Riad Jardin Secret Artist Residency – Marrakech, Morocco

Fully-Funded Creative Residency with Local Artisan Collaboration and Private Studio

Overview

Riad Jardin Secret Artist Residency provides emerging and young artists with 1-week to 1-month fully-funded creative retreats in Marrakech’s historic Dar el Bacha neighborhood. Positioning itself as a “creative Riad” and “place of reflection and creation,” this year-round programme offers private studio facilities including dedicated workspace, bedroom, and bathroom—alongside complete coverage of accommodation, meals, utilities, and airport transfers. With founding principles centered on exchanging ideas, meeting new people, and articulating authenticity, Riad Jardin Secret validates artistic projects in cooperation with residents, facilitates hand-in-hand collaboration with local Moroccan artisans, and creates platforms for emerging talent across painting, illustration, photography, music, tattoo art, and other creative mediums.

Mission & Founding Principles

Core Objective:

Riad Jardin Secret’s primary goal is to allow artists to develop new ideas through:

• Reflection and creation in nurturing environment removed from routine pressures
• Time and space for research, experimentation, and production
• Cultural exploration experiencing Marrakech’s artistic traditions and contemporary scene
• Material experimentation with different media and techniques
• Artisan collaboration working directly with Moroccan craftspeople

Founding Principles:

1. Exchanging Ideas: Creating dialogue between:

• International and Moroccan artists
• Contemporary and traditional practices
• Emerging artists and established craftspeople
• Residents and riad guests sharing the space

2. Meeting New People: Facilitating connections with:

• Local artisan communities across various crafts
• Marrakech-based artists and cultural practitioners
• International travelers staying at the riad
• Moroccan cultural institutions and gallerists

3. Articulating Authenticity: Supporting:

• Genuine cultural engagement over superficial tourism
• Original creative voices and distinctive artistic perspectives
• Honest expression rooted in personal research and vision
• Deep exploration rather than commercial trend-following

Entirely Based on Sharing:

The residency philosophy emphasizes giving and reciprocity:

• Artists receive comprehensive support enabling focused work
• Artists donate artwork creating permanent collection shared with future guests
• Creative traces left behind inspire subsequent residents and riad visitors
• Cross-cultural exchange enriches both artists and Moroccan communities

This ethos positions residency as collaborative relationship rather than transactional service.

Programme Focus: Supporting Contemporary Creativity

Objective Statement:

“Support contemporary creativity” manifests through:

Emerging Artist Platform: Specifically designed for young artists requiring:

• Material support often inaccessible early in careers
• Professional validation through institutional partnership
• Time away from financial pressures to develop work
• International exposure and portfolio development

Personal Project Development: Artists set up personal projects rather than responding to curatorial themes or institutional mandates, maintaining:

• Creative autonomy and self-direction
• Individual research agendas and aesthetic investigations
• Experimental approaches without commercial pressure
• Risk-taking and innovation

Resonance with Context: While self-directed, projects should demonstrate resonance with Marrakech context:

• Engagement with Moroccan culture, history, or materials
• Response to medina environment and sensory richness
• Collaboration with local artisan traditions
• Dialogue with North African artistic heritage

Artistic Board Validation: Projects undergo cooperative validation between artist and Riad Jardin Secret’s artistic board, ensuring:

• Alignment with residency’s mission and capabilities
• Feasibility within timeframe and available resources
• Potential for meaningful outcomes
• Mutual understanding of objectives and expectations

Comprehensive Support Package

Riad Jardin Secret provides exceptional full funding, removing virtually all financial barriers:

Private Studio Suite

Dedicated Facilities for Each Resident:

Workspace: Private studio area equipped for artistic production across various media

Bedroom: Private sleeping quarters ensuring rest and personal space

Bathroom: En-suite facilities providing privacy and convenience

Configuration: Three integrated spaces (studio, bedroom, bathroom) creating self-contained artist apartment within the riad

This private usage allows:

• 24/7 access and flexible working schedules
• Security for works-in-progress and valuable materials
• Privacy for focused concentration
• Comfortable living integrated with creative work
• No competition for shared space with other artists

Full Accommodation & Living Costs

Covered by Riad Jardin Secret:

• Accommodation: Private studio suite for entire residency duration
• Food: All meals throughout stay (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Electricity: No additional charges for studio lighting, equipment, climate control
• Water: Unlimited access for personal use and artistic processes requiring water
• Internet: WiFi connectivity supporting research, communication, digital work
• Airport Transfers: Transportation between Marrakech airport and riad (both arrival and departure)

