Artist Residency Madrid in Spain
Explore the exhaustive list of 10 artist residencies in Madrid, featuring essential details on grants and housing. Compare historic institutions with modern hubs to find the perfect environment for your art.
Please contact us if you are aware of any residency program in Madrid that is not listed. From the free with funding to the paid ones, here are all the artist-in-residence programs you can find in Madrid:
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Very Private Gallery
veryprivategallery.com
- Influence: Strong digital presence
- Address: Calle Ruiz Palacios 23, 28039 Madrid
- Duration: 30 days (possibly extended)
- Number of artists: 1
- Price: Daily follow up with the team is free, 1200 EUR for the rent (900 for students).
“Business of Art” Residency
Unlike traditional residencies that focus solely on a creative approach, VPG positions itself as a career accelerator. The idea of the residency is that a selected artist pays the rent, and an intensive one-on-one consulting on marketing, branding, and sales strategy is offered.
Run by Greg Bot (MFA) and Mo Li (iMBA, PhD), the site combines housing, a studio, and an exhibition space.
Clear goals
Each artist sets one concrete, challenging goal during the program. Options include:
- An exhibition on site or with a partner in Madrid,
- a public talk with a recognized expert in a related field,
- a practical deliverable, such as an artist website.
You can find details and the application page here.
Casa Encendida
lacasaencendida.es
- Address: Ronda de Valencia, 2, 28012 Madrid.
- Influence: Strong presence on IG @lacasaencendida, active on TikTok; key cultural reference in Madrid.
- Focus: Art performance and contemporary social discourse.
- Size: 2–4 projects.
- Funded: Grant of 3000 EUR, no fee to apply. There’s the “Generación program” for projects that require a significant budget with an amount of 12000 EUR.
A Social Hub
La Casa Encendida is the opposite of a static exhibition space. Housed in a Neo-Mudéjar building, it functions as a social center dedicated to contemporary art engaged in environmentalism and solidarity. The residency program often collaborates with other major institutions (MACBA in Barcelona and Museo Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo, for example). This setup favors artists whose work engages with the public or social issues, offering them a vibrant, high-traffic context. There’s also a popular rooftop and courtyard, which ensures a non-specialist audience sees your work.
Visibility Over Focus
The program’s greatest strength is also its main drawback: the lack of seclusion. Artists seeking uninterrupted studio time may find the environment overstimulating. But then they shouldn’t focus on performance art, eh! The program also requires a resident who is autonomous and capable of navigating a complex institutional schedule.
Casa de Velazquez
casadevelazquez.org
- Influence: High institutional influence
- Address: Calle Paul Guinard 3, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid
- Size: 33 rooms, 17 artist studios (Note: Capacity is significantly reduced from September 2025 due to 18-month renovations).
- Price:
– Members (Artists/Researchers): Fully funded. Recent calls indicate a monthly stipend of approximately €3,600 for the main residency program (Académie de France à Madrid), as well as accommodation and workspace. (source)
– Guests: Paid by the resident. Rates are €65/night (single) or €85/night (double). For stays longer than 7 nights, rates drop to €48/€68 per night. Maximum stay is 10 nights. (source)
The oldest art residency in Spain
Founded in 1928, Casa de Velázquez remains a pillar of French culture in Spain. It operates under the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, serving as both a center for artistic creation (Académie de France à Madrid) and a center for scientific research (École des Hautes Études Hispaniques et Ibériques). Its mission is to support creative work and research related to the arts, languages, literature, and societies of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Maghreb. And the Casa does it well, with a paradisiacal area featuring a swimming pool and approximately 150,000 books in the library.
The academic world of contemporary art
Personal opinion: Are you a scholar or artist with a rigorous, research-based practice? Do you speak French? If so, this is one of the most prestigious and financially generous residencies available. Unlike in the past, the main “Member” residency is now open to applicants of all nationalities, not just EU citizens. However, the application process remains highly competitive, with strict autumn deadlines (typically October/November). While the institutional reputation is stellar, it does not guarantee immediate commercial success. If your primary goal is to connect with art dealers and sell work in the commercial market, this academic environment may not yield the results you want. And you have to deal with the inherent arrogance of the people there.
Hablarenarte
hablarenarte.com
- Non-profit association active since 2002, registered with the Community of Madrid and its residency is operating since 2010.
- Address: Residency space (Planta Alta): Plaza de Santa Cruz, 3 (4th floor), 28012 Madrid
- Influence: Maintains public channels on X, Facebook, YouTube, and are most successful on Instagram
- Funding: Varies by program. The current call offers a €7,000 research grant per residency. (source)
The residency program
Works across visual and performing arts, with a clear emphasis on education, cultural mediation, and research.
