FELLOWSHIPS
OPEN CALLS
Sacatar welcomes applicants from all creative disciplines, nationalities, and backgrounds
There are currently no ongoing open calls.
Sacatar conducts an annual Open Call through which most of our fellows are selected. Occasionally, we announce additional open calls, typically in connection with a partnership or a specific project.
All open calls are announced on our website and shared through our mailing list.
Thank you to everyone who applied to our recent calls:
2025 Open Call
and
Bahia Mundo Open Call
STUDIOS AND AMENITIES
A Place to Work, Dream, and Be Transformed
Sacatar is situated on a stunning 9,000m² beachfront property on the island of Itaparica, in the Bay of All Saints. The property is a 15-minute walk from downtown Itaparica and approximately 1.5 hours by car and boat from the city of Salvador.
This unique location offers artists a range of opportunities to benefit from their time at Sacatar. Artists can immerse themselves in their studio work, taking advantage of the tranquility and natural beauty of the property; they can also engage with the unique communities, nature, and culture of Itaparica, or; explore the thriving art scenes in Salvador. Many artists find inspiration in a combination of all three!
It is important to note that Sacatar is a low-tech environment. Bedrooms and studios have only basic furniture. Although we do have wi-fi, we do not have most electronic equipment. If special equipment is needed, artists should bring it with them or obtain it in Salvador.
Below, you’ll find detailed descriptions of Sacatar’s studios and amenities. We also encourage prospective applicants to review our FAQ for a comprehensive understanding of what a residency at Sacatar looks like.
MAIN HOUSE
In the main house, there are five bedrooms, each with an attached bathroom. Built in 1950 (learn more about the property’s history in the “About” section), its rooms are arranged around a central courtyard.
The main house also includes two work studios, a library, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, and a veranda.
CASA PEQUENA
Casa Pequena (the Small House) offers four additional bedroom suites for artists. All bedrooms on the property are simply furnished with a bed, chair, desk, wardrobe, and fan. Renovated in 2021, this century-old farmhouse is the oldest structure on the property.
ESTÚDIO ÁGUA
This visual arts and multimedia studio is open-air, measuring 6.0m x 6.0m, with ample wall space. It is furnished with a desk, storage cabinet, and a work sink. Its most distinctive feature is a lovely private internal water garden. The wind and the birds can enter these studios freely. Tortoises also occasionally visit.
ESTÚDIO TERRA
Similarly to its neighboring studio, this visual arts and multimedia studio is open-air, measuring 6.0m x 6.0m, with ample wall space. It is furnished with a desk, storage cabinet, and a work sink. Its most distinctive feature is a lovely private internal garden. The wind and the birds can enter these studios freely. Peacocks walk by occasionally.
ESTÚDIO ESFINGE
This studio, raised on wooden posts, primarily serves writers but has also served as a studio for digital photography. Measuring 5.0m x 5.0m, its ample windows offer gorgeous panoramic views of the garden, trees, and ocean.
Note fro writers and researchers: Sacatar does not provide a printer. If one is needed, writers can bring a portable printer, purchase one in Salvador, or use a print shop.
ESTÚDIO AR
At the far end of the coconut grove is a studio for dance, theater and performance. It has a sprung wooden floor (5.0m x 12.0m), with an adjacent dressing room (3.0m x 5.0m), sometimes utilized as the Fellow’s bedroom.
Large sliding doors open to the beach on one side and to the property on the other, which permits the studio to transform into an impromptu theater with a dramatic ocean backdrop.
ESTÚDIO MAR
Another studio raised on columns (4.5m x 10.0m) has phenomenal ocean views. While not soundproof, it usually serves musicians, as it is located at the furthest corner of the property, where the music is less likely to disturb the other Fellows.
This studio can also serve as a visual arts studio, since its walls provide a suitable surface to pin up canvas and paper. There is also a bathroom, exterior sink and wash-up area outside, just behind the studio.
Please note that this space was not conceived as a recording studio and Sacatar does not provide recording equipment. Future residents who need special equipment and/or instruments should contact us ahead of time for a full list of what’s available on site.
ESTÚDIO IEMANJÁ
This studio is located in the main house, facing the coconut grove. With ample space in all directions (6.0m x 8.0m, with a ceiling height of 3.60m), its windows offer views of the garden and of the beach.
It also has direct access to the main house’s courtyard and to the veranda.
ESTÚDIO XANGÔ
Located inside the main house, this studio is attached to the artist’s bedroom, offering a more controlled, continuous environment. It measures 3.5m x 5.0m, with a ceiling height of 3.60m. It is furnished with a desk, storage cabinet, and includes a sink. It faces the pond and a beautiful garden.
ESTÚDIO ÍSIS
This space is located next to the staff’s workshop and is suitable for artists who need a more robust and mess-tolerant workspace. It has an independent entrance facing the coconut grove. It measures 3.0m x 5.0m, with a ceiling height of 3.60m. It can also be effectively darkened, and as such can serve for video and sound editing.
OTHER AMENITIES
LIBRARY: Though small, our library has a unique and impressive collection of books. Themes range from culture and history of Bahia and Brazil, to artists’ books and catalogues.
Most titles are in either English or Portuguese, but sometimes in other languages too.
We kindly ask artists to contribute a book related to their work to help expand our collection.
WORKSHOP: This space is primarily used by the staff, but artists are free to use it for woodworking or other needs.
