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Funded Artist Residencies in Africa

Currently 3 active funded artist residencies open to applicants in Africa, across AI, arts, film, journalism, research, tech and cross-disciplinary practice. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.

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Open calls

  1. Delfina Foundation: Open Call for Curators Based in Central and West Africa (London residency)

    Delfina Foundation · Delfina Foundation, 29-31 Catherine Place, London, UK. Applicants must hold nationality and be based in an eligible Central or West African country. · Deadline: 30 Aug 2026 · Award: Fully supported: a return economy-class flight, airport transfers in the UK, reimbursement of visa fees if required, a living allowance of GBP 40 per day, a materials and research allowance of GBP 70 per week, a travel pass for London's public transport network, and a single bedroom with a desk at Delfina Foundation, a house hosting up to eight residents with shared bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchen, library and dining room. Supported by Delfina Foundation's Network of Patrons for Africa. No application fee.

    With support from Delfina Foundation's Network of Patrons for Africa, Delfina is offering a six- or twelve-week London residency within its winter 2027 season to curators based in Central and West Africa. ELIGIBILITY: applicants must hold nationality and be based in one of Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia or Togo; and must have at least five years of professional curatorial practice in a freelance, academic or institutional context. THE PROGRAMME: alongside time and space to develop their work, residents get guided visits to museums, galleries, non-profits, artist-run spaces and studios, plus trips to institutions outside London; opportunities to meet and engage with artists, curators, academics and researchers through organised presentations, studio visits, events and meals; professional development including presentations and crits, portfolio reviews and mentoring activities to strengthen their practice; and collaborative exchange between residents through informal gatherings and meals. APPLY via the application form on the open call page; Delfina strongly recommends reading the Guidance Notes document carefully before starting. Deadline Sunday 30 August 2026, 23:59 BST.

  2. University of Johannesburg Artists in Residence 2027

    UJ Arts & Culture, University of Johannesburg · Johannesburg, South Africa. Both physical and remote residencies can be applied for, though office, studio, rehearsal and performance space is limited and not guaranteed. · Deadline: 31 Aug 2026 · Award: Stipend of ZAR 12,000 per month across a 10-month residency, so roughly ZAR 120,000 in total. No travel or accommodation budget on top of the stipend, and studio or rehearsal space is limited rather than guaranteed. No application fee.

    UJ Arts & Culture's annual residency gives artists a monthly stipend and an institutional base at the University of Johannesburg for ten months, with the option of a remote rather than physical residency. Disciplines covered are visual and fine arts, music, theatre, performance and dance, design, film and television, and literary arts. A virtual information session with Pieter Jacobs, Head of UJ Arts & Culture, was scheduled for 17 August 2026 to walk applicants through the process. ELIGIBILITY: applicants must hold a relevant post-school qualification, with preference for master's and PhD holders, and must not be affiliated with another tertiary institution in South Africa. Preference has historically gone to artists with African connections. APPLICATION: via the online form linked from the UJ Arts & Culture residency page; contact kmachoga@uj.ac.za or +27 11 559 1476 with questions. DEADLINE: 31 August 2026. No fee.

  3. Gallery 1957: Yaa Asantewaa Art Prize 2026

    Gallery 1957 · Accra, Ghana and Saint-Louis / Dakar, Senegal. Open to female citizens of Ghana or Senegal residing in either country or in the diaspora. · Deadline: 30 Sep 2026 · Award: USD 5,000 cash per winner, two winners (one Ghanaian, one Senegalese), plus a fully covered three-month residency exchange: flights, transportation of artworks, accommodation and materials. No application fee.

    Annual prize from Gallery 1957 in Accra for women artists connected to Ghana and to Senegal, which joins the prize for the first time in 2026. Two winners are selected, one from each country, and each receives USD 5,000 in cash, a three-month residency exchange in the partner country with flights, artwork transport, accommodation and materials covered, and a resulting exhibition with the gallery. ELIGIBILITY IS GEOGRAPHICALLY RESTRICTED: applicants must be female citizens of Ghana or Senegal, aged 18 or over, living in Ghana, Senegal or the diaspora, and must present a valid national ID or passport. Not open to international applicants without that citizenship. Apply by email to applications@gallery1957.com with an artist bio or statement of no more than 200 words and a portfolio of up to six high-resolution images or videos with captions, both as PDFs. Questions go to awo@gallery1957.com. Deadline 30 September 2026.

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