2024 villa lena foundation artist residency programme

The Villa Lena Foundation operates a residency programme that runs from April to October each year in Tuscany, Italy. Located in the wild Tuscan countryside, but only one hour away from the beautiful and culturally dense cities of Florence and Pisa, the Villa Lena Estate sits within five hundred hectares of woodland, rugged hills, olive groves, and vineyards. The Foundation offers artists 4 or 5 week residencies with onsite accommodation, studio space, and half-board meals (breakfast and dinner) five days a week. Studio spaces range in size depending on residents’ needs, with several being as large as one hundred and twenty square metres.

Residents are invited to live in the nineteenth century villa, which is the heart of the property, a magnificent building of period charm.

For artists selected, the residency provides time and space for self-led projects; alongside this a programme of regular talks, workshops, and other events are run by the Foundation in collaboration with the residents to promote interaction and exchange of ideas both among artists and with the wider community. Social interactions, creativity, and collaboration underscore life at Villa Lena and residents are an integral part of the expanded community during their stay. Further facilities include free WI-FI throughout the villa, well equipped wood and ceramic workshops, and a screening/projection room.