Artists Pay Nothing For:

• Housing
• Daily sustenance
• Utilities enabling work and life
• Local transportation to/from airport

Favorable Work Conditions

Beyond material provisions, the riad offers:

• Peaceful environment conducive to concentration and creativity
• Historic architecture providing atmospheric inspiration
• Central location in Dar el Bacha neighborhood facilitating medina exploration
• Support staff assisting with logistics and local navigation
• Cultural programming potential through riad’s artistic orientation

Local Artisan Collaboration

Unique Opportunity:

Riad Jardin Secret explicitly offers artists the chance to work hand in hand with local artisans, providing:

Access to Traditional Crafts:

• Metalworking and lantern fabrication
• Zellige tile-making and mosaic
• Textile weaving and natural dyeing
• Leather tanning and tooling
• Woodcarving and marquetry
• Pottery and ceramics
• Plaster carving (tadellakt and stucco)
• Calligraphy and illumination

Collaborative Production:

• Joint projects combining contemporary artistic vision with traditional techniques
• Learning historical methods from master craftspeople
• Material experimentation with regionally-specific resources
• Cultural exchange enriching both artist and artisan
• Production capabilities beyond typical studio residencies

Material Exploration:

• Different materials unavailable in home contexts
• Techniques specific to Moroccan craft traditions
• Sustainable and locally-sourced resources
• Hand processes contrasting with industrial production

This artisan connection distinguishes Riad Jardin Secret from residencies offering only isolated studio time.

Residency Duration & Return Possibilities

Programme Length:

Minimum: 1 week – Intensive short residencies for:

• Focused research projects
• Preliminary investigations for longer work
• Professional artists with limited time availability
• Specific collaborations or material explorations

Maximum: 1 month – Extended residencies allowing:

• Substantial project development
• Deep cultural immersion
• Complex artisan collaborations
• Multiple work production
• Thorough Marrakech exploration

Flexibility: Artists propose duration based on project scope; artistic board approves appropriate length

Return Invitation Possibility:

“The artist will be welcome to come back to continue his project or begin others with the agreement of the artistic board.”

This extraordinary provision allows:

• Multi-phase projects developed across multiple residencies
• Ongoing research deepening over time
• New projects building on established relationships
• Sustained connection to Riad Jardin Secret and Marrakech
• Career-long partnerships for artists whose work aligns with residency mission

Return visits demonstrate commitment to long-term artistic relationships rather than single-encounter model.

Legal Framework & Formal Structure

Residence Contract:

Before residency commencement, a formal contract between Riad Jardin Secret and the artist is signed, likely stipulating:

• Duration and specific dates of residency
• Rights and responsibilities of both parties
• Artwork donation requirement and ownership transfer
• Insurance and liability considerations
• Intellectual property regarding residency-produced work
• Behavioral expectations and house rules
• Termination conditions if necessary

This legal framework provides:

• Professional legitimacy treating artists as serious collaborators
• Clarity on mutual obligations and expectations
• Protection for both artist and institution
• Documentation valuable for future grant applications or professional record

Disciplines & Artist Profile

Welcomed Creative Practices:

Explicitly Named Disciplines:

• Painters across all styles and techniques (oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media)
• Illustrators working in editorial, narrative, experimental, or commercial modes
• Photographers documentary, artistic, fashion, experimental
• Musicians composers, performers, recording artists, experimental sound practitioners
• Tattoo artists contemporary tattoo as fine art practice

Implied Openness: “Creatives from either foreign or Moroccan backgrounds” and “all creative mediums” suggests receptivity to:

• Sculptors and installation artists
• Printmakers and works on paper
• Digital and new media artists
• Textile artists and fiber practitioners
• Performance artists
• Writers and poets
• Filmmakers and video artists
• Mixed media and interdisciplinary work

Geographic Scope:

Foreign Artists: International practitioners from any country

Moroccan Artists: Local and national artists equally welcomed, creating:

• Cross-cultural exchange and dialogue
• Support for Moroccan contemporary art development
• Connections between diaspora and homeland practitioners
• Diverse cohorts spanning global perspectives

Career Stage:

Primary focus on emerging and young artists who:

• Are early in professional careers (typically within first decade of practice)
• Demonstrate significant talent and commitment
• Would benefit meaningfully from residency support
• May lack resources for international travel and extended creative time
• Show potential for deep, meaningful impact from experience

Mid-career or established artists may apply if projects align, but priority clearly favors emerging practitioners.

