Residency for Photographers in the Centre‑Val de Loire Region, France
The Centre-Val de Loire Region and the Chennai Photo Biennale Foundation have joined forces to offer a unique opportunity to a Tamil photographer: a, artistic residency in France, allows the artist to immerse themselves in a new cultural and geographical context, showcase their work internationally, and develop a new creative process.
This call is open to photographers with an established artistic practice who have previously developed photographic series suitable for exhibition. Applicants are invited to propose an innovative project inspired by the theme of immersion.
Candidates must demonstrate strong communication skills, including the ability to engage in public presentations, and be adaptable to an intercultural environment. Proficiency in English is required.
As part of the decentralised cooperation between the Centre-Val de Loire Region (France) and the State of Tamil Nadu (India), applicants must have been born in and/or currently reside in Tamil Nadu.
Applications will be evaluated based on the artistic quality of the proposed project and the relevance of previous work.
Residency Details & Support
The selected photographer from Tamil Nadu will undertake a residency at ValImage, located in Tavers (30 km from Orléans, France). The centre offers a professional environment dedicated to artistic production, including accommodation, fully equipped workspaces (computer stations, darkrooms), and shared living areas—providing ideal conditions for research, experimentation, and creation.
With extensive experience in hosting international artists, ValImages will oversee the administrative and logistical coordination of the residency, provide artistic guidance, and facilitate connections with local partners and cultural stakeholders.
Artist Commitments
The selected artist will:
- Produce original work during the residency
- Develop a cohesive body of work for exhibition, aligned with curatorial and technical guidelines
- Provide all required materials (bio, artist statement, etc.)
- Grant rights for exhibition and communication purposes
- Assist with installation and dismantling of the exhibition
- Take part in public presentations (beginning, mid-point, and final showcase)
- Participate in Ar(t)chipel Festival events (3 days)
- Ensure all necessary permissions for photographed subjects and locations
- Work independently within the residency area
- Cover any additional production costs beyond the €700 allowance
Participate in preparatory meetings and residency-related activities
Financial Support
The selected artist will receive an artistic fee of €1350. In addition, the residency covers:
- Round-trip international airfare
- Visa and insurance costs
- Accommodation for the full duration of the residency (private bedroom and bathroom, shared kitchen)
- €200 allowance for local travel within the residency area
- A lump-sum allowance of 600€ to cover subsistence costs
- Reimbursement of additional production expenses (analogue materials, scanning, printing consumables, small equipment, etc.) up to €700 upon submission of receipts
- Costs related to participation in the SuperPause festival, including the exhibition and presentation of the selected works, will be covered by the residency programme.
Any costs exceeding the allocated amounts will be the responsibility of the artist.
Selection Process
This call is organised in collaboration with the Chennai Photo Biennale Foundation and shared within its professional network.
- Jury Selection: 3 July 2026
- Residency Period: October–November 2026 (Ar(t)chipel Festival)
- Final Presentation: Chennai Photo Biennale 2027
Application Deadline: 21 June 2026
Applications can be submitted through the Google Form by clicking the “Apply Now” button or by using the following direct link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQNI_VQ1Bk7VeeISffFT7iKoo3mOnQeQLv7UkKMZYzC3wMsA/viewform
