AiR Currents (Tunisia) was established in the capital, Tunis, in 2018. In September 2019, the program moved to Villa Garota, a beautiful and spacious house in Haouaria, a historic coastal town within two and a half hours drive from Tunis.
Tunisia offers much to interest and inspire the curious artist. The country continues to undergo its democratic transition, having triggered the Arab Spring with its revolution in 2010/2011. It is a relatively liberal country with a strong civil society and is a regional leader in gender equality. Since the revolution, the contemporary art scene has gathered momentum, with new galleries opening and artists enjoying their newfound freedom of expression. A number of historically significant artists, such as Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, have visited and worked in Tunisia.
Tunisia is a country of diverse cultural influence and its varied history is much visible today, whether in the winding medieval medinas, the ruins of ancient Carthage or the stunningly well-preserved Roman sites scattered throughout the country. Tunisia’s contemporary cultural life boasts international film and music festivals and at least one genuinely world-class museum in the Bardo.
The residency in the Villa Garota is located in an attractive detached house (photos below) with a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, studio, and garden. The house keeper is available to drive artists into town to get supplies, if necessary. In this initial phase, the venue is hosting six international artists at a time.
Applications will be reviewed in the order of date of receipt. Please submit your application at least 3 weeks in advance of your expected residency date. Putting in your application early is recommended.
The programme is open to artists of potentially any discipline who are over 18 years old, who can work independently and who are able to demonstrate how they would benefit from a residency in Tunisia. Most successful applicants to AiR Currents have been visual artists, but the programme is open to considering applicants from other disciplines.
Deadline: The project is now open for applications. The application window will close when the successful candidates have been selected.
Available Period: January – June 2020, September – December 2020.
Duration of Residency: 1, 2 or 3 months. Aligning your residency with calendar months is preferred.
Outcomes：Artists are expected to make public the artistic results of their residency. This could be an exhibition, lecture, performance or any other substantive artistic demonstration. The final presentation is not obligatory.
Residency fee:
AiR Currents is a not-for-profit AiR program, independently funded with the intention of promoting cultural exchange, cultural understanding, and enhancing the diversity and vitality of the contemporary art community in Tunisia. The programme has been designed with affordability in mind.
The residency fee is EUR 450/month, includes: shared bedroom (with 2 single beds), studio room, kitchen and bathroom, utilities, airport pick-up, visa invitation letter (if necessary), city guide, welcome dinner, introductions to local artists and art organizations, artistic promotion, exhibition.
All artists are fully responsible for covering their own insurance; travel costs; living costs; production costs; telephone costs; and visa costs if necessary. Please note that health insurance is mandatory for successful candidates.
If an accompanying person is requested, please give details on the application form.
Working languages: French, English, Arabic, Italian.
Application Material: Please submit pictures (or videos, etc.) of five previous works, together with a CV, completed application form and reference letter. Applications are to be submit online or send to the email below, and should be in English.
Copyright: The artist has total copyright over their works produced in AiR Currents.
Email: info@aircurrents.org
Further information on Tunisia: It is recommended that visiting artists learn as much as possible about Tunisia before their arrival. Visiting artists are responsible for their own welfare while in Tunisia. Many governments produce travel advice for their citizens – links to several countries’ travel advice can be found below:
UK： https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia
France： https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays/tunisie/#
Please note: All successful candidates are expected to behave responsibly and be culturally sensitive guests in Tunisia. AiR Currents regularly updates its terms and conditions. Please check with us for the latest terms and conditions before deciding to submit your application.
The residency loft 
open kitchen and living room 
Bed room 
Sun-set from the house 
