Creative Capital x MLS - Mahler & LeWitt Studios

Mahler & LeWitt Studios

International residency incubator program for Creative Capital Artist in Spoleto, Italy

Mahler & LeWitt Studios are pleased to launch a new opportunity for a Creative Capital Awardee (awarded between the years of 2000 to 2025) to develop their practice and/or incubate new work as part of the Mahler & LeWitt Studios residency program in Spoleto, Umbria, during the Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi 2026. The residency is intended to invest in the long-term artistic development of a Creative Capital Awardee by helping them to incubate experimental, innovative ideas. Residents benefit from the programs’ unique setting and expert curatorial and production support, as well as the opportunity to present work-in-progress in partnership with the Musei Civici di Spoleto.

The Mahler & LeWitt Studios residency program includes

A residency at the Mahler & LeWitt Studios in Spoleto, Italy, including independent accommodation and studio space, June 15, 2026 – July 13, 2026
$50 per diem during the residency
Residency production budget (up to $2,000)
Round-trip economy travel, with public transport transfers in Italy
Curatorial and production support form the Mahler & LeWitt Studios
A presentation opportunity developed in partnership with the Musei Civici di Spoleto and Director Saverio Verini

Residency environment

All accommodation is self-contained, with ensuite bathrooms and cooking facilities. We offer a range of studio spaces, which are allocated to residents according to their individual needs. Our workshops are well equipped, including ceramic facilities. We will discuss your requirements in advance of your arrival to ensure you have everything you need. To familiarise yourself with our program, please consult the 2025 Program Review and read our Residency Guide for further details on living arrangements and production facilities.

Eligibility and commitments

Must be a Creative Capital Awardee from 2000 to 2025 (This opportunity does not apply to Creative Capital State of the Art Prize recipients, the Andy Warhol Arts Writers Grant or Creative Capital partnership programs. 2026 Creative Capital Awardees are not eligible.)
Applicants may apply with a project idea, a project-in-progress, or research and development proposal. See selection criteria, below, for further information.
Applicants are expected to commit to a period of research and development at the Mahler & LeWitt Studios between June 15 and July 13, 2026.
Participation in an informal Open Studios event at the close of the residency, where work-in-progress may be shared with our audiences.
As part of the process of evaluating the residency and reflecting on their work in Spoleto, each resident is asked to develop a contribution to an end-of-year Mahler & LeWitt Studios publication, made available online and in print.

Selection Criteria

The Mahler & LeWitt Studios residency program award is open to artists of any discipline (visual arts, performing arts, film, literature, technology, and beyond) who have previously received a grant from Creative Capital. Applicants should explain why the Mahler & LeWitt Studios development residency is particularly opportune for their work now.

Additionally, within the context of the Spoleto Festival, which since the 1950s has provided a significant platform for the performing arts, the jury are particularly interested in receiving applications from artists wishing to develop work with performance related elements or themes.The successful applicant will be able to attend the residency in-person in Spoleto, Italy, and be eligible to travel according to any international requirements.

Jury

The jury will comprise a panel of experts from Mahler & LeWitt Studios and Saverio Verini, Director of the Musei Civici de Spoleto. NOTE: Creative Capital does not participate in the selection process or in the operations and management of the residency program.

Applications

The deadline for submissions is February 16, 2026 at 3PM ET. Applications must be sent in a single PDF and should include:

Artist’s Statement / description of practice and artistic process (250 words max)
A brief outline of how you would use the opportunity and why it would be beneficial (250 words max)
A portfolio of recent work with at least 10 images or links to 3 performance videos (each max 5mins in length)
Relevant website links

Mahler & LeWitt Studios will contact all applicants to confirm receipt of an application, and again when a decision has been made by the selection committee. Decisions will be made by the end of February.

All submissions or questions should be clearly marked ‘Creative Capital x MLS – [SURNAME]’ and sent via email to info@mahler-lewitt.org. All questions should be emailed to info@mahler-lewitt.org.

Mahler & LeWitt Studios Drawing on the legacies of stone sculptor Anna Mahler, daughter of Gustav and Alma, and pioneering conceptual artist Sol LeWitt, as well as the unique cultural heritage of Spoleto and the region, since 2015 the Mahler & LeWitt Studios has provided research and development opportunities for curators, writers and artists of all disciplines, particularly those who may benefit from phases of experimentation and creative dialogue with peers. The program offers ongoing support through our Special Projects and Publications programs, with the intention of bringing new work, developed during our residencies, to international audiences. The Torre Bonomo, a medieval tower once used as a residency and exhibition space by the gallerist Marilena Bonomo (1928–2014), who worked closely with LeWitt and introduced him to Spoleto, is also an important part of the program. Recent residents include William Kentridge, Neo Muyanga, Bronwyn Lace, Lonnie Holley, Silvia Costa, Jonathan Monk, Abbas Zahedi, and Lubna Chowdhary. Current open call opportunities include partnerships with Fitzcarraldo Editions Essay Prize, Yale School of Art and Yale University Art Gallery, and the Andrew Mangold music residency at Casa Mahler.

Creative Capital Foundation Founded in 1999, Creative Capital Foundation champions artistic freedom of expression by providing broad-based, grassroots support for individual artists through its national, open call grant program and services to help artists build sustainable practices. Creative Capital is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on generous donations and grants in order to provide its services for artists.

Musei Civici di Spoleto Spoleto’s museum network offers a comprehensive overview of the historical- cultural heritage of the city and region, which has national and international significance. The director is Saverio Verini (formerly MACRO and Fondazione Memmo). There are ten museums under its remit. These include the Palazzo Collicola: an important collection of 20th century and contemporary visual art with works by Sol LeWitt, Alberto Burri, Beverly Pepper, Alexander Calder, among many others.

The Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi was founded by the opera composer Gian Carlo Menotti in 1958 and was one of the first multi-disciplinary arts festivals of its type. It quickly garnered international recognition for developing and promoting avant-garde art. It takes place in June and July each year and makes use of the numerous exhibition and performances venues boasted by the town of Spoleto – including the Teatro Romano, two opera houses, and several churches. See festivaldispoleto.com.