Application Requirements

Comprehensive Application Package:

1. Portfolio (2-3 Years)

Content: Significant works from the last 2-3 years demonstrating current practice

Quantity: 4-5 works per year (total 8-15 works for 2-year period, 12-20 for 3-year period)

Format: PDF file ONLY

Critical Warning: “This document is important… please do NOT just send a WeTransfer with several photographs”

Portfolio Should Show:

• Evolution and development over recent period
• Technical proficiency and aesthetic maturity
• Consistent themes or coherent artistic investigation
• Quality of execution and presentation
• Range within distinctive artistic voice

2. Biography

Narrative introduction to your life, background, artistic journey, and practice

Length: Not specified—typically 150-300 words

Content:

• Personal background and cultural influences
• How you came to your artistic practice
• Themes, obsessions, or questions driving work
• Significant experiences shaping artistic perspective

3. CV with Exhibitions

Professional history including:

• Solo shows clearly listed
• Group exhibitions clearly listed
• Education and training
• Awards, grants, residencies
• Publications or press coverage
• Collections holding work
• Professional affiliations

Emphasis on Exhibition History: CV should prominently feature “solo and/or group shows clearly mentioned”—this demonstrates professional engagement and public presentation experience.

4. Written Project Summary

Detailed description of intended residency work including:

Techniques: Specific methods, materials, processes you’ll employ

Artistic Purpose: Conceptual framework, research questions, intended outcomes

Scope: Scale and ambition of project appropriate to 1-week to 1-month timeframe

Connection to Marrakech: How location, culture, or artisan collaboration informs project

Feasibility: Realistic assessment of what can be achieved with available resources

5. Sketches and Drawings

Visual materials further explaining the scope of your project:

• Preliminary sketches showing composition or formal ideas
• Technical drawings illustrating construction or installation plans
• Reference images contextualizing conceptual territory
• Mockups or models indicating three-dimensional work
• Storyboards for time-based or sequential projects

6. Letter of Intention

Personal statement explaining:

Why Riad Jardin Secret: What specifically attracts you to this residency versus others

Alignment with Mission: How your practice and project resonate with founding principles

Expected Outcomes: What you hope to achieve and contribute

Cultural Engagement: Your approach to respectful, authentic Moroccan immersion

Contribution: How you’ll participate in the sharing ethos and community exchange

7. Application Form with Questionnaire

Structured questions (accessed through residency website) likely covering:

• Contact and biographical information
• Proposed residency dates
• Duration preference (1 week to 1 month)
• Specific needs or requests
• Previous residency experience
• References or recommenders

Submission Process & Requirements

Submission Email: contact@riadjardinsecret.com

File Transfer Method:

Required: Dropbox for sharing attachments

Prohibited: WeTransfer (“regarding the limited access to folder”)

This requirement ensures:

• Persistent access to application materials during review
• Organized folder structure
• No expiration of file links during evaluation period

File Naming: “Please label your files with your artist name”

Example structure:

• JohnSmith_Portfolio.pdf
• JohnSmith_CV.pdf
• JohnSmith_Biography.pdf
• JohnSmith_ProjectSummary.pdf
• JohnSmith_LetterOfIntention.pdf
• JohnSmith_Sketches.pdf

Application Timeline:

Rolling Basis: No specific deadlines—applications accepted year-round

Response Protocol: “You will receive a response by email only if your application has been approved.”

Critical Note: “Given the very large number of files received, only the projects selected will be answered”

This means:

• No rejection notifications sent
• Silence indicates non-selection
• High competition with many applications
• Only successful candidates receive communication

Implications for Applicants:

• Apply early and don’t wait indefinitely for response
• If accepted, expect relatively quick notification
• If no response after reasonable period (4-8 weeks), assume rejection
• Can reapply with strengthened materials (no specified waiting period mentioned)

Artwork Donation Requirement

Mandatory Contribution:

“Artists are all requested to donate an artwork to Riad Jardin Secret at the end of their residency and leave a trace to share it with all our guests during their stay.”

