VAP – Visiting Artist Program Open Call 2026
Develop & Showcase Your Ongoing Research in a Gallery Setting
- When:
- Where: Fonderia 20.9, Verona (IT)
Fonderia 20.9's Visiting Artist Program (VAP) Open Call returns for its second edition, inviting one visual artist to undertake a four-day process-based residency at our gallery in Verona from 2 to 5 December 2026.
Following the inaugural edition, which awarded Amin Yousefi (2025), VAP continues to support artists developing research-driven photographic and interdisciplinary practices. The program offers a €1,000 production and residency grant* and provides the opportunity to work within a fully operational exhibition space, encouraging experimentation, dialogue, and public engagement.
Throughout the residency, the gallery remains open to visitors, allowing the artist to share an evolving work-in-progress, exchange ideas with audiences, and receive continuous feedback in a collaborative environment. The residency concludes with a public showcase of the research, offering an opportunity to reflect on the process and open new directions for future development.
Discover Fonderia 20.9's curatorial team, all details, and apply below.
Francesco Biasi - Founder & Project Director
(Verona, IT, 1976) is co-founder and Project Director of Fonderia 20.9, he also manages our Production Hub and the gallery’s book collection. Since 2018 is one of the curators of SÅM Explorazione Visiva della Lessinia.
Chiara Bandino - Founder & Curator
(Rome, IT, 1985), originally a marine biologist, shifted to photography and specializes in publishing and curatorial work. She has the role of Curator of Fonderia 20.9 and Spazio Alva, focusing on collaborative editorial projects and exhibition catalogs.
Rocco Venezia - Artistic Director
(Bari, IT, 1991), is an artist and curator with an MA in Photography from the University of South Wales. Has exhibited his work at VOID, JEST, and published 2 monographs with Witty Books. Formerly working as curator for PhMuseum, he joined Fonderia 20.9 as Creative Director in 2024.
How to apply
Application Period
Applications open on 24 August and close on 30 September 2026. Be sure to submit within this window to be considered.
Eligibility
Open to all visual artists interested in exploring an in-progress project within a professional gallery setting.
Required Materials
Submit a single PDF (max 10MB) including 1 bio (1 page max), proposal (1 page max) describing your project idea and how you will benefit from your stay in the Gallery and max 10 pages portfolio of images (if multimedia is essential to your practice, please include Drive or Dropbox links directly in the PDF).
Submission
Complete the Google Form (NOTE, you will need a Google Account to continue), filling in all the required fields and attaching all materials as outlined. The application is free.
What you get
Artist Fee
€200, compensating artists for their time and engagement throughout the program.
Production Budget
Up to €500 for project expenses, covering prints, framing, structures, and materials. As Fonderia 20.9 operates as an in-house production hub, all production will be managed internally, allowing you to maximize this budget by accessing materials and services at production cost. This setup offers artists a higher value, allowing you to make the most of the available resources while focusing on the quality and scale of your project.
Travel & Accommodation
Up to €300 to assist with travel and accommodation. Please note that Fonderia 20.9 does not provide accommodations but will assist artists in finding the most suitable areas for their stay, ensuring a comfortable and convenient experience tailored to their needs in Verona.
In-House Support
Benefit from the expertise in curatorial and production of the Fonderia 20.9’s team, who will assist with research and brainstorming as well as setup, installation, and any in-house production needs.
Timeline
Call Opens
24 August 2026
Submission Deadline
30 September 2026 (23:59 CET)
Shortlists Interview
Early October 2026
Winner Announced
Late October 2026
The location
Fonderia 20.9, located in Verona, Italy, offers a versatile gallery space featuring three distinct rooms: a main exhibition area, a side room, and a basement optimized for projections. This layout supports diverse artistic expressions, from immersive installations to intimate viewing experiences. Additionally, artists in residence can access Fonderia’s in-house printing hub, equipped with professional scanners and printers, enhancing their ability to experiment with and produce high-quality visual materials directly on-site.
