Nawat Fes

Panoramic view of the Fes medina

Panoramic view of the Fes medina

Moroccan families in public square at night

Moroccan families in public square at night

Dar Bennis, the residency house in the old medina

Dar Bennis, the residency house in the old medina

Nawat Fes

Fes, Morocco

Nawat Fes offers fully funded residencies in the eighth-century medina of Fes, Morocco to U.S. and international creators in multiple disciplines. The initiative engages art to cultivate understanding among multifaceted cultures through the exchange of ideas. Hosted by the American Language Center Fes / Arabic Language Institute in Fez, a member of the American Cultural Association, Nawat Fes is a new program that hosted its first residencies in May 2022. Residencies are free, and artists receive a living stipend.

Artist residents live and work in the ancient medina of Fes, which is considered one of the most extensive and best conserved historic cities of the Arab-Muslim world. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Fes medina is one of the world’s largest pedestrian zones, containing narrow alleyways leading to ancient architectural treasures, traditional houses, artisan workshops and open-air markets. Within this unique setting, Nawat Fes provides a supportive environment for research, reflection and artistic practice, allowing artists from around the world to experience and learn from Moroccan culture, and to contribute to the local cultural conversation.

 

Contact

2 rue Ahmed Hiba
Fes
Morocco

Year Founded
2022
Context
Urban
Residency Structure
Residency program within a school, college or university
Embedded in historic site
Residency Program Type
Studio-based (with housing)
Community-engaged
Residency Length
8 weeks - 8 weeks
Languages
English
Average Number of Artists in Residence at a Time
2
Collaborative Residency
May apply as a team
Discipline
Animation
Augmented Reality
Book Arts
Ceramics/Clay Arts/Pottery
Costume/Fashion Design
Digital Fabrication
Digital Media
Documentary
Drawing
Electronic Arts
Fiction
Film
Illustration
Installation Arts
Interdisciplinary Arts
Landscape Architecture
Literature
Literary Nonfiction
Mixed Media
Moving Image
Multimedia Arts
Music
New Genres
Nonfiction
Painting
Paper Arts
Performance Art
Photography
Playwriting
Poetry
Printmaking
Public Art
Screenwriting
Sculpture
Social Practice
Sound Art
Storytelling
Textile & Fiber Arts/Weaving
Translation
Virtual Reality
Visual Arts
Writing
Companions
Pets are not allowed
Family Friendly
N/A
Stage of Career
Any stage of career
Additional Expectations/Opportunities
Participate in public programming
Lead workshop for the public
How does your residency program support artists?
Opportunity to be in another context
Opportunity to travel
Immersion in new culture and/context
Unstructured time
Unrestricted funding
Research support
Art production support
Access to studio space to create new work
Inspiration from cultural context
Opportunities to develop relationships with local or regional artists/arts organizations
Opportunities to collaborate with local or regional artists/arts organizations
Opportunities to develop relationships with other artists/residents
Opportunities for work with the local community
Opportunities to exhibit or perform new work
Additional Eligibility Information

Eligibility & Artistic Media Supported

Nawat Fes welcomes both established and emerging artists, including writers (fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, playwriting/screenwriting, and literary translation), filmmakers, visual artists, conceptual and performance artists, musicians, composers and sound artists.

  • Artist collectives of up to three people are accepted and should submit a single application.
  • Because a major aim of the program is to bring new international voices to the Moroccan community, preference will be given to applications from artists who are not already residing in Morocco.
  • It is not possible for artist residents to be accompanied by spouses or partners unless the spouse/partner applies and has been individually accepted to the program. If spouses plan to visit, we request that theThe program cannot accommodate children.
  • Our initial facilities have some limitations for visual artists and artists working in sound. Please see website for details.

Application and Notification

The application deadline for Nawat Fes residencies starting from October 2024 is February 15, 2024 at 11:59 pm Casablanca time. See www.alcfes.org/nawatfes for details.