Hosts residencies in their place “Planta Alta” and adds public-facing activity (talks, workshops, meetings) to share research processes. It offers courses in cultural management and curatorship.
Uses open calls and direct invitations, depending on the project.
For Ph.D. candidates
Our opinion: It covers a diverse range of art forms, including visual arts, performing arts, as well as curatorial research and educational programs. Consequently, if you are a PhD candidate specialising in art education, you may want to check them out. Otherwise, if you are a self-taught painter who aspires to achieve commercial success, I am sure there is a better fit for you elsewhere.
The Hug Platform
hugculture.org
- Influence: Little influence due to its size
- 1 resident = 500€/month (one resident project)
2 residents = 700€/month (collective project) - Duration: 1 to 3 months (From September to June)
- Maximum Number of artists resident at one time: 2
- Address: Calle Calasparra, 10-12, local 9, 28033 Madrid
Cultural exchange between Spain and Finland
The HUG Culture residency was founded in 2015 by a group of cultural managers. In short, it is a not-for-profit cultural association aims to promote cultural exchange between Spain and Finland. Accordingly, through networking, co-production and, research, it brings Finish creative professionals to Madrid, Spain.
Finish at the end
Editor’s opinion: Only Finnish artists and creative minds are welcome! In its mission statement, the residency aims to ‘promote the creation, research, education, edition and production in the fields of Visual Arts, Architecture and Design’. However, in a reduced space of 90 sqm hosting 2 artists at most, there is only so much that can be done. The location is between the Madrid financial center (also called the ‘Cuatro Torres Business Area’) and the airport, in a quiet residential area. So then it’s good value for the money, probably you can’t find cheaper in Madrid given the location.
Matadero
mataderomadrid.org
- Influence: Strong local presence
- Price: Covered by grants
- Address: Paseo de la Chopera 14, 28045 Madrid
- Duration of residencies: 1-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months
- Number of artists resident at one time: more than 20
Large residency space
Matadero Contemporary Culture Centre is a renovated and repurposed space in the south of Madrid. Furthermore, it is well connected by public transportation and walking distance to the trending districts ‘Lavapies’. For the most part, Matadero hosts ongoing cultural events for people of all ages to enjoy, entertain and educate. This residency space, based in a 5000 square meters campus, is open to visual artists, musicians, writers, researchers, curators and creatives in arts and culture.
Besides the residency, Matadero is also home to a creative co-working space called ‘Factoria Cultural’. It’s not a part of the residency but they are located in the same building. Thus, Factoria Cultural mentors creative professionals from all creative disciplines and converts them into entrepreneurs.
The total
The residents have access to working spaces, accommodation for international creators, honoraries, production budget, institutional support, local professional visits, and technical support.
The Official
You know what: It’s official, it’s huge, and it could be very well for free. For instance, Matadero is a governmental Institution, and this residency is a part of it. Grants available cover one return flight ticket, honoraries, and productions, but you need to be ready to deal with local institutions in Spanish. Although the working language is bilingual. Conversely, I can assure you that if you don’t speak Spanish or don’t have your communications done in Spanish, you have very little chance to receive their grants.
Roostergnn
rgnn.org
- Influence: A fair but irrelevant presence on Instagram (@rooster_gnn) is attributed to the director, Isabel Eva Bohrer. Their FB page has more info.
- Address: Calle Velázquez 10 (1st floor), 28001 Madrid.
- Duration: Minimum 7 nights
- Group size: Minimum 10 artists (they frame it for university partners and groups).
- Price: RGNN no longer posts fixed rates on the website. In 2018, the cost was 600 Euros for a shared (double) apartment and 950 Euros for a private apartment.
Nice luxury apartments
RoosterGNN was founded in 2008 by a group of journalism students who wanted to develop an App. Back in the days, it was a bleeding-edge thing. Today, its goal is to promote freedom of speech and become a worldwide news agency. The residency is a part of a non-profit news platform, with English/Spanish as its working languages. Although it doesn’t have any fine art school backgrounds, its founders are all in the media industry, intersecting some aspects of visual arts.
Housing
“Central Madrid” accommodation, assigned based on availability; single or double rooms; towels + weekly cleaning included. The “studio” offer is practical: a shared Brainstorming Room (weekdays), a bookable conference room, and a photo/video studio with backdrops and lights. They also offer a portable Wi-Fi router with a €75 deposit.
