Back
UNTIL FEBRUARY 1
Open Call – MICA: Change and Creative Intervention in Craft
Ages 12 and up
Event
A Oficina is now accepting applications for two artistic residencies under the MICA – Change and Creative Intervention in Craft program, aimed at two visual artists: one ceramicist and one textile artist.
The residency will take place at the Centro de Artes e Ofícios dos Fornos da Cruz de Pedra in Guimarães, from February 23 to March 6, 2026. MICA fosters encounters between tradition and innovation, creating space for experimentation, dialogue, and co-creation between artists and artisans. This edition focuses on exploring the intersections between ceramics and textiles, valuing local ancestral knowledge while challenging new forms of expression and collaboration. During the residency, the artists will develop a joint project and lead two community workshops open to the public, sharing processes, techniques, and reflections with the community. The residency will conclude with an exhibition of the created works, accompanied by a catalog and a documentary showcasing the creative process.
Participation conditions:
Residency duration: 2 weeks (10 working days of co-creation)
Accommodation in Guimarães included
Production grant and logistical support provided by A Oficina
Basic materials and access to the CAO Fornos da Cruz de Pedra facilities
Mandatory participation in community workshops and the final exhibition, scheduled for February 28, March 7, and April 18, respectively
Required documents:
Portfolio (max. 10 pages)
Motivation letter (max. 1 page)
Brief biography (up to 1000 characters)
Applications must be sent by February 1 to relacoespublicas@aoficina.pt (subject: “MICA 2026 Application”).
Notification of selected participants: from February 9
Artistic residency: February 23 – March 6
Exhibition and public presentation: April 18
Applications via this form.
Project co-financed by the European Union through the NORTE 2030 Regional Programme.
Unique artisanal products of essential cultural preservation, the Catarinha dos Namorados and Guimarães Embroidery were the subject of an application submitted by A Oficina to the NORTE 2030 Programme. Its approval and funding will enable the promotion of their social and economic, symbolic, and cultural value through a series of artistic creation and cultural mediation activities to be carried out throughout the year.