La Porte Peinte is first and foremost a residency centre, a haven and sanctuary for creative work. A residency here is designed to enable creative exploration, concentrated work and exchange in an inspiring and supportive environment.
La Porte Peinte USA, as a non-profit branch of the larger LPP project, aims to widen the field of opportunity to increase diversity, with a focus on individuals or groups who might otherwise lack access to such resources, e.g., artists affected by war, natural disasters, economic hardship or any form of discrimination. LPP USA aims to actively seek out such artists wherever in the world they may be, and to extend support to them through residencies, masterclasses, collaborations, or exhibitions. Areas of specific focus include film, photographic and written reportage that promotes global awareness and understanding; applied art that brings traditional techniques together with contemporary concerns, materials and methods; sustainable design; creative work by women; emerging artists of all ages; and African, Haitian, and Latin American practitioners, among others.
If an artist in residence wishes to learn about traditional materials and methods of art or craft, or to collaborate with an artist or maker from the local community, we will make introductions and facilitate arrangements. If an artist requires only solitude and optimal working conditions, we provide both.
In addition to the opportunity to work with total focus on individual creative practice, an important feature of our programme is the chance to connect with the local community via our gallery, workshops, events, and tea room. Where appropriate for an individual’s practice and project, we can sponsor in situ shows and events.
For emerging artists, the opportunity to engage in the complete artistic life cycle of concept > production > presentation > sale via a show in the gallery is one that can be both motivating and inspiring. Beyond this, an essential aim at LPP is to generate creative community, one intrinsically planted within the dynamic community of the modern-medieval village of Noyers sur Serein, which itself sits harmoniously in the pastoral landscape of northern Burgundy.
We welcome artists, performers, writers, musicians, filmmakers, photographers, and creative thinkers. Collaborative groups and partnerships are welcome to apply. Our physical resources include private studios appropriate for painting or sculpture, outdoor covered spaces, and several small indoor spaces that lend themselves to writing. We have a simple analog photography darkroom. For those who wish to explore locally available materials and technologies, these resources include limestone and lime plaster, iron, pigments, clays from the Puisaye area, and oak.
At La Porte Peinte, in addition to our core self-directed residency programme, we offer individually tailored mentored residencies for artists of any age.
La Porte Peinte is now accepting applications for residencies for May through October 2027. We accept applications on a rolling basis, but for those artists who intend to apply for grants to cover residency costs, we recommend allowing adequate lead time. Please do check with us before applying if you are limited to a specific time period, so we can let you know if there is still space.
DURATION OF RESIDENCIES
We will consider residency proposals of any length between two weeks and six months (24 weeks). Creative retreats and short stays are also possible.
VISAS, ETIAS & PASSPORT VALIDITY
We do not offer visa sponsorship, so those from countries outside the EU must make sure that the length of a proposed residency falls within the period of presence in France authorised by a tourist visa. For those from war zones: as we are unable to help with visas in any way, please determine that a visa will be possible to obtain without our involvement before applying.
The new ETIAS requirement is set to launch soon. if you are coming from a country which does not require a visa, you will need to register with ETIAS.
For entry into the Schengen zone, be aware that the six-month validity rule applies. Although France requires only three months of validity remaining on your passport beyond your exit date, Schengen imposes the six-month rule. Because of this ambiguity, it is recommended that you travel with the six-month validity rule in mind.
PARTNERS
An artist-in-residence may be accompanied by a non-working partner or friend sharing their bedroom with payment of a supplementary fee of 70€ per night. For a non-working family member or friend who wishes a separate bedroom, the fee will be based on the fees for creative retreats & short stays (see below). Working partners or other collaborators should apply using the individual application form. It is preferable for non-working partners to attend the residency towards the latter part of an AIR’s residency, and to be prepared to engage fully in the life of the residency.
COSTS
The cost for a residency in 2027 is €2000, €2300, €2860, €2970, or €3300 per person per month* (one month is defined as four weeks or 28 days, not as a calendar month)*. The difference in cost is linked to the size of the accommodation. The fee includes all utilities costs, accommodation, studio space, use of the well-equipped and spacious communal kitchen and laundry facilities, wireless internet and printer.
*Please contact us for information on costs for periods of less than a month; the shorter the stay, the higher the per diem cost.
€2000: Accommodation is a tiny room with bed, private bathroom with shower and sink, and shared toilet in the hall. We have one tatami room (with a Western-style bed) in this category. Room: Zebre (tatami room)
€2300: Accommodation is a small room with bed, private bathroom with shower and sink, and shared toilet in the hall. Room: Unicorne
€2860: Accommodation is a large room with double bed or two twin beds, wardrobe, desk, private bathroom with shower and sink, and shared toilet in the hall. Room: Phoenix
€2970: Accommodation is a large room with double bed, wardrobe, private bathroom with shower, small French-style sabot bathtub, sink, and private toilet. Room: Dragon
€3300: Accommodation is a larger room with double bed, chest of drawers, table, sofa, coffee table, private shower and full-length bathtub, and private toilet. Room: Salamandre
All the rooms are charming, comfortable, and get plenty of light.
The fee for working partners sharing a bedroom will be determined according to the need for separate or shared studio space.
Most residencies are not subsidised, so all costs must be borne by the artist-in-residence. However, we do attempt to raise money to help with fees for those who have been accepted but who would not otherwise be able to attend. Every season we offer one fully subsidised residency, with priority given to those in conflict zones or suffering under oppressive regimes; such subsidised residencies offer waived residency fees but offer no stipend or coverage of the costs of travel, food, or supplies. When we offer a fully subsidised residency to an artist living in a conflict zone or suffering under an oppressive regime, we require a refundable deposit of 500€, returnable to the AIR upon arrival for their residency. In such a case, the residency dates may not be changed. If the AIR does not attend the residency the deposit is not refunded to them. For a waived-fee residency we might very occasionally offer to an individual who is not living in a conflict zone or suffering under an oppressive regime, we ask for a nonrefundable payment of 100€ per week to help offset costs; such residencies are very rare indeed. Please note that we receive many many applications which are ruled out of consideration immediately due to clear evidence that the applicant has not read through our overview in detail. We are also receiving an increasing number of AI-generated applications. We will not process such applications, although often we offer a second chance to the applicant who wishes to re-submit a non-AI-generated application.
We are happy to provide any advice or documentation needed by artists who wish to seek third-party grant support or other funding for a residency.
WORK-EXCHANGE & INTERNSHIPS
We can offer internships only to student applicants who have a working knowledge of both French and English. Please note that internships are legally available only to actively enrolled students, and that arrangements must be made between La Porte Peinte and the student’s educational institution. Work-exchange is only possible for legal EU residents. More information on these opportunities will be supplied upon request.
CREATIVE RETREATS & SHORT STAYS
For those who wish to spend short periods at La Porte Peinte in order to benefit from the creative environment but have neither a specific project nor any need of studio space and thus do not wish to submit a formal application, the rates per person per week (seven nights) are €1200, €1400, €1600, €1800, and €2000 per room. Shorter stays may be possible when space is available. Please contact us for rates for more than one person.
EXHIBITIONS & WORKSHOPS
We have a 180 m2 gallery, and offer artists in residence the opportunity to propose exhibitions, performances, and events. Artists who speak French may also lead workshops or teach ongoing classes if this is of interest.
VILLAGE LIFE
In this village of 650, there are two food-stores, a weekly market, a butcher with deli, a baker, four cafés and five restaurants. There is an excellent library with an extensive music and film collection, along with a good selection of books. There is also a thriving community of artists and craftspeople working in a wide range of media.
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