Purpose:

Permanent Collection: Building archive of works by past residents

Guest Experience: Current riad guests encounter residency-produced art throughout property, creating:

• Living gallery atmosphere
• Inspiration for visitors
• Cultural enrichment of hospitality experience
• Demonstration of riad’s artistic commitment

Legacy Creation: Each artist leaves “trace” contributing to:

• Physical memory of creative community
• Evolving aesthetic of the riad
• Conversation between past, current, and future residents
• Institutional collection potentially gaining value as artists’ careers develop

Donation Considerations:

Work donated should be:

• Created during residency period
• Appropriate for riad display (size, content, durability)
• Representative of residency experience
• Agreed upon between artist and riad

Artists retain:

• Other works produced during residency
• Copyright and reproduction rights to donated work
• Portfolio documentation of all residency output

Location: Dar el Bacha Neighborhood

Address:
43-46 Arset Aouzal
Dar el Bacha
40000 Marrakech, Morocco

Neighborhood Character:

Dar el Bacha is one of Marrakech medina’s most prestigious historic quarters, offering:

• Dar el Bacha Palace (former Pasha’s residence, now museum) nearby
• Traditional architecture exemplifying Moroccan palatial style
• Artisan workshops concentrated in surrounding streets
• Authentic medina atmosphere with less tourist density than Jemaa el-Fnaa area
• Cultural significance as historic center of power and craft excellence
• Walking access to major medina sites, souks, monuments

Proximity to Cultural Sites:

• Ben Youssef Madrasa (historic Islamic college)
• Museum of Marrakech
• Photography Museum
• Artisan souks (metalwork, textiles, leather, wood)
• Jemaa el-Fnaa square (20-minute walk)

Why Choose Riad Jardin Secret?

This fully-funded Marrakech residency offers exceptional advantages:

• 100% funded including accommodation, food, utilities, internet, airport transfers
• Private studio suite with bedroom, bathroom, workspace—no shared facilities
• 1 week to 1 month flexibility accommodating various project scopes
• Return invitation possibility for ongoing projects or new work
• Local artisan collaboration working directly with Moroccan craftspeople
• Emerging artist focus providing crucial support early in careers
• All creative mediums welcome from painting to music to tattoo art
• International and Moroccan artists creating cross-cultural exchange
• Dar el Bacha location in prestigious historic medina neighborhood
• Sharing philosophy emphasizing exchange over transaction
• Permanent collection contribution creating lasting legacy
• Year-round availability through rolling applications
• Formal contract providing professional legitimacy

Practical Considerations

Best Suited For:

• Emerging artists early in professional careers
• Practitioners whose work engages Moroccan culture, materials, or contexts
• Artists interested in artisan collaboration and traditional techniques
• Self-directed creatives comfortable with autonomy
• Those seeking fully-funded international residency
• Projects feasible within 1-week to 1-month timeframe
• Artists willing to donate significant work to riad collection

Less Suitable For:

• Established artists seeking peer exchange at similar career levels
• Those requiring extensive critique or mentorship
• Projects needing specialized equipment not available in Morocco
• Artists uncomfortable with artwork donation requirement
• Practices incompatible with riad hospitality environment
• Those expecting guaranteed response to applications

Morocco Context:

Visa: Many nationalities enjoy visa-free entry to Morocco for tourism up to 90 days—verify requirements for your passport

Climate: Consider seasonal preferences:

• Hot summers (June-September, often 35°C+/95°F+)
• Mild winters (December-February, 15-20°C/59-68°F)
• Pleasant spring/fall (March-May, September-November)

Language: Arabic (Darija) and French primary languages; basic phrases enhance experience, though English increasingly common in tourist areas

Cultural Sensitivity: Morocco is predominantly Muslim—respectful dress and behavior expected, particularly during Ramadan

Contact & Application

Riad Jardin Secret Artist Residency
43-46 Arset Aouzal
Dar el Bacha
40000 Marrakech, Morocco

Email: contact@riadjardinsecret.com
Website: http://www.riadjardinsecret.com

To Apply:

1. Prepare comprehensive application package meeting all requirements
2. Organize materials in clearly labeled PDF files with your name
3. Upload to Dropbox (not WeTransfer)
4. Email Dropbox link to contact@riadjardinsecret.com
5. If selected, expect email response (no response indicates non-selection)

Application Checklist:

• ✓ Portfolio PDF (2-3 years, 4-5 works/year)
• ✓ Biography
• ✓ CV with exhibitions clearly listed
• ✓ Written project summary (techniques + artistic purpose)
• ✓ Sketches/drawings explaining project scope
• ✓ Letter of intention
• ✓ Completed application form/questionnaire
• ✓ All files labeled with artist name
• ✓ Shared via Dropbox

Experience Marrakech’s creative heartbeat in a residency offering complete support for emerging artists to develop new ideas, collaborate with traditional artisans, and leave their artistic trace in a historic medina riad dedicated to contemporary creativity and cultural exchange.