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La Marelle (Marseille)

Residency brief

La Marelle is a cultural institution which is used to hold writers’ residencies and plays host to a permanent literary scene comprising festivals, lectures, series of panel discussions or meetings, retrospectives, workshops and more. The authors-in-residency are invited to develop literary writing projects (novels, poetry, theater, young adult, comic), with the option of integrating other artistic fields: writing for radio, digital media, music or the fine arts.

La Marelle thus positions itself as a space for new encounters, experiences, intersections, brainstorming and more. La Marelle offers the opportunity to undertake active and dynamic residencies that are best suited to projects which are in their infancy or already in progress. La Marelle is located within the cultural centre “La Friche de La Belle de Mai” in Marseille, in the center of the city.

  • Thematic focus Literature & hybrid writing practices
  • Location Marseille
  • Dates February 2027
  • Length of stay 4 weeks

Our Space

The resident will be hosted at the Villa des Auteurs, within “La Friche de La Belle de Mai” in Marseille. This villa was once the home of the director and foreman of the Seita tobacco and match factories, that became a dynamic cultural centre. The residency flat has a shared garden and is located in the center of Marseille, close to the central train station, fishing port, beautiful coastal scenery and beach. It is located close to the Parc National des Calanques, known for its rocky landscapes and white sand beaches.

Vidyun Sabhaney

Graphic novelist

During my time at La Marelle, I look forward to engaging with comics and speculative literature in a context where both of these practices have had a vibrant history. Being in dialogue with the local arts and literature community will help me gain a fresh perspective on these creative practices. As the centre offers the opportunity to engage across formats, I plan to use this time to further develop a visual glossary that accompanies my graphic novel.

Vidyun Sabhaney is a comic book creator whose practice encompasses writing, illustration and the editing of anthologies. Her comics and illustrated stories have been published by LeftWord Books, Yoda Press, Blaft Publications, Penguin India, Scroll.in, among several others. She co-edited the landmark non-fiction comic anthology First Hand: Graphic Non-Fiction From India (2016), and was the editor of its sequel First Hand: Exclusion (2018). Recently, she has co-authored the graphic novel Food & Farming: A Journey Through India In Comics (2024), which is available in both English and Malayalam.

Her work has documented political and economic struggles, and brought a feminist lens to the impact of technology. She is currently working on a graphic novel that brings these themes together as a speculative fiction story.

Residency conditions

  • The resident will be given accommodation in an individual flat equipped with a writing desks, a bathroom and wi-fi. The common spaces include a dining room, kitchen, and a small shared Mediterranean garden. The residence has 2 bedrooms.
  • The residency accepts only individual applications. However, family members and friends may be welcomed at the resident's discretion, simply by notifying the French Institute in India and the Villa managers in advance.
  • The resident’s travel costs to and from his/her home address will be covered by the French Institute in India.
  • The resident will receive a fixed stipend of INR. 60 000 per month to cover his/her food and living expenses.
  • The resident will receive a fixed residency grant of INR. 50 000 per month.
  • The resident agrees to give a maximum of 20% of his/her residency time to give lectures, workshops, conferences or participate in any other cultural activities organized by La Marelle.
  • This is an exploratory residence, which means that there is no obligation of results at the end of the residency. However, the residency program needs to be acknowledged in any artistic production resulting from the residency.
  • The French Institute in India expects the selected resident to send them a short text (1000 - 2000 words) testifying of their experience within 3 months of completion of the residency.

Eligibility criteria

  • Proficiency in English is required for the applicant, whereas fluency in French is not a prerequisite.
  • The resident must have a minimum of one published book to apply.
  • Applications from self-published writers will not be considered.

Past Laureates

Third Edition (2025 - 2026)
Parismita Singh Author and illustrator
Second Edition (2024 - 2025)
Bijal Vaccharajani Writer