Archival Residency Program
Archival Bootcamp 2027 · 4th Edition · International Artistic Residency in the Valencian Countryside (Spain)
Application deadline: 30 November 2026
About the residency
Archival Bootcamp is a six-day international residency for practitioners working critically with archives. Hosted in a historic mill, we use the idea of a bootcamp as a short, immersive experience to practice alternative ways of doing, in community and in nature. Rather than aiming for a final outcome, the residency focuses on fostering autonomy in creative processes and developing practical and artistic strategies for working with archives, within an international network of practitioners.
By “archival project” we mean any collection of images, writings, films, sounds, objects or memories that we engage with in embodied, critical and collective ways.
Program
Each day combines individual and collective work:
- Morning focus lectures on archives, critical memory and artistic practice
- Pedagogical offerings: workshops led by the residents themselves
- Afternoon mutual nurturing sessions (crianza mutua): peer-to-peer feedback on each other’s projects
- Self-guided time to work on your project, rest or enjoy the surroundings
- Evening film screenings, walks and communal dinners, plus a guided walk to a nearby natural pool
- Access to our Nomadic Library and the Archival Bootcamp Workbook
Dates
- Residency Period: August 3 – September 7, 2027 (choose your dates)
- Cohorts of up to 15 residents
Eligibility
Curators, researchers, archivists, librarians, writers, educators, artists and cultural practitioners, individually or as collectives, with an archival project in any discipline and at any stage, beyond academic frameworks. No previous experience is required. The residency is held in English; our team also speaks Spanish and Valencian.
Selection
Projects are selected according to resonance, balance and the group as a whole. Rather than quantitative parameters such as exhibitions, grants or academic merits, we prioritize plurality of experiences and projects, and a learning community that can accompany, respect and grow together.
Fees
There are no application fee. The residency fee, depending on accommodation, is:
- €950: shared room for 4 (bunk beds)
- €1,050: shared room for 3 (single beds)
- €1,150: double room (two single beds)
- €1,300: single room (one double bed)
The fee includes 5 nights / 6 days of accommodation, vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients (vegan and gluten-free options), all programming and materials. Travel and health insurance are not included. Payment can be made in installments. We provide letters of support and documentation for grant and institutional funding applications.
Scholarship
One Community Archive Caretakers Scholarship is available for members of nonprofit organizations or grassroots collectives caring for community archives. It covers the full residency fee on a shared room with bunk beds basis (€950), including accommodation, meals and programming; travel is not included. Priority is given to practitioners from the Global South. Apply through the scholarship section of the application form.
How to apply
Complete the application form at archivalbootcamp.com/apply
Deadline: November 30, 2026 (AoE)
Results (open call and scholarship): January 18, 2027
Contact: hola@archivalbootcamp.com
Image credits: Archival Bootcamp Team