Founded:
2017
201`7
Language(s):
Italian, English, German
Duration:
3-6 months
6 months

Training program, production, studio and accommodation. A monthly contribution of €500 is provided for the duration of the residency (6 months).

Travel.

Application guidelines:

Artists under the age of 36 who, on the closing date of the call for applications, meet the following requirements are eligible to apply:
• aged between 18 and 35;
• in possession of at least a high school diploma;
• be unemployed, unoccupied, or inactive, or employed with the intention of starting a self-employed or entrepreneurial activity in the cultural sector;
• not be enrolled in any study or training courses at the same time;
• for foreign citizens: knowledge of the Italian language at least at level B1.

Applications must be submitted exclusively online by filling out the form available at the link.
The form requires the following attachments: curriculum vitae; portfolio with links to any completed projects; cover letter.
Applications received by other means will not be accepted.
Deadline: December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CET
The personal data collected will be processed exclusively for the purposes of the selection procedure, in compliance with EU Regulation 679/2016 (GDPR).

Application deadline:
Specific date
Deadline:
Open call:
no
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LOTTOZERO

LOTTOZERO

Textile Art Factory
Lottozero
Lottozero laboratorio tessile
Resdenza Barbara Prenka
Description

Lottozero is an international center for textile design, art and culture, with an open laboratory for textile experimentation, a shared studio space and an exhibition area.
Based in Prato (Italy), one of the most important textile districts of Europe, Lottozero operates both as a creative hub and design studio. Its mission is to create a fertile environment for textile research and experimentation in design and art, and an international base for networking in the textile sector.

Textile Art Factory is a project by Lottozero, in partnership with the Prato Textile Museum and Studio Corte 17, supported by the Tuscany Regional Program FSE+ 2021–2027.
Textile Art Factory is a program of two cycles of artist residencies that combines contemporary art and textile practices, connecting the research of new creative generations with the manufacturing and cultural heritage of the Prato district. The project promotes non-formal training, research, and artistic production aimed at young Italian-speaking artists and curators under 36.
The first open call will select 4 artists under 36 (with at least B1 level knowledge of Italian) who will take part in the first cycle of artist residencies, scheduled to take place in Prato from February 16 to August 16, 2026.
The programme offers an immersive environment for non-formal learning, experimentation, and professional growth. Residents have access to Lottozero’s textile laboratory, the archives and collections of the Museo del Tessuto, and Studio Corte 17’s industrial heritage network, combining artistic production with technical expertise and cultural context.
The residencies include:

  • Workshops and training on contemporary art, and textile techniques;
  • Mentoring and studio practice with local and international professionals;
  • Collaborations with textile manufacturers and artisans of the Prato district;
  • Public exhibitions and publications to share research outcomes.
Outcome

The call aims to select four resident artists who will take part in a training, research, and production program designed to develop professional skills in the field of contemporary artistic practices, with a particular focus on textile languages and techniques.
The goal is to offer young artists an immersive experience that promotes professional growth, technical experimentation, and the creation of works in dialogue with the local area and the Prato textile district.
The artists will produce one or more new works developed through interaction with the techniques, the local context, and the people involved during the residency. These works will be presented in a collective exhibition held in the final month of the residency, curated by a resident curator, sharing the same 6-month residency experience. A catalogue documenting the process and the artworks will also be published in both digital and print-on-demand versions.
The works created for the final exhibition will remain the property of the Tuscany Region, which supports the project.

Accommodation Information

Residents will be housed in a 210 m2 shared apartment located in the center of Prato, fully furnished and equipped to ensure well-being, sharing, and inclusion. Individual workspaces will be located within Lottozero (Via Arno 10), which provides individual workstations, a professional textile workshop, library, and materials library. Users will also have access to the specialized library and textile archives of the Textile Museum (Via Puccetti 35) and the TAI archive at SC17 (Via Genova 17), thus strengthening the link with local cultural and productive resources.

Studio Information

Creative and experimental activities take place at Lottozero, the project's operational and conceptual headquarters, located in the heart of the Prato textile district. The 400 m2 open space include a shared-studio space, an exhibition area, a library, and a professional and accessible textile laboratory, designed to allow each artist to develop their project, with the support of the Lottozero team.
Each participant will have an individual workstation.
The Lottozero textile workshop is equipped to cover a wide range of craft and industrial techniques (weaving, knitting, dyeing, printing, sewing, tufting, felting, spinning and carding).

Technical Information

During the residency, participants will take part in a series of intensive workshops led by expert practitioners and visiting artists. These workshops introduce key textile techniques and offer hands-on experience within both artisanal and industrial contexts. The programme includes modules on weaving and yarn winding, print and surface design, natural dyeing, contemporary embroidery, and felt-making. Each workshop combines practical sessions in the Lottozero textile laboratory with off-site visits to selected local manufacturers and artists’ studios, allowing participants to explore technical processes, material experimentation, and contemporary approaches to textile-based artistic practices within the broader Prato textile district.
The practical training is complemented by a non-formal theoretical programme (223 hours) that offers an interdisciplinary framework for understanding textile practices within contemporary art. This includes modules in contemporary art history, curatorial strategies, cultural project design, conservation and restoration of textile artworks, cultural heritage legislation, and communication for the arts. Theoretical sessions are delivered through lectures, case studies, and critical discussions with leading scholars, curators, and practitioners. The programme also includes guided visits to museums, cultural institutions, companies, and artist studios, providing a broader cultural and historical context for their artistic and curatorial development.

Contact information
Email
info [at] lottozero.org
Phone
0039 057422883
Website
https://www.lottozero.org/textile-art-factory