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Musée d'Art Contemporain de Lyon (macLYON)

Production residency

Residency brief

Committed to supporting contemporary creation, macLYON regularly hosts residencies for artists and art professionals. In conjunction with an upcoming exhibition dedicated to ceramics, macLYON will continue the residency program it has developed over several years. Within this framework, the collaboration between macLYON and Villa Swagatam contributes to the vitality of artistic creation, both locally and internationally.

This residency for research and ceramic creation is conceived as a sensitive and in-depth exploration of the material, considered both as an artistic medium and as a living trace of the land. Through its plasticity and resilience, ceramics offers a rich field of experimentation that engages both body and gesture, giving rise to constantly evolving forms. The residency aims to investigate these processes—from the collection or identification of local clays to their shaping and firing. By focusing on local resources, the research will be firmly rooted in a specific context, highlighting the geological, cultural, and artisanal characteristics of the Lyon area. The project seeks to establish a dialogue between traditional practices and contemporary creation through exploration and experimentation.

The residency program in Lyon will foster exchanges with local stakeholders—scientists, curators, artisans, ceramicists, and others—encouraging a collective reflection on the uses and imaginaries associated with ceramics. Opportunities for outreach and for sharing the creative process may be offered, providing insight into the research as it unfolds. The project also includes the possibility of an institutional exhibition, offering a significant visibility to the artist practice. Within this unique context, the resident will have the opportunity to produce new works on site—an essential priority of the project—while working closely with the curator and macLYON team. This presentation will highlight the singularity of the work undertaken while emphasizing its connection to the local context. It will contribute to a deeper understanding of contemporary ceramic practices and their resonance with current issues in the broader field of artistic creation.

  • Thematic focus Contemporary Art, Arts & Crafts, Ceramics
  • Location Lyon
  • Dates Mid-July to Mid-September 2027
  • Length of stay 6 to 8 weeks
  • Apply Now

Our Space

Established in 1984 in a wing of the Palais Saint-Pierre, in 1995 the Lyon Museum of Contemporary Art moved to the site of the Cité internationale, a vast architectural ensemble spread over one kilometre on the edges of the Parc de la Tête d’Or, in Lyon’s 6th arrondissement. Entrusted to the architect Renzo Piano, who designed the entire site, the museum conserves the facade of the atrium of the Palais de la Foire, designed by Charles Meysson in the 1920s, on the park side. The 6,000 m2 museum is spread over several floors and presents modular spaces that are perfectly adapted to the needs of the different artistic projects welcomed by the museum, as well as new forms of contemporary expression. The macLYON focuses on current national and international art, in all its forms, offering exhibitions and a wide program of transdisciplinary event. Its collection includes over 2,000 works. A selection of these is shown in rotation at the macLYON as well as in several partner structures. Works of its collection are regularly loaned for exhibitions in France and all over the world. It consists mainly of monumental works and ensembles of works, dating from the 1940s to the current day, created by artists from all over the world, the majority for exhibitions at the museum or for the biennials of contemporary art in Lyon whose artistic direction is assured by the director of the macLYON. Brought together in an arts pole with the Lyon Museum of Fine Arts since 2018, the two collections form a remarkable ensemble, both in France and in Europe.

The resident will be invited to take up a 1 - 2 months residency for research and creation between mid-July and mid-September. This highly prized residency in Lyon provides the selected artist with time and space to further his/her artistic research and to draw inspiration from the local area and its surroundings. The resident will gain an insight into the biodiversity of Lyon and have the opportunity to meet local scientists to study its specific features. This research and creation residency is intended as both a time of discovery to nurture the resident artistic practice and a source of inspiration for creating works specifically for the exhibition. The resources of the Lyon area and the chance to meet local craftspeople will certainly be conducive to the creation of original works.

For the residency, macLYON will host the resident in the museum’s studio, whose location within the museum building provides a fertile ground for exchange and creativity. The museum's studio apartment provides a high-quality workspace where the resident can spend the time needed to produce new works. As part of its policy of supporting artists, macLYON makes available various means of production, including access to the technical and artistic knowhow of the museum team, the creation of a dedicated workshop for producing works, and the use of recycled materials. The museum will also establish partnerships with local experts specializing in ceramic-making techniques to support the artist-in-residence. The purpose of this residency organised by macLYON and Villa Swagatam is to sponsor the production of works that resonate with the local area, to pool knowledge by working together, and to provide the artist with preferential access to local expertise.

Residency conditions

  • The resident should be willing to participate in various public engagements and events organised by macLYON during the time of his/her residency.
  • The resident will be provided successively with private on-site accommodation at macLYON.
  • The resident will be provided a permanent working space within macLYON and will have access to a separate collective ceramic studio in the city with required material for firing.
  • 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 residency grant of INR. 50 000 per month.
  • The resident’s travel costs to and from his/her home address will be covered by the French Institute in India.

Eligibility criteria

  • The eligible discipline is the use of ceramics in the artistic practice.
  • This open call is addressed to visual artists of legal age who either hold a degree or have been active in the contemporary art field for at least five years. Applicants should have a recent exhibition history (in institutions, galleries, festivals, etc.) and/or prior experience participating in artist residencies.
  • Proficiency in English is required for the applicant.