Places of Second Origin  

Artist Residency between Sardinia and Canton Ticino

Following the success of its first edition, MAN Museum and the Monte Verità Foundation in Ascona (Switzerland) are pleased to announce the second edition of an open call for Sardinian and Ticinese artists to take part in an artist residency program focused on experimentation and creative research.

The first edition, launched in 2022 from an idea by Nicoletta Mongini and Chiara Gatti, featured Sardinian artists Elena Muresu, Giaime Meloni, and Marco Useli, alongside Swiss artists Tonatiuh Ambrosetti, Maya Hottarek, and Lisa Lurati. Through residency periods at Monte Verità and in Sardinia, the project fostered an intense cultural and artistic exchange culminating in the exhibition Die Zauberberge_The Enchanted Mountains.

The visiting professors of the previous edition — Christiane Löhr, Una Szeemann, Andrea Dall’Asta, and Alessandro Biggio, all of whom presented exhibitions at MAN in 2024 — helped to strengthen the dialogue between the two institutions and promoted visual research within an international context.

With this second edition, MAN and the Monte Verità Foundation renew their partnership, offering six artists the opportunity to develop original projects within the evocative settings of Monte Verità and the Barbagia area.Selected artists will have the chance to carry out original research while immersing themselves in environments rich in historical and cultural identity. These landscapes, capable of evoking primordial intuitions and a mythical relationship with nature, will serve as fertile ground for artistic exploration

The Residency

Now in its second edition, the residency will last two weeks. Swiss artists will be hosted in Nuoro, while Sardinian artists will be welcomed at the Monte Verità Foundation. Participants will be provided with accommodation, studio space, curatorial support, and access to workshops led by visiting professors.

The works developed during the residency may explore themes such as collective memory, environmental heritage, or local traditions reinterpreted through a contemporary lens, encouraging a dialogue with the territory and its legacy. Through diverse artistic practices, participants will be invited to reflect on the roots of the host location and their resonance within the global context, fostering mutual enrichment between the two artistic communities involved.

Eligibility

The call is open to artists from Sardinia (or active in Sardinia) and from Canton Ticino (or active in Ticino).

Applications must include:

• An updated CV / portfolio
• A synopsis of the proposed project to be developed during the residency (max. 5,000 characters)

All documents must be submitted in PDF format and labeled with the applicant’s name.

Application emails:

• For Sardinian artists or artists active in Sardinia: info@museoman.it; elisabetta@museoman.it
• For Swiss artists: cultura@monteverita.org

Curator
Elisabetta Masala

Jury

• Chiara Gatti, Director of MAN Museum

• Nicoletta Mongini, Director of Culture, Monte Verità Foundation

• Una Szeemann, Artist and member of the Swiss Federal Art Commission

• Alessandro Biggio, Artist

• Elisabetta Masala, Curator of MAN Museum

Visiting Professors:

• Una Szeemann

• Adrian Paci

• Lorenzo Emanuele Metzler

• Giovanni Ferrario

• Luca Spano

• Matteo Meschiari

Timeline

Application deadline: November 14, 2025

Selection results: December 15, 2025

Open lectures: Spring 2026

Residency periods:

Monte Verità: May 7–20, 2026

Nuoro: May–June 2026 (dates to be confirmed)

Final exhibition and public event: 2027 (to be confirmed)

Terms & Conditions

The residency will cover travel expenses, room and board, accommodation, and studio/workspace. The program offers artists a fully immersive experience supported by curated activities and ongoing mentorship.

We invite all interested artists to submit their applications by November 14, 2025.