AiR 351 Grants 2026 — residency in Portugal with a €4,500 grant and international curatorial support

Sometimes it is not just about securing funding, but about being in an environment where your practice can develop more quickly through dialogue, context, and professional connections. This is exactly what this residency offers — a combination of time, space and attentive curatorial support.
The programme is aimed at artists and curators living outside Portugal and will run for three months in 2026.It offers an opportunity to step outside your usual environment and enter an international artistic context while maintaining a focus on your own practice.

What you get out of taking part
The key here is not just the grant, but the support structure:
€1,500 per month (€4,500 in total) + €500 for travel;
A private studio and access to workspaces;
Curatorial and technical support throughout the residency;
Integration into the professional community of Lisbon and Cascais;
Studio visits, open studios, presentations;
Work within a network of partners: museums, collections, art schools.
Important to note: the grant covers living expenses (including accommodation and insurance), but accommodation is not provided automatically. However, the team helps participants find accommodation — this is not a barrier, but a manageable organisational task.

Who it’s for
— Artists and curators at any stage of their career
— Those wishing to enter the international scene
— Those for whom working with curators and institutions is important, rather than simply working in isolation in a studio
— Artists ready for intensive professional engagement
Artists and curators who have previously participated in this residency are not eligible to apply.

How the programme works
This is not simply an “accommodation + studio” arrangement, but a structured residency with active engagement: participants are integrated into the local scene, introduced to the professional community, and given opportunities to present their work publicly.
The format is particularly valuable in that it connects Portugal’s local context with an international network of institutions — this broadens not only their practice but also their professional connections.

How to apply
Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file (up to 10 MB) in English and include:
— Contact details, CV, portfolio;
— A cover letter (up to 500 words) — clearly explaining what you plan to develop during the residency;
— (optional) up to 3 letters of recommendation;
— All materials and recommendations must be in English;
— You are responsible for arranging your own visa (if required);
— Basic English is required for communication.

Why this is a great opportunity
Such programmes are valuable because they offer not only ‘time to work’, but also access to a professional ecosystem. It is not just the studio work that matters here, but also the conversations, meetings, feedback and the chance to be seen in the right context.
For artists from countries with limited infrastructure, this can become a transition point — from a local practice to an international one.

The deadline for applications is 3 May 2026.