la becque principal residency program
The Principal Residency Program offers three-month residencies to selected applicants, whether individuals, duos, or collectives. Residencies will take place between January 2026 and March 2027. The complete calendar, along with detailed information on available residency periods, application criteria, and guidelines, can be found on La Becque’s website, which also provides a comprehensive FAQ and the application form (online from March 4 to 18, 2025).
A unique environment for artistic research
The Principal Residency Program—La Becque’s core program—provides artists with the opportunity to work in a stimulating and immersive research environment. The program places particular emphasis on projects that focus on the intersection between nature, the environment, and technology—three dimensions that are increasingly interconnected and at the heart of today’s artistic and societal concerns.
Set in an exceptional location on the shores of Lake Geneva, between Vevey and Montreux, in Switzerland, La Becque provides residents with a space for both autonomy and inspiration. Its lush garden, inspired in part by British artist and activist Derek Jarman, serves as a unique entry point to the program’s thematic investigations, fostering reflection on the relationship between nature and technology in contemporary artistic practices.
A residency focused on reflection
La Becque’s residency is not primarily production-oriented; rather, it offers artists a dedicated period for deep reflection, exploration, and transition within their practice. Residents benefit from an exceptional setting and facilities, as well as strong local and international networks that can help further their artistic and research-based endeavors. The program is built on the belief that moments of transition and research are essential to the creative process, rather than placing emphasis on immediate outcomes or finalized works.
Who can apply?
The call—open from March 4 to 18, 2025—welcomes applications from both established and up-and-coming artists with high potential. Curators, critics, and theorists engaged in research areas connected to cultural practices are also encouraged to apply.
Selection process & jury
Participants in the Principal Residency Program will be selected through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a transdisciplinary jury of experts from across the globe. This year’s jury includes: Mohamed Almusibli (Director, Kunsthalle Basel), François J. Bonnet (Director, INA GRM, Paris), Jessica Ekomane (musician & sound artist, Berlin), Stefanie Hessler (Director, Swiss Institute, New York), Deborah-Joyce Holman (artist & curator), Nora N. Khan (curator & critic, Los Angeles), Samuel Leuenberger (independent curator; Founder, City & Country SALTS, Basel; Curator, Art Basel Messeplatz & Art in Public Space), and Boris Magrini (Senior Curator, LAS Art Foundation, Berlin). They will be joined by Tamara Jenny-Devrient (Trustee, Fondation Françoise Siegfried-Meier) and Luc Meier (Director, La Becque).
Applicants must be at least 23 years of age at the start of the year of residency. Applicants should not be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs at the time of application. PhD students who have finished all coursework may apply.
La Becque contributes to the travel costs of residents from their place of residence to La Tour-de-Peilz, up to a maximum of CHF 500 (travel within Europe) and CHF 1,000 (worldwide). Residents will receive a monthly stipend of CHF 1,500 to cover living expenses and the cost of materials. The grant is adapted for artists’ collectives according to the number of members in the group.
The application should include:
- A pitch for your project (max. 700 characters including spaces)
- A short biography including a brief description of the applicant’s work (max 1,000 characters including spaces)
- A description of your project (max 2 pages)
- A full CV (max. 4 pages)
- A digital portfolio
