Residencies are the heart of Gambiarra, Buinho's area where art, technology and community meet.

Since 2016, more than 400 artists, writers, designers and makers from all over the world have lived and worked in Messejana. We look for creativity, technology and inclusion: projects that use the FabLab and the labs, that open up to the town and its people, and that try out other ways of making.

Buinho currently runs eight houses in Messejana, each designed with unique purposes and features in mind. Four of them are dedicated to the Creative Residency programme, with single and double bedrooms, private and shared studios and communal living spaces. The others give every resident access to well-equipped labs to move their projects forward.

Casa da Avó is at the heart of Messejana, with two spacious studios overlooking the main square and two private bedrooms at the back for privacy. It has a small courtyard and terrace, and its standout feature is a compact — and still in progress — jewellery lab. Living on the square brings you closer to the daily life of the town.

Casa de São João is a 19th-century shepherd's house, remodelled in 2019. It sits on the street of the museum, at the top of the hill, and its garden has a unique view over Messejana. Its studios with high white walls and quiet atmosphere are perfect for visual artists and writers.

Casa da Padaria, the latest house to join our creative ecosystem, used to be a traditional bakery. It has a cosy living room connected to the kitchen and a small patio for a morning coffee. Offering more privacy, it suits visual artists, writers or researchers.

Casa Buinho has a modern open-plan layout, with a central studio in the main building and a workshop in the backyard. Completely redesigned and rebuilt in 2015, it was the first house of the project — hence its name. Formerly Buinho's headquarters, it now offers excellent working conditions and plenty of privacy, for one resident at a time.

Buinho Educativo is an extension of the FabLab focused on our educational and social work. It has two large rooms: one for digital fabrication — laser cutters, 3D and vinyl printers — and a Textile Lab with sewing machines, digital embroidery and tufting, used by the town's sewing club and for textile experimentation. It is open to residents and is the hub for community workshops.

Buinho HQ, on the main square, brings all our activities together: the office, an extension of the FabLab, studios for artists in residence and exhibition spaces. It is also the hub for Repair Cafés and other community initiatives, and includes a small adjoining house for invited residents and international experts.

Buinho also acts as a local intermediary, offering its residents the possibility to use and exhibit their works in other spaces in the town.

Buinho organises two types of residencies:

Visiting residents

Visiting residents receive a direct invitation from the Buinho association and do not need to apply. Their costs are covered through external funding.

During their stay, they engage with the local community and contribute to internal projects and/or product development.

Spontaneous Application

Anyone can submit a Spontaneous Application.

Residents who come to Buinho through a Spontaneous Application pay a weekly or monthly fee, which helps cover Buinho's running costs.

How to Apply

Applicants should send an email to info@buinho.pt with the following information:

A brief description of the work you intend to create during your residency and your reasons for applying
Biography / CV
Small portfolio in PDF format or a link to portfolio site
The dates which you intend to stay

The selection will be done by Buinho's curatorial committee. We will take into consideration the creative's portfolio and biography, the motivation, the viability of the proposal and its adaptation to available resources.

Fees

In Buinho we differentiate the value of the residency fees according to the characteristics of the accommodation. By differentiating the fees we are establishing a more fair criterion between residents, and also enabling those with fewer incomes to come to Buinho.

As of May 2023, the monthly fee is the following:

1. São João larger bedroom with private bathroom and shared studio – 900€;
2. São João other two bedrooms with shared bathroom and shared studio – 800€;
3. Casa da Padaria two bedrooms with shared bathroom and private studios – 900€;
4. Casa da Avó two bedrooms with shared bathroom and private studios – 900€;
5. Casa Buinho, the whole house just for one resident with two bedrooms and private studios – 1200€

An accompanying person has a 50% discount but has to share the accommodation.

The minimum duration of each residency is two weeks and the maximum is two months. Residencies should start either on the 1st or on the 15th of each month. Please note that after the acceptance into the Creative Residency program, we will ask for an initial deposit of 50% of the total value of the stay. The rest of the value is to be paid during the first week of residency.

Fees include the private bedroom, use of all shared spaces, the studio and workshop facilities, and all of the available equipment. Buinho will issue a receipt and send a formal acceptance letter if requested.

Cancellation requests with a full reimbursement of the deposit should be made by writing within 5 months before the start of the period of stay. All other cancellations will not result in the refund. Deposits are non-refundable and residency dates are non-transferable.

For more information please download the Creative Residency Guidelines. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.