If money isn’t an issue for you ;)
Editor’s opinion: This reads less like a classic art residency and more like a packaged group program with housing + coordination + meeting rooms. If you want structure and logistics, it fits. If you want quiet time, a dedicated studio, or a critique-driven art school environment, you may feel constrained.
This is the boutique hotel version of the artist residency in Madrid. It is located in a very fancy ‘bourgeois’ area. Most people who live in this area pay twice as much as those who live just 3 km away. In this case, if money is not a concern for you, this residency may be of interest. They have a business plan for their organization.
Personally, I would totally trust anyone with a business plan! Ok, just kidding. What I mean is they seem to be organized. However, I bet with all the nice restaurants, bars and boutique stores around. Likewise, you won’t be in the mood for work!
FelipaManuela
felipamanuela.org
- Influence: No big but qualitative with curatorial and academic network (Their IG @felipamanuela_madrid)
- Address: Paseo de las Delicias, 28045 Madrid
- Size: 1 domestic residency space (private apartment).
- Grant: Fully funded. Most residents arrive via specific institutional agreements (e.g. Matadero partnerships), which typically cover travel, accommodation, and provide a stipend (approx. €1,000–€1,500/month). (2) Independent: no open “pay-to-stay” program; access is almost exclusively through competitive calls or invitation.
A room of one
Founded in 2011 by curator Andrea Pacheco González, FelipaManuela is a “domestic” residency. Originally, located in the home of a local seamstress, it maintains that intimate spirit in its location on Paseo de las Delicias. It defines itself as a center for research and cultural exchange, with a focus on connecting the Spanish art scene with the Global South, particularly Latin America. Its mission is to foster critical thinking, curatorial research, and slow, relational practices.
Intellectual hub
Are you a curator, a writer, or a research-based artist? If so, this is a hidden gem. It is not a place to paint large canvases or make noise; it is a place to think and network. The direction has an impeccable reputation, meaning a residency here validates your theoretical framework, not your market prices. It is excellent for deep integration into Madrid’s local network. If you are looking for a factory to produce work to sell, look elsewhere.
Residencia de estudiantes
residenciadeestudiantes.com
- Influence: Low
- Focus: Interdisciplinary dialogue between Arts, Humanities, and Sciences.
Address: Calle Pinar, 21-23, 28006 Madrid. - Size: Approx. 90 rooms in total; 3 places available for creators and artists.
- Fund: Fully funded (includes full board and stipend) for scholarship winners; paid options available for short stays.
A Living Museum
The program doesn’t separate the artist from the intellectual. The Residencia forces a daily collision between poets, physicists, and musicians. You live on the “Colina de los Chopos,” the same campus where Lorca, Dalí, and Buñuel lived, which creates a heavy but inspiring atmosphere. The program prioritizes the exchange of ideas over simple production: for example, you could have a breakfast talk with a molecular biologist. Additionally, it provides a unique, campus-like environment in the heart of Madrid that feels shielded from the city’s noise.
The weight of institution
The prestigious legacy creates rigidity. Because the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) manages the center, the selection process is bureaucratic. The environment supports polite, intellectual creation rather than disruptive work. The rooms resemble functional, high-end dorms. The atmosphere feels stuck in the past, as the representatives and leadership belong to a much older generation.
Espacio Oculto
espacioocultomadrid.org
- Influence: Instagram is their main channel (about 16k followers).
- Focus: Art production, coworking, and local integration.
- Address: Calle Nicolás Usera 27, 28026 Madrid, Spain.
Size: Approximately 270 m² (shared industrial warehouse). - Cost: The artist residency call offers a free workspace. Regular coworking prices range from €115 to €175/month.
Community Integration
Espacio Oculto is a hybrid between a creative workspace and a neighbourhood center. Located in Usera, the program prioritizes projects that connect with the district. For example, the “Userópolis” initiative invites residents to participate in the creative process. The physical space reflects this openness: it is a renovated industrial warehouse (nave) with high ceilings and a modular layout. This design supports a wide range of disciplines, from large-scale painting to digital research.
Support structure
Espacio Oculto offers a vital platform for emerging artists, but its model reveals an usual limitation in the independent sector. This structure favors local artists with housing in Madrid or international artists with significant savings. The value here lies in networking and visibility, not financial sustenance.
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Last Updated Jan 2026: Espositivo, Raro, Intercombiador Acart closed and removed from the list.
update: Raro added, now 8 artists residencies in Madrid