New partnership with Villa Swagatam

The Foundation Thalie is joining forces with Villa Swagatam a residency project promoted by Institut français in India to welcome an artist for a research and production residency in Arles, in September–October 2026 for a period of 4 weeks.

This programme, designed to foster cultural exchanges between France and South Asia, is open to artists whose practice engages with local craftsmanship, traditional knowledge and the history of the collection.

Residency conditions:

• Accommodation provided in Arles, in a private house five minutes from the exhibition space
• Monthly living allowance of 60,000 (Indian Rupee)
• Residency grant of 50,000 (Indian Rupee) for the 4 weeks
• Access to a studio and appropriate production facilities
• Travel expenses covered by the Institut français in India
• Mentorship by Eugénie Lefebvre, co-founder of Les Ateliers de la Madeleine in Arles
• open studio at the end of the residency

Eligibility criteria: Proficiency in English is required. The resident will dedicate up to 20% of their time to public engagements and events organised by the residency.

To apply: villaswagatam.in — Application deadline: 31 May 2026

Eugénie Lefebvre is president of the festival Le Nouveau Printemps, in Toulouse, an event dedicated to art in public space. In Arles, she founded La Madeleine Arles and Les Ateliers de La Madeleine, a structure that promotes artistic experimentation through residency projects. She is also the creator of the podcast Le.s Sensible.s.

Villa Swagatam is a dynamic network of residencies designed to foster cultural exchange between France, India and the South Asia region. It spans a wide range of disciplines, with a particular focus on literature as well as arts and crafts. After the resounding success of the first three editions of the programme, Villa Swagatam is proud to launch the fourth edition - with around thirty residency partners across France, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The residency partners are some of the most distinguished cultural institutions and organisations in the domain of design, crafts and literature across France and South Asia, which provides fertile ground for unique creative collaborations at the intersection of artistic and literary traditions, techniques and perspectives from both regions. 'Swagatam' is the Sanskrit equivalent of the French 'Bienvenue' and reflects our desire to welcome dialogue, collaboration, and exchange.