We have some hopes rather than requirements:
We have nothing to achieve.
No hidden agenda.
No cultural washing.
The people paying for the foundation will have no tax deduction from this enterprise, (i.e. they will not gravate on the public in general depriving the coffer of the state: the minimum of decency).
They will also remain publicly anonymous.
In other words we have no sponsors, (we have real friends).
The aim is not to promote some hidden commercial benefit or wearing greed on our sleeves as a sign of recognition and acceptance of the dominant tribe, we are not the sandwich-artists of the Pharaoh.
The possibility practiced in Montenero is to exit the megamincer in style, pulling the felon artist out of the Pavlovian maze, working outside the mega-machine, rubbing rocks together searching for the sparkle that will ignite the rest, deeply immersed in an illusion that others call aesthetic, living the good life, arriving maybe a bit late at the Symposium.
Montenero Val Cocchiara is a small town of under 300 residents. There is a single bar in the square of the town, and a small church. This sleepy town provides the perfect backdrop to explore your current practice, or something
entirely new.
At the foot of the village in the valley is the “Pantano”, one of europes largest and oldest peat bogs. Water accumulates here over winter and dries out over summer. Wild horses live here, and often other wildlife can be seen here.
The residencies are an intimate 2-3 weeks long.
So that the creatives can make the most out of their time here, we cook traditional Molise style dinners for the guests 6 nights a week. We provide a basic set of lunch provisions for all the residents, however residents may find they wish to supplement this. We have 5 flats, 2 of which are used by the residency co-ordinators. Two of the remaining flats require 2 residents to share a living/cooking space, but everyone has access to their own bathrooms.
This residency is perfect for creatives with other time constricting commitments and a big appetite for nightly discussions.
There are two artist places, one musician , one writer & one photographer/digital artist.
2026 application dates TBA
Montenero Val Cochiarra is a special place, so make sure to research into it so that you can tell us why you’d like to come here. The application can be found below. We look forward to reading your applications.
Applications can be sent to frenkielponti@gmail.com
With the subject titled
‘“Application - Month - (Artist/Musician/Writer/Photographer/Digital Artist)
