Open Call for Artists
Preservation & Memory
Deadline: None
Residency Dates: Open
Location: R. Ocidental do Convento 19 Loja 3, 2900-514 Setúbal
About the Theme
At Studio Bacalhau, we begin our inquiry into Bacalhau: not only the iconic salt cod of Portugal, but as a symbol of preservation, longing, ritual, migration, and memory.
The first theme, “Salty”, invites artists to respond to the processes of drying, curing, holding, and remembering; whether personal or collective. Bacalhau is never fresh, what does it mean to carry that idea in the body, in language, or in the land?
We are particularly interested in works that explore:
• Salt as a material, metaphor, or ritual
• Memory work (family archives, recipes, oral histories)
• Migration, diaspora, and dislocation
• Food as resistance or cultural survival
• The poetics of preservation and decay
Who Should Apply
We welcome artists from all disciplines; visual art, writing, performance, sound, food practice, textile, ecological design, or hybrid work.
You do not need to work literally with Bacalhau or fish, rather, we’re looking for sensitive interpretations and abstract connections to the theme. Artists who are process-driven, open to slowness, experimentation, or site-based work are especially encouraged to apply.
Studio Bacalhau centers de-colonial, and ecological perspectives.
What we Offer
• Shared studio space at Studio Bacalhau, Setúbal
• Optional public presentation (open studio, talk, workshop, meal, etc.)
• Curatorial dialogue and documentation support
• A place to be in quiet process, salt air, and slow unfolding
This is a self-funded residency, but we can provide support letters for grants or institutional partnerships.