Artist Residencies in Zambia

Why consider Zambia for a residency?

Zambia’s residency scene is small, but if you care about context, collaboration, and making work that actually sits in a place rather than floating above it, it can be a powerful setting.

Most opportunities are in Lusaka or linked to specific landscapes and communities. Programs tend to be run by independent arts organizations or galleries, not big state-funded institutions, so you get:

• Close contact with local artists and curators
• Hybrid spaces that mix galleries, studios, archives, and performance
• Programs that expect you to engage with community, history, or ecology
• Residencies that are often self-funded or only partially funded

Instead of massive residency infrastructure, you get a few committed hubs that care deeply about contemporary African art, social questions, and how artists work with place.

Where residencies are concentrated

Lusaka: the main hub

Lusaka is where most residency activity sits and where you’ll find the densest art ecosystem. It hosts key spaces like Modzi Arts and Lusaka Contemporary Art Centre (LuCAC), plus galleries, music venues, and informal networks.

For artists, Lusaka offers:

• Residencies with housing or shared artist houses
• Access to galleries, project spaces, and event venues
• More reliable internet, materials, and printing services
• Networking with curators, writers, and other practitioners

If you need infrastructure, institutional contact, and an audience for your work, Lusaka is the logical landing spot.

Landscape-focused and regional settings

Beyond the capital, residency experiences tend to be tied to landscape, ecology, or cultural immersion. Zambezi Art Residency uses Zambia’s scenery and cultural context as an active part of the program, and Studio Verde includes Zambia as one node in a network of environmental residencies.

These contexts suit artists who want:

• Field research and site-specific work
• Engagement with environmental or conservation themes
• Community-based projects outside an urban gallery circuit
• Slower, more intensive time with a place

The trade-off is that you give up some convenience: fewer art supply shops, more planning around transport and logistics.

Funding reality and how residencies are sustained

Zambia does not currently have a huge, centralized public funding system for residencies. Instead, programs are sustained through a mix of artist fees, project support, and international cultural funding.

Expect models like:

• Self-funded residencies where you pay studio and/or accommodation fees
• Partially supported programs that might cover housing but not travel or materials
• Theme-based funded calls with limited fully covered spots, plus additional fee-based spots
• External grant support from foundations and cultural organizations

Modzi Arts is a good example of this ecosystem. Its space has been supported by international funding, and the residency structure is transparent about studio and accommodation fees. Studio Verde is another clear case: the residency is self-funded, but they help you seek outside support.

For you, this means two things:

• Residency fees and living costs are a real line item, not an afterthought
• You have a solid reason to apply for travel and production grants at home or abroad

Key residency programs and what they actually offer

Modzi Arts (Lusaka)

Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Disciplines: multidisciplinary, visual arts, performance, writing, socially engaged projects

Modzi Arts combines a residency program with exhibitions, performances, workshops, and a strong focus on Zambian art and cross-cultural exchange. The space sits in a restored 1970s building and includes:

• Two galleries and a Zamrock museum
• Performance and DJ studios
• Living spaces and a shared kitchen
• An organic art farm
• A library of tools, books, and archival material

Residencies usually offer individual studios and the option of on-site or related accommodation. The program expects you to be an active presence, with regular work presentations and a final public moment that might be an exhibition, performance, reading, or open studio.

Fees and structure

Public listings show a clear fee structure with different rates for Zambian, African, and international artists, plus separate studio and accommodation costs. Some formats include research-only or online residencies. The program is self-financed, but Modzi can sometimes connect you to funding partners in Africa and Europe.

Best if you want:

• A residency embedded in an active contemporary art institution
• Access to archives, music culture, and a mixed media environment
• Mentorship and local networking in Lusaka
• To work across disciplines and present publicly

Check the latest details directly with Modzi Arts via their site or listings such as TransArtists or Music In Africa. Terms, fees, and formats can evolve.

Lusaka Contemporary Art Centre (LuCAC)

Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Program: LuCAC Artists in Residence (AIR)

LuCAC runs a non-profit, international residency for artists, creative practitioners, and researchers. Even though public details may be lighter than Modzi’s, you can expect a focus on contemporary visual art, research-led practice, and critical conversation.

Before applying, clarify:

• Is accommodation included or separate?
• Are there studio or program fees?
• Is the residency fully open-call, or mixed with invitations?
• What kind of public engagement is expected at the end?

Best if you want:

• A non-profit context with contemporary art discourse
• Time for research and development, not just production
• Potential dialogue with curators, academics, and local practitioners

Zambezi Art Residency (Her Voice Gallery)

Organizer: Her Voice Foundation, Her Voice Gallery Zambia and partners
Theme example: “Initiation”

Zambezi Art Residency is a curated, theme-driven residency that gathers artists from multiple countries in Zambia. A past edition was built around the theme of initiation and included:

• Creative work on the theme, produced on-site
• Lectures on African art and initiation rituals
• Excursions to scenic locations and cultural sites
• Collaboration with Zambian artists
• A final gallery presentation and sale of selected works

The structure has included both competitive, fully funded places (covering accommodation, transport inside the program, and meals after you reach Zambia) and guaranteed places with a program fee. Artists are generally expected to contribute works for exhibition and potential sale.

Best if you want:

• A tightly framed conceptual brief to respond to
• A residency that combines theory, ritual, and lived context
• A clear exhibition outcome within a gallery environment

Because calls are tied to specific dates and themes, always check the Her Voice Gallery or Her Voice Foundation channels for current or upcoming rounds rather than relying on past open calls.

