Trinacria Festival Residency
Messina, ME, Italy
The Trinacria Festival Residency is a 3-week, community-centered program designed for professional artists whose work directly engages the Pezzolo community. The dates of the program are July 24 - August 13, 2026.
We will select five to six artists or small collectives (no more than 3 collaborators) whose practices engage with Pezzolo in thoughtful and meaningful ways—through collaboration, cultural exchange, site-responsive work, or processes shaped by dialogue with the village and its landscape.
Selected artists will develop individual projects (new or evolving) that culminate in a public presentation at the annual Trinacria Arts Festival. Community engagement and participation is at the core of this Festival.
Artists will receive:
- A structured residency environment
- Regular group sharings and workshops
- Accommodation and meals
- Local transportation support
- Workspace
- A small materials budget
- Support in developing a public presentation for the festival
The experience offers artists the opportunity to create in a dynamic environment while fostering meaningful connections with the local community. It is ideal for artists excited by community connection, interdisciplinary exchange, and the challenge of shaping a new or evolving work toward a shared public moment.
Residency Program Information
Year Founded
2016
Context
Rural
Remote
Residency Structure
Stand-alone
Longterm/embedded in neighborhood
Embedded in intentional community
Residency Program Type
Studio-based (with housing)
Thematic
Retreat
Community-engaged
Experiential
Residency Program Summary
Residency Length
21 days - 21 days
Languages
English
Other
Average Number of Artists in Residence at a Time
5
Collaborative Residency
Must apply and be accepted individually
May apply as a team
Discipline
Acting
Animation
Art Education
Augmented Reality
Book Arts
Choreography
Costume/Fashion Design
Dance
Digital Media
Documentary
Drawing
Ecology
Electronic Arts
Environmental Arts
Film
Graphic Design
Illustration
Industrial Design
Installation Arts
Interdisciplinary Arts
Landscape Architecture
Mixed Media
Moving Image
Multimedia Arts
Music
Painting
Paper Arts
Performance Art
Photography
Poetry
Printmaking
Public Art
Sculpture
Social Practice
Sound Art
Storytelling
Textile & Fiber Arts/Weaving
Theater
Translation
TV + Radio
Urban Planning/Design
Virtual Reality
Visual Arts
Woodworking
Companions
Pets are not allowed
Country of Residence
Open to artists based anywhere in the world
Family Friendly
N/A
Stage of Career
Any stage of career
Additional Expectations/Opportunities
Participate in public programming
Lead workshop for fellow residents
Lead a skill share
How does your residency program support artists?
Opportunity to be in another context
Opportunity to travel
Immersion in new culture and/context
Unstructured time
Restricted funding
Art production support
Access to studio space to create new work
Access to training on new artistic techniques and/or apprenticeship
Inspiration from natural environment
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 collaborate with other artists/residents
Opportunities to develop relationships with other artists/residents
Opportunities for work with the local community
Opportunities to exhibit or perform new work
Application Information
Additional Eligibility Information
- Participants must be 18 or older at the time of the program. There is no upper age limit on participation.
- Artists are responsible for securing their own passports and visas necessary for travel.
- The residency will primarily be conducted in English. Good working knowledge of English is necessary for all participants.
- Candidates advancing to the next stage of the application will be contacted to schedule a short, informal interview and provide a character reference.
Number of Artists Accepted in Most Current Year
4
Total Applicant Pool in Most Current Year
40
Artist Stipend
0
Euro (EUR)
Travel Stipend/Material Stipends
100
Euro (EUR)
Residency Fees
0
Euro (EUR)
Fee Details
What’s included:
- 20 overnight stays in shared accommodation (including shared bedrooms) in Casa Trinacria
- 12 dedicated working days
- Access to workspaces
- Production support
- Festival presentation
- 3 meals per day (excluding excursion days)
- Ground transportation in Sicily
- €100 materials budget
- Interpretation/translation support as needed
- Guided community engagement opportunities
- Emergency health & medical insurance*
*Trinacria’s emergency health & medical insurance provider does not offer coverage to residents of Australia, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Gambia, Ghana, Islamic Republic of Iran, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Syrian Arab Republic, and U.S. Virgin Islands, or to travelers who are not leaving their home country (i.e. Italy). If any of these apply to you, you will be responsible for securing your own emergency health and medical insurance policy for your travels to Sicily.
What’s Not Included:
- Airfare or travel insurance
- Passport or visa fees
- Alcohol and snacks
- WiFi or cell phone plans
- Full literary translation suport
- Meals, souvenirs, or entry fees during excursions
For detailed information on location, housing, meals, accessibility, transportation, language, and technology, please visit the FAQ/Logistics section of our Artist Residency page here.
