Visual arts

Medici Residency Occitanie

Created in 2018 by the Occitanie Region in partnership with the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici, the Prize Occitanie – Medici dedicated to young contemporary creation aims to develop the international influence of talent from Occitanie by welcoming them to the Villa Medici for a research and creative stay of several months. Each year, the price attracts around a hundred candidates – visual and visual artists – eager to take advantage of the opportunity offered by a residency at one of Europe’s most emblematic art centers, in contact with other artists from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds. Each year, the winner of the Prize Occitanie – Medici is selected on the basis of an application and an audition of the shortlisted candidates, each of whom presents his or her project to a jury made up of representatives of the Region, the Director of Villa Medici and associated experts.

The Prize

The winner of the competition will benefit from :

a three-month residency at Villa Medici from October to December 2026
free accommodation at Villa Medici, where he/she will have access to a studio and living quarters
a grant of €10,500 awarded by the Occitanie Region. (The awarding of this prize is conditional upon the artist completing the residency.)
In the year following the residency, the Region may offer the artist the opportunity to present one or more of their works in one of its exhibition venues (the Regional Museum of Contemporary Art – MRAC in Sérignan or the Regional Centre for Contemporary Art – CRAC in Sète) and/or in a publication.

Residency requirements

be a professional artist in the field of plastic and visual arts
provide proof of status as an artist-author or hold a higher education diploma in plastic or visual arts
reside in Occitanie or have a connection with the region (place of birth, diploma-level training). Applications from artists whose work has an international dimension will be given priority.

Application

the duly completed application form
a URSSAF certificate proving membership of the ‘artist-author’ scheme or a copy of a higher education diploma in plastic or visual arts
an artist’s portfolio including a presentation of their career and artistic approach, visuals of their work, and a curriculum vitae. Artists may attach any other documents they deem useful in presenting their work.
a description of the residency project, including its objectives, expected outcomes (creation, presentation, partnerships, etc.), planned follow-up and motivations relating to the Villa Medici.

Applications must be submitted online at laregion.fr in the calls for projects section.

Artists shortlisted by the Region’s services will be interviewed by a joint jury comprising representatives of the Region, Villa Medici and qualified figures in the field of contemporary art.

The application selected by the jury will then be put to a vote by the deliberative body of the Occitanie Region.