Studio Verde (Zambia-linked environmental residencies)

Model: international residency platform working across multiple locations, including Zambia
Disciplines: installation, land art, painting, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, curatorial work

Studio Verde connects artists, curators, and designers with environmental and conservation contexts. Zambia is one of several locations alongside the Peruvian Amazon and Kenya. Programs tend to include:

• Field research with local experts and eco-guardians
• Ecological restoration and climate-related projects
• Engagement with Indigenous and local knowledge
• Workshops and community engagement
• Space to build art projects grounded in environmental reality

The residencies are self-funded, but Studio Verde provides support for finding external funding. If your work is rooted in ecology or site-based practice, this kind of residency can give you both research access and a strong narrative context.

Best if you want:

• To work directly with environmental questions in Zambia
• A residency format that prioritizes research and fieldwork
• Collaboration with scientists, conservationists, and local communities

Imvelo Studios residency program

Location: Zambia-based studio and gallery platform

Imvelo Studios offers residencies focused on giving artists space to create a body of work or to deepen their practice within a particular context. Public information is relatively lean, which often signals a more intimate, studio-centered environment rather than a heavy public program.

Before committing, ask for clarity on:

• Duration and structure of the residency
• Whether housing is included or separate
• Studio access and tools available
• Any expectations around exhibitions or teaching
• Fees and what they cover

Best if you want:

• Time and space to produce work with less public pressure
• A smaller, possibly more flexible residency setting
• A chance to situate your practice in Zambia without a complex program schedule

Which disciplines fit well in Zambia’s residency scene?

Across Modzi Arts, LuCAC, Studio Verde, Zambezi Art Residency, and Imvelo Studios, certain practices show up repeatedly:

• Visual arts: painting, drawing, sculpture, installation
• Interdisciplinary and conceptual work that crosses mediums
• Land art and environmental practice, especially through Studio Verde
• Performance and time-based work, including music and DJ culture at places like Modzi
• Writing and research, in both art-writing and broader creative forms
• Socially engaged and community-based projects, which are encouraged by many programs

If your practice is hybrid, research-oriented, or grounded in social or ecological questions, Zambia’s residencies can be a strong fit. Highly production-heavy practices that rely on specialized equipment might need extra planning for materials and fabrication.

Practical logistics: money, living, and visas

Budgeting and cost of living

Lusaka is the priciest part of Zambia and also where you have the most support. Outside the capital, housing and food can be cheaper, but you may spend more on transport and sourcing materials.

When budgeting for a residency, build a quick checklist:

• Residency fees: studio, accommodation, and any program costs
• Flights and local transport: including airport transfers and daily travel
• Food: even if breakfast or some meals are included
• Materials: paint, canvas, wood, electronics, printing
• Communication: SIM card, data, or extra internet costs
• Extras: visa fees, health insurance, vaccinations, contingencies

Residencies like Modzi often give you a clear breakdown of fees. For programs with less transparent info, do not hesitate to ask for a simple cost overview before you apply.

Language and communication

English is the main working language in Zambia and is widely used in residency applications, artist talks, and institutional communication. Alongside English, you will also hear local languages such as Bemba, Nyanja/Chewa, Tonga, Lozi, and others depending on the region.

If your project involves community work, learning basic greetings in the local language goes a long way. Also ask your host how they usually handle translation or facilitation when you work with non-English-speaking participants.

Visa and entry considerations

Visa rules vary by nationality, but most artists will need a passport valid for at least six months past the end of the residency and an appropriate entry status. Hosts can often provide an official invitation letter to support your visa application.

Before booking travel, ask your residency contact:

• Which visa category is appropriate for residency participation
• Whether they provide invitation letters and confirmation of accommodation
• What typical stay length artists choose relative to visa limits
• If any additional registration is needed once you arrive

Do not assume a tourist visa always fits artistic or professional activity. Double-check the requirements for your passport with the Zambian embassy or consulate website and match your stay length to what is allowed.

Cultural context and how it shapes your work

Collaboration and respect

Zambia’s residency hosts often stress cross-cultural exchange and collaboration. This can mean working with local artists, educators, community groups, and environmental workers. Projects that treat Zambia as a backdrop rather than a living context tend to sit awkwardly, so it helps to think in terms of partnership instead of extraction.

Good starting practices include:

• Listening to how local partners describe their own histories and priorities
• Sharing authorship and visibility where appropriate
• Being transparent about how you will use images, recordings, and stories
• Leaving something useful behind, whether knowledge, tools, or access

Heritage, identity, and transformation

Residencies like Modzi Arts and Zambezi Art Residency clearly engage with questions of heritage, contemporary African identity, ritual, and social change. If your practice touches on memory, ancestry, or transformation, you will find rich ground to work in, but it also asks for care and research.

Before proposing a project around sensitive cultural themes, ask:

• Who needs to be consulted or credited?
• What knowledge is public, and what is private or sacred?
• What do local artists and curators think about your idea?

Environmental and land-based work

With programs like Studio Verde and landscape-oriented residencies, environmental practice is not just an aesthetic angle. It is connected to real conservation work, climate impacts, and local knowledge systems.

If you work with land or ecology, think beyond symbolic gestures. Consider how your project might:

• Support existing environmental efforts on the ground
• Make space for local expertise to lead the conversation
• Handle documentation ethically, especially around Indigenous knowledge

Choosing the right Zambian residency for your practice

A quick way to match yourself to the right program:

• You want an urban base with strong networks: Focus on Modzi Arts or LuCAC in Lusaka.
• You want a curated, theme-led experience with a clear exhibition: Look at Zambezi Art Residency and similar gallery-organized programs.
• Your work is environmental or field-based: Explore Studio Verde’s Zambia offerings or other ecology-oriented projects.
• You want studio time with lighter public obligations: Reach out to Imvelo Studios and similar studio-focused residencies.

Whichever route you choose, Zambia rewards artists who arrive prepared, curious, and ready to work with people and place, not just in front of them.