Grant/Scholarship/Other Funding Support
Application Fee
0
Euro (EUR)
Application Type
Open application
Accessibility
What does your program provide during the residency experience?
Pre-orientation
Manual / handbook before arrival
Communication before arrival to discuss accommodations, medical conditions, or other health needs
Orientation upon arrival
Contact information and available accommodations for programs, events, and campus
Full description of accessibility on campus
Links to resources, effective practices, grievance procedures, etc.
Contact info for accessibility requests for event/programming
Is your campus wheelchair accessible?
Inaccessible
Additional Accessibility Information
- Mobility: Our residency takes place in a village that is over 800 years old and was built on a mountainside. Unfortunately, many parts of the village are only accessible by footpath or stairs. The living quarters of Casa Trinacria can only be accessed by stairs.
- Distance: The village of Pezzolo is separated from surrounding towns by a winding drive up a mountain road. This road is 7km long and takes approx. 15 - 20 minutes to drive. It may be challenging for inexperienced drivers or those who experience motion sickness.
- Amenities: There is only one business remaining open in Pezzolo, which is a small butcher shop. The butcher shop also stocks a few other dry goods, such as pasta, rice, canned goods, beer, cleaning supplies, and other necessities. There is also a small pharmacy which operates on very limited hours. For all other amenities (such as grocery stores, supply shops, post office, ATM, etc.), it is necessary to drive to nearby towns, a drive which takes at least 15 - 20 min in both directions. Artists are encouraged to keep this in mind in their planning.
- Wildlife: There are several colonies of feral cats living in Pezzolo. Other local wildlife include small lizards and geckos. Mosquitos are common in the summer. Less commonly seen, but still present in the local area, are garden snakes, hedgehogs, bats, owls, and even occasionally wild boar.
- Heat: Summer in Sicily is extremely dry, hot, and sunny. Hydration and sun protection are essential. Artists are encouraged to always pack refillable water bottles, sunscreen, and protective coverings such as hats. Tap water in Pezzolo is potable, and there are additional public drinking fountains throughout the village, directly from fresh mountain spring sources, where bottles can be refilled.
Caregiver/Aide/PCA
Case by case consideration by staff
Accessibility Contact Name
Mariagrazia La Fauci
Accessibility Contact Email
mariagrazia@trinacriatheatre.com
Housing & Accomodation
Type of Housing
Shared bedroom
Accessible Housing
Inaccessible
Housing for Companion And/or Caregivers
Case by case consideration
Accessible Communal Spaces
Inaccessible
Common/Communal Spaces Information
- Most residencies are hosted at Casa Trinacria. This is a 4 story family home managed by Trinacria. The house consists of:
- Floor 0: A large garage which can be utilized as a workspace, including a half bath
- Floor 1: A fully equipped shared communal kitchen, communal living and dining room, terrace, and full bath
- Floor 2: Three bedrooms, each with 2 single beds (can be pushed together to create a double bed), and a full bath
- Floor 3: Laundry machine and large rooftop terrace
- All participants should expect to share bedrooms, bathrooms, and other living spaces.
- Rooms are not air conditioned. Fans are provided in each room.
- Additional housing is at times used depending on the size of the group. These are in private family homes generously lent to us by members of the local community. All of the same expectations apply (room sharing, shared living spaces, and no air conditioning).
Additional Housing Information
Access to laundry in housing
No WIFI in housing
Meals Provided
All meals
Residents have access to shared kitchen
Additional Meals Information
Vegan meal options can be requested
Vegetarian meal options can be requested
Gluten-free meal options can be requested
Food allergies and restrictions can be accommodated
Studio & Facilities
Computer/Internet Access
No WIFI available
Studios/Facilities Details
- Working space is allocated and shared based on the needs of the individual artists participating in the residency.
- Casa Trinacria has a large street-level garage space with a bathroom which can be used as a studio or rehearsal room.
- We are often able to access the Sala di Santa Maria, a community hall owned by the local parish church. This is a large open space with a small stage and a bathroom.
- Pezzolo is a village with an abundance of abandoned or semi-abandoned spaces. Our resident artists often elect to create in open or public spaces such as piazzas, streets, and courtyards. We are sometimes able to arrange access to private spaces based on the needs of our participating artists. Prior to your arrival in Sicily, we will have a conversation about your working space needs.
- Artists should not expect air conditioning in working spaces. If necessary, a fan will be provided.
Studios/Special Equipment
Shared Studios
Exhibition / Installation Space
Performance/Presentation Facilities
Dance Studio Without Sprung Floor
Easels
Washer And Dryer
Studios/Facilities Accessibility
Inaccessible
Studio Support/Tech
Studio/facility orientation provided