About the program’s name — ATLASARTS refers to Atlas, the Titan of Greco-Roman mythology who bears the weight of the Earth, whose name was given to the Moroccan mountain range. This choice symbolizes the link between Morocco and Europe through art.
1. Program Overview
Atlasarts is a research and creation residency program for Moroccan artists, aiming to encourage and facilitate their mobility and to expand their professional and artistic network internationally.
The residencies last three months, starting in January 2027. During each residency, awardees benefit from:
- Support, networking opportunities, and artistic and professional connections;
- An individual, furnished live/work studio (living and working space including bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, equipped with WiFi internet access) at the Marais site of the Cité internationale des arts;
- A living stipend of €1,000 net of tax per month, paid throughout the residency;
- Access to the resident community life at the Cité internationale des arts: French language classes, monthly group meetings, cultural programming, and a Cité Card granting preferential rates at numerous cultural institutions in Paris and the Île-de-France region.
Awardees agree to comply with the conditions set out in the internal regulations of the Cité internationale des arts.
At the close of the call, eight awardees will be selected for residencies in 2027.
2. About the Partners
Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco
The Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication designs and implements the Moroccan government’s policy in the fields of youth, culture, and communication. In this capacity, it works to promote and enhance cultural heritage and artistic activities, develop the cultural and creative industries, and support the production and dissemination of cultural content.
Within the framework of the Atlasarts program, the Ministry supports Moroccan artists in developing their practice and their international profile, in partnership with the Cité internationale des arts and the Institut français du Maroc.
Cité internationale des arts
The Cité internationale des arts is the largest artist residency in the world. Since 1965, it has brought together, at any given time, more than 300 artists of all origins and generations in the heart of Paris, enabling them to carry out a creative or research project across all disciplines (visual arts, music, film, design and architecture, performing arts, curatorial work, etc.).
Over periods ranging from two months to a year, in the Marais or in Montmartre, the Cité internationale des arts — a foundation recognized as being of public interest — offers an environment conducive to creation, open to encounters with cultural professionals and the public, along with tailored support. In collaboration with French and international partners, it builds residency programs open to artists through numerous themed and/or project-based calls for applications. Throughout the year, it develops a multidisciplinary and multifaceted artistic and cultural program (open studios, exhibitions, concerts, performances, panel discussions, etc.), with a particular focus on the work of artists who are or have been in residence, affirming the role of the residency as a unique moment of dialogue between artists and the public.
Institut français du Maroc
The Institut français du Maroc (IFM) is tasked with strengthening and promoting cultural exchange between France and Morocco. As a genuine multidisciplinary cultural hub — simultaneously a French-language teaching center, a venue for cultural programming, a cultural partner, and a platform for artistic exchange — the Institut français works across all fields of knowledge, the French language, learning, and the arts.
Its ambition is to showcase the most contemporary French and Francophone culture to all, spark original artistic encounters between Moroccan and French artists, welcome bold and distinctive projects, support the local professional scene, and explore the ever-fruitful relationship between two countries with strong artistic and intellectual traditions.
3. Who Is the Program For?
The program is open to any artist of Moroccan nationality, with no age limit, who meets the following criteria:
- Has maintained a professional artistic practice for at least 3 years, or holds a diploma from a training institute in an artistic field;
- Works in one of the following fields: visual arts, digital arts, film, performing arts (music, performance, playwriting, stage direction, dance and choreography), or writing;
- Is able to be free of any professional activity for the entire duration of the residency;
- Has a basic command of French and/or sufficient proficiency in English, to facilitate integration into the life of the Cité internationale des arts and exchanges with other residents.
4. Application File
The application file, written in French, must include:
- A detailed curriculum vitae (maximum 4 pages);
- An artistic portfolio including visuals of works with complete captions (maximum 15 pages), including, where applicable, video links or audio files representative of the work (mp3, mp4, avi formats);
- A statement of intent (maximum 3 pages), outlining the candidate’s motivations and interest in the residency program. The candidate must justify, from an artistic standpoint as well as in terms of career path and professional network, the reasons why their ongoing work requires a residency in Paris at the Cité internationale des arts;
- An administrative file: copy of national identity card, copy of passport, copy of artist card (optional).
Any incomplete file, or one received after the closing date, will not be reviewed by the jury.
5. Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by a jury made up of representatives from the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Cité internationale des arts, the Institut français du Maroc, and Moroccan arts professionals.
In addition to evaluating candidates’ professional background, jury members pay particular attention to the artistic quality of the file and the research project presented.
Following the closing date of the call, the jury has a minimum of four weeks to review the applications received and reach a decision.
6. Timeline
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Submission of applications | September 1, 2026 – October 15, 2026 |
| Jury review of applications | From October 16, 2026, over a minimum of 4 weeks |
| Announcement of results | November 15, 2026 |
| Start of residencies | From January 2027, for a minimum of 3 months |
7. Submission and Contact
Complete application files must be submitted before the closing date indicated above, to the following address: [email protected]
The list of awardees will be published on the website of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication (https://mjcc.gov.ma/fr/), on the website of the Institut français du Maroc (https://if-maroc.org/), and on the website of the Cité internationale des arts (https://www.citeinternationaledesarts.fr/).
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