience.

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. CRETA Rome has received funding from the Annenberg Foundation and the Lighton International Residency Exchange Program.

Disciplines, work equipment and assistance
Our international residencies for ceramicists and visual artists include a shared equipped studio (for equipment, see below) in the historical center and a private studio in the countryside residency. We provide technical assistance in procuring materials for your work, firings, etc., advice on Rome and beyond. Works produced in both the city and countryside studio are presented together in a final group show.

Accommodation
Accommodation is not provided in the historical center residency but we can help artists by suggesting possible rentals near the studio.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. Partners and family are welcome (supplemental fee). The nearest train station is 2,5km away. 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, etc.

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.

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 (66lt). We also have a small high-fire test kiln.

Duration of residency
Residency periods (4 weeks)

Application deadline 1 OCTOBER 2025

SPRING 2026 residencies
2 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH
1-28 APRIL
4-31 MAY

SUMMER 2026 residencies
1-28 JUNE

FALL 2026 residencies
5 OCTOBER – 1 NOVEMBER
2-29 NOVEMBER

Expectations from the artist
Artists have an opportunity to display the work created during the residency period. The final pop-up 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 Jewish quarter on the other. Artists are encouraged to donate one work to the CRETA Rome collection (optional).