There is another of our creative residencies coming up this year
Water Tower Art Residency – WTAR# 10 ½ Troyan Ceramic Mentor Residency 2025
Dates: 15–25 September 2025
Location: Kaleitsa, Troyan, Bulgaria
Deadline to Apply: 31 July 2025
We are thrilled to announce an open call for the Water Tower Art Residency – Troyan 2025, a 10-day international decentralized residency dedicated to contemporary ceramics. This immersive program will host up to five artists whose primary practice involves ceramics or contemporary art incorporating ceramic media.
As a continuation of our long-standing commitment to socially engaged artistic practice in secluded and often overlooked areas of Bulgaria, the legacy of Water Tower Art Fest lives on—developing meaningful dialogue through art on both a national and international scale. Over the past eight years, we have cultivated deep partnerships with artists and local communities, bringing visibility to undervalued places and demonstrating the powerful social function of the arts.
With this specific residency, we aim to forge a vital connection between traditional (and at times rigid) ceramic practices and the expansive potential for experimentation and discovery within the medium. Through our mentor-led program, we invite artists to explore ceramics in fresh, contemporary contexts—pushing boundaries while honoring local craft.
While we honor the history and traditions of ceramics, our aim is to expand its horizons—reinterpreting its foundations through a contemporary lens. As one of the oldest material expressions known to humankind, ceramics unites the elemental forces of clay (earth), water, and fire. Rooted in our prehistoric discoveries of external representation and the synthesis of material and ephemeral qualities, ceramics carries a legacy we can continue to cherish—both now and into the future. Far from being bound by tradition, the medium offers vast and versatile possibilities—from sculpture, installation, and performance to conceptual and socially engaged practices. Whether durable or fleeting, the outcomes reflect the full spectrum this medium allows—inviting experimentation, transformation, and dialogue. We welcome applications from artists eager to explore and push the boundaries of ceramics in bold, innovative, and meaningful ways.
What we have yet to come to experience are the forces within matter itself. By bending and shaping the material—as if it unconditionally obeys us—we are made to feel grand, as it passes through water and fire into a new, justified and valid existence, one shaped entirely by our hands.
Set in the scenic village of Kaleitsa near Troyan—famed for its centuries-old ceramic traditions—the residency will offer accommodation in a beautifully restored stone house and access to a fully equipped ceramic atelier hosted by artist and mentor Neda Licheva https://www.instagram.com/nedaartistry/ , located just a short walk away.
Mentors & Participating Artists:
• Petra Hudcova- http://petrahudcova.com/
• Pedro Fortuna - https://www.pedrofortuna.com.pt/index.html
• Neda Licheva (host and mentor)
Residency Highlights:
• Intensive studio work with ceramics
• Mentor-led sessions and peer exchange
• Visits to local ceramic studios, including Керамик Студио Термодвойка
• Guided tours to Troyan Ethnographic Museum in Oreshak, Troyan Monastery, and meetings with local artists
• Visit to the Troyan Art School of Ceramics, including public presentations by residents about their work
Final Presentation:
The residency will culminate in a public showcase of artworks, live performance sessions, and a closing concert—offering participants an opportunity to share their creative outcomes with local audiences and the wider community.
What We Offer:
• Accommodation in a traditional stone house in Kaleitsa
• Working space and materials (clay and tools) at Neda Licheva’s atelier
• Mentorship and unique technical demonstrations by Mariana Licheva https://otskrina.com/product-brands/mariana-licheva/ , master ceramicist
• Group meals prepared by guest artist-chef Nicolas Taghniati (shared cost)
• Access to bicycles for local exploration
• Local transportation, including transfers from Sofia (bus or car depending on group size)
• Promotion, documentation, and organizational support by the Water Tower Art Fest team
• Visibility for participating artists through our public channels and partner networks
Application & Selection:
Applications are open until 31 July 2025. Selection will be conducted by our invited mentors.
Documents Required for Application:
1. Motivation Letter – outlining your interest in the residency and how your practice relates to ceramics and the aims of the program
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Portfolio – including relevant works and links, if available
3. Two References – contact details of two people familiar with your work (no letters required)
4. Application Fee – A € 20 administrative fee to be transferred via:
o Bank transfer (details provided upon request), or
o Donation via PayPal using the button on our website: https://watertowerartfest.com
o After successful selection process
Please send all application materials in a single email to: watertowerartfest@gmail.com
Subject line: Application – WTAR# 10 ½ Troyan Ceramic Mentor Residency 2025
Organized by Association IME with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria.
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