Poetic Composition Residency - Call of the Sea
from November 02, 2026 to April 9, 2027
6 poets or singer-songwriters across 3 artistic residency sessions "Poetic Creation" on the theme "The Call of the Open Sea"
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About
THE PROJECT:
Each year, PAX MUSICA organizes three multi-week artistic residencies at La Rocabella, designed as a true creative laboratory and a space for rebuilding for its laureate musicians — professional artists who have found refuge in France. Previous editions have given rise to hybrid formats such as "music for screen" or "illustrated concerts," resulting from collaborations between musicians and other artists in residence.
"Poetic Creation, Voice & Cross-disciplinary Forms" is the call for residency open to singer-songwriters, poet-performers, vocal artists, and authors whose writing already has a connection with voice, song, music, or performance. It is aimed at artists wishing to join this creative ecosystem and explore writing at the intersection of words, voice, music, and other artistic disciplines. Each session brings together two singer-songwriters/poets, who write in direct collaboration with a resident composer and musicians, in a common creative process of exchanges, trials, and adjustments. The texts are thus conceived as living material, intended to be set to music, sung, spoken, performed, or worked on with musicians, and capable of opening up to cross-disciplinary forms with image, movement, space, or other artistic practices. They give rise to original works blending text, voice, song, and composition — including explorations around AI-assisted composition, the theme for the 2026-2027 season.
This residency is for artists ready to integrate their writing into a broader collective creation, within a supported and coordinated work environment. Applicants must be open to the idea that their texts may evolve during the residency, depending on the work with the composer, musicians, voice, space, other disciplines present, and potentially, AI tools. This is not a program exclusively for PAX MUSICA laureates.
THE MISSIONS:
- Write texts (poems, song lyrics) intended to be set to music during the residency
- Collaborate closely with the resident composer and musicians for the interpretation of the works
- Contribute to the collective project of the session and its public presentation
A RESIDENCY, A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS
The Rocabella residency is not just a place for individual work: it's a collective living experience, at the heart of an exceptional estate overlooking the Mediterranean. Designed as a true creative laboratory and a space for rebuilding, it brings together, at the same time and in the same place, musicians, a composer, and singer-songwriters/poets, but also artists from other cross-disciplinary residencies: filmmakers, sculptors, painters and illustrators, photographers.
This daily proximity naturally fosters dialogue between practices: informal discussions, screenings, impromptu workshops, common projects. Each resident is invited to draw inspiration from this artistic diversity, in a spirit of sharing and openness, while having the time and space necessary for their own creative work.
THE SESSIONS:
- Session 1: November 02, 2026 to December 18, 2026
- Session 2: January 04, 2027 to February 19, 2027
- Session 3: March 01, 2027 to April 09, 2027
FINAL EXHIBITION:
The works created during the residency will be showcased at a final exhibition, organized in Spring 2027. Their musical interpretations and various adaptations will be presented to the public in an immersive format.
RESIDENCY CONDITIONS:
- Residency Stipend: €1,000 per month
- Travel Expenses: round-trip covered up to €250
- Accommodation and Meals: single room and meals provided on-site by the estate, for the entire duration of the session
- Workspace: dedicated room (with a baby grand piano, subject to availability at the estate)
- Setting: the Rocabella estate, on the Var coast facing the Mediterranean
PREREQUISITES:
- Have a writing practice related to voice, singing, songwriting, performance poetry, or musical composition
- Be available for the entire duration of a session: commitment is mandatory, with no possibility of withdrawal during the residency
- Fully commit to a collaborative approach with the other artists in the residency
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Application materials include:
- Artistic CV up-to-date
- Cover letter (1 page maximum), explaining your background and your interest in the residency
- Artistic Statement describing the project you wish to propose during the residency, as well as your relationship to music, voice, and working with performers
- A letter of recommendation (professor, mentor, artistic collaborator, or cultural institution)
- Portfolio : examples of texts or works demonstrating a relationship to voice or music — song lyrics, sung texts, sound poetry, performed texts, or texts already set to music. The inclusion of audio or video links is highly encouraged
Submission of complete application: via the online form
SELECTION TIMELINE:
- Applications open: June 24, 2026
- Application submission: from June 26, 2026 to August 31, 2026
- Selection interviews: September – October 2026
- Results: September - October 2026
For any questions: residence@blue.ngo AND coordination-rocabella@paxmusica.fr — https://www.paxmusica.fr
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FAQ
What is the duration of the residency?
Depending on the themes, a residency can last from one week to several months, which gives participants enough time to immerse themselves in the environment and carry out their projects successfully.
Who can participate in a residency?
The residency is open to artists and researchers aged 21 and over and of all levels of experience. Priority is given to those who wish to exchange with their peers or with other creatives from other disciplines. The selection is based on an application file, which includes a project proposal, a portfolio and a statement of interest. A panel of competent experts reviews all applications.
Are there any costs associated with the residence?
All essential expenses are covered: accommodation, full board, housekeeping, consumables, round-trip transportation, as well as access to shared tools and spaces required for collective projects. Residents remain responsible for their personal expenses and any specific costs related to their individual projects. An artistic grant is also awarded to support each residency.
Does the residency include coaching or mentoring?
Each residence is specific. Depending on the themes, participants can have access to personalized coaching and mentoring from renowned experts in their field. Storytelling and pitch training workshops are also often included in programs to help residents better value their work.
Are international applications welcomed?
We welcome applications from around the world for a portion of our residencies. The diversity of perspectives is highly valued in our program and the common language is English.
Please consult the specific residences to see which are in French and which in English.
Are-the residents alone on site ?
During the winter residency periods, Rocabella focuses on its artist-in-residence program.
What is a creative residency in La Rocabella?
Artistic residencies are periods during which artists and creators come to work on their projects around a specific theme. Residents are supervised by a specialist mentor and can benefit from advice from professional artists or specialists to enrich their creative activity.
