Moritz-Heyman, Borgo Pignano
The Moritz-Heyman Residency at Borgo Pignano near Volterra, Tuscany are open to emerging and established artists from the UK, for whom drawing is part of their practice.
Borgo Pignano offers residencies available throughout the year, lasting two - three weeks, which include the use of a combined studio and accommodation space on the Borgo Pignano estate in a beautiful rural Tuscan setting.
This is a unique opportunity for artists who use drawing in their practice to spend 2 – 3 weeks on self-directed studio time. The emphasis of this residency is working from observation and the development of new work in an inspiring surrounding.
As part of the residency artists are provided with the following:
- A combined studio / accommodation apartment which is based in the farm area of the Borgo Pignano Estate
- Daily lunches
- Airport transfers (it is however advised that artists in residence hire a car in order to give them more freedom during their residency to explore the local area and access to local shops for supplies)
The residency is designed for one artist in residence at a time, it is possible for artists to apply for a joint residency but please note that artists will be provided with a shared twin bedroom. Artists who would like to apply for a joint residency must both complete an application form.
Applications are now open for Borgo Pignano January – June 2025 residencies. Alumni of the Royal Drawing School’s Drawing Year are only eligible to apply for this residency.
Application deadline 5pm Friday 15th November 2024. If you have any questions regarding the residency or your application, please contact residencies@royaldrawingschool.org
Borgo Pignano is a private Tuscan estate with 750 acres of fields, hills, woods, lakes and gardens. It is located between the ancient Etruscan town of Volterra and the walled medieval hill town of San Gimignano, known as "the town of fine towers". The historic cities of Florence and Siena are just over an hour's drive away.
The main Villa of Pignano dates back to the 13th Century and lies in the heart of the estate overlooking the surrounding hillsides.
Borgo Pignano is committed to sustainable agriculture and within the estate one can find organic kitchen gardens, livestock, beehives, olive groves and various crops growing in the fields.
As part of the residency artists will be provided with a combined studio / accommodation apartment which is based in the farm area of the Borgo Pignano Estate. The apartment consists of a twin bedroom with two single beds, bathroom and kitchen area which links onto an open plan studio space. Please note if two artists are in residence, artists will share a twin bedroom and share the studio space.
Free daily lunches are provided for artists in residence, however artists must cater for their own breakfast and supper. In the artists apartment there is a self-catering kitchen for preparing meals.
A taxi will be provided to bring artists to and from the airport upon arrival and departure. The taxi will stop at a supermarket for grocery shopping on your journey to Borgo Pignano. However it is advised that artists in residence hire a car in order to give them more freedom during their residency to explore the local area and access to local shops for supplies.
As a condition of the residency during the hotels season (April – October) artists may be asked to teach hotel guests to draw or paint for a 90 minute session, two mornings or afternoons a week. This only happens occasionally, and artists will never be asked to teach more than twice a week. Pignano will pay for the teaching directly and there is a stock of drawing and painting materials at Borgo Pignano for guests to use.
