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VAST Bhutan

Exploratory residency
Application Closed

Residency brief

The VAST HeART Residency is an initiative of VAST Bhutan dedicated to fostering creative exploration, artistic dialogue, and social engagement through contemporary art.

The residency provides artists with time, space, and a supportive environment to develop their artistic practice while interacting with the local community and the cultural context of Bhutan. The program encourages experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and reflection on art’s role in society. The residency aligns with VAST Bhutan’s mission to promote contemporary art, nurture creativity among artists and youth, and encourage socially responsible artistic practices.

VAST Bhutan is a non-profit registered Civil Society Organisation (CSO) dedicated to promoting contemporary Bhutanese art. Founded in 1998 by a group of professional artists, it was established with the goal of providing opportunities for the youth and young art enthusiasts in Bhutan. The organisation’s primary aim is to nurture and develop artistic talent, particularly in contemporary art, among Bhutanese youth. VAST Bhutan also strives to promote social values, social responsibility, and life skills through art, while fostering artistic expression and appreciation.

The organisation has been recognized for its achievements and was awarded the National Order of Merit (Gold) in 2016 by His Majesty The King of Bhutan for its contributions to promoting art, humanitarian values, culture, tradition, compassion, and empathy.

  • Thematic focus Comics and graphic novels
  • Location Thimphu and Punakha
  • Dates August 2026
  • Length of stay 4 weeks

Our Space

The VAST HeART Residency unfolds across two complementary sites, offering a dual immersion into Bhutan’s cultural and natural landscapes.

In Thimphu, the residency space is located at the centre of the capital city thereby placing the resident at the heart of the country’s contemporary artistic ecosystem. Through studio visits, curated encounters, and exchanges with artists, curators, and cultural practitioners, Thimphu becomes a space of dialogue and research, an entry point into Bhutan’s evolving creative scene.

In Punakha, the residency hosted in collaboration with Potolo Artists Village, shifts to a more introspective rhythm. The Potolo Artists Village, initiated by Founder Asha Kama Wangdi, is envisioned as a living home and provides an ecosystem where artists create, reflect, collaborate, and tell the authentic stories of past, present and the future. This high altitude sanctuary offers a retreat into nature, where creation is shaped by the surrounding forests, valleys, and silence. Conceived as a space for transmission as much as for experimentation, the site encourages both reflection and collective making

Residency conditions

  • The resident will be provided with on-site accommodation, which includes a separate lockable room with an attached washroom and a kitchen with all relevant equipment.
  • The resident will be provided with a dedicated working space.
  • The residents’ 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 should be willing to give up to 20% of his/her residency time to participate in lectures, workshops and other cultural activities organized by the Residency or IFI.
  • The French Institute in India expects the selected resident to send them a short text (1000 - 2000 words) or strip testifying of their experience within 3 months of completion of the residency.
  • The residency campus is non-smoking and alcohol is prohibited on the premises.

Eligibility criteria

  • Proficiency in English is required for the applicant.
  • The resident must have one book (minimum) published by a French publishing house.