Selection Criteria

Artists will be selected by a jury. We value diversity highly within our community of artist residents. Residencies are awarded based on the quality of work submitted, diversity of cohort, the proposal for intended new work, and the fit of the artist within Morocco and the Fes medina. A high value is placed on linguistic exchange between the artists and the Moroccan community in Fes, which participates in American Language Center programs in English, so artist applicants must have good conversation skills in English. Arabic and French are helpful but not required.

Residency Periods

Nawat Fes offers residencies of roughly two months each. Artists are expected to arrive at the beginning of each residency period and to stay through the end of the residency period. Please see website for updated residency periods.

Artist Inquiries

For artist inquiries prior to or during the application process, please contact us at nawatfes.applications@acamorocco.org. For other inquiries, please contact us at nawatfes@acamorocco.org

Number of Artists Accepted in Most Current Year
18
Total Applicant Pool in Most Current Year
130
Artist Stipend
1200
US Dollar (USD)
Travel Stipend/Material Stipends
Residency Fees
0
US Dollar (USD)
Fee Details

There are no fees. Residency is fully funded.

Grant/Scholarship/Other Funding Support
Grant/Scholarship/Other Funding Support Details

Stipends and Other Support

Residencies are supported by the American Language Center Fes, which provides housing at no cost to artist residents, along with a 200-dirham/day living allowance (depending on the exchange rate, this normally ranges from 16-20 USD/day), from which artists will provide their own food. Half of the stipend is provided on arrival, and half at the midpoint of the residency. We can recommend some excellent local cooks who can come to Dar Bennis to prepare a variety of meals, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options, as well as traditional Moroccan dishes. Artists can use their stipend to pay for this service. The ALC will host occasional community meals including other members of the Fes community. 

ALC-ALIF staff and volunteers will be available on a limited basis to help artists engage with the local community. Artists will also be offered the option of a complimentary 10-hour course in beginning Moroccan Arabic, as well as optional translation services into Arabic for their descriptive and biographical material. Artists support the cost of their own travel, travel medical insurance, artist materials, any cost for mailing finished work out of Morocco, and all other costs.

Application Fee
25
US Dollar (USD)
Application Type
Open application
What does your program provide during the residency experience?
Pre-orientation
Communication before arrival to discuss accommodations, medical conditions, or other health needs
Orientation upon arrival
Staff/volunteer giving directions
Staff/volunteer providing guidance to help locate facilities or activities
Is your campus wheelchair accessible?
Inaccessible
Caregiver/Aide/PCA
No housing accommodations available
Accessibility Contact Name
Lori Wood
Accessibility Contact Email
nawatfes@acamorocco.org
How much of the residency experience can artists with limited mobility participate?

See below

Please briefly describe the facilities and areas of the campus that are NOT accessible.

Accessibility

The Fes medina is a pedestrian zone constructed on sloping hills paved with cobblestones, and it requires a lot of walking on uneven surfaces. Artists reach Dar Bennis by walking 10 minutes downhill on one of the two main streets of the medina. It is easy to find once one is oriented to the basic layout of the medina. Dar Bennis is constructed on four levels and the staircases are narrow. There is no elevator in Dar Bennis.

Type of Housing
Private housing off campus (individual apartment/cabin/house)
Private bedroom in a shared housing facility on campus
Accessible Housing
N/A
Housing for Companion And/or Caregivers
No housing accommodations available
Accessible Communal Spaces
N/A
Additional Housing Information
Access to laundry in housing
WIFI available in housing
Housekeeping services
Air Conditioned Housing
Heat and Cool control managed by resident
Meals Provided
Residents have access to shared kitchen
Food stipend provided
Additional Meals Information
Vegan meal options can be requested
Vegetarian meal options can be requested
Gluten-free meal options can be requested
Kosher and halal options can be requested
Food allergies and restrictions can be accommodated
Computer/Internet Access
Wireless Internet (WIFI)
Studios/Special Equipment
Private Studios
Studios/Facilities Accessibility
N/A
Studio Support/Tech
No studio support provided