INTERNET: Wi-Fi is available for residents to use with their personal laptops. Artists are encouraged to bring their own devices as needed. While internet service on the island of Itaparica is generally good, occasional disruptions can occur. We recommend planning your work and communications with this in mind..
FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS: Analog photographers, please note that we do not have a darkroom on-site.
FOR CERAMICISTS: We have no kiln, but there are possibilities to execute work In partnership with the ceramicists of Maragogipinho, a village two hours from Sacatar where there are over seventy wood-fired ceramic workshops.
Sacatar encourages artists to work simply and directly with few complex tools, materials, or technologies.
FAQ
Sacatar provides Fellowships at no cost to the artist. Sacatar provides each selected artist:
- A private bedroom with an attached bathroom for the entire duration of the residency;
- Three daily meals, except on Saturday evenings, Sundays and Brazilian holidays. The kitchen is always available for residents’ use;
- An individual studio suitable to the artist’s discipline;
- Weekly laundry service;
- Logistical support to connect the artist with necessary services, the local community in Itaparica, and the vibrant art scene in Salvador;
- Transportation from the Salvador airport to the island of Itaparica on the scheduled arrival day and back to the airport on the scheduled departure day.
What Sacatar Does Not Offer through its own Open Call:
- Airfare to and from Salvador;
- A stipend or any form of financial support;
- Materials for artistic projects;
- Transportation and local discretionary expenses during the residency session.
PLEASE NOTE: Opportunities to apply for residencies in partnership with other organizations often include airfare and stipends for living costs. These benefits, when available, are clearly stated in the application materials.
While Sacatar helps artists connect with services, potential collaborators, and may assist in organizing activities or events, the costs associated with these services and collaborations are the responsibility of the artist.
Sacatar hosts five residency sessions per year, each lasting approximately eight weeks and welcoming six to eight artists per session.
Artists bring their individual projects and are provided with private bedrooms and studios, but the residency experience also emphasizes a strong sense of community. Meals and various activities take place in shared settings, and Fellows are encouraged to approach the residency with openness and generosity toward their Fellow residents.
All Fellows arrive on the same day and remain for the full duration of the session.
The first week of the residency is the most structured, including tours of Salvador and Itaparica, introductions to the studios, and an orientation to house rules and operations.
In the second week, individual meetings are held with Fellows, along with a networking lunch that connects residents with artists and community members from Itaparica and Salvador.
The residency concludes with an Open Studios event during the final week. It’s important to note that this is not intended as a formal premiere or exhibition but as an opportunity to share works-in-progress and residency experiences with the local community.
Beyond these planned activities (which are concentrated in the first week), artists have the freedom to shape their residency as they see fit. Sacatar relies on residents to be self-directed and proactive in making the most of their time at the residency.
Sacatar is built on defining pillars that distinguish it from other residencies:
Interdisciplinarity:
Sacatar welcomes creatives from a wide array of disciplines, ranging from traditional fields like painting and music to areas like curatorial research, circus arts, and other unique forms of creativity. Each residency group, typically consisting of seven artists, guarantees representation from at least four different disciplines, fostering a rich environment for cross-disciplinary exchange.Generational Span:
Sacatar values the diversity that comes from engaging artists of all ages. We strive to include a mix of generations in every session, enriching the residency experience with varied perspectives and experiences.A Focus Beyond Production:
Unlike residencies that emphasize finished outcomes, Sacatar offers a space for exploration and transformation. Artists are not required to present a final product by the end of their session. Instead, we encourage them to immerse themselves in Bahia, engage with its culture, and embrace new ideas and references.Residencies at Sacatar are seen as spaces of beginnings—where collaborations, new career trajectories, and projects are initiated. We value the seeds planted here, knowing they may bear fruit years later. Flexibility is key. What is expected are the fellow’s commitment and intentionality.
This approach ensures that Sacatar remains a space for growth, inspiration, and meaningful connections.
All artists must show a certificate of vaccination. Sacatar will not host artists who choose not to vaccinate against covid. Sacatar will respond to any surge in covid infections, following the recommendations of the local health authorities.
No.
Your partner, family or friends may be intrigued to join you in Brazil. This is very understandable. Brazil is an amazing country. If they wish to join you, they should come at the tail end of your residency, and you should stay in Brazil longer to travel around with them. If they come during the last few days of the residency period, they are welcome to visit Sacatar but we cannot provide them overnight accommodations.
If you are looking for a residency that can accommodate your family, we suggest you contact the Sustainable Arts Foundation: http://www.sustainableartsfoundation.org/
Please note that on site there are resident dogs and other animals (see the question “What about wildlife and mosquitoes?”). Sacatar does not keep any cats, since they would be predators of the many native birds.
Fellows do not receive stipends through our annual unrestricted Open Call.
However, through calls for applications in partnership with other organizations — generally restricted by nationality or discipline — Sacatar often provides airfare and/or stipends. These benefits, if available, are clearly stated in the application materials.
We can provide acceptance letters to assist artists in securing supplementary funding through private or governmental sources they are aware of.
Artists are responsible for all working materials and incidental expenses.
Sacatar provides very limited electronic equipment. If an artist requires any sort of electronic equipment — even if they consider it basic — it is important to contact the Sacatar team ahead of time to check availability.
Most equipment has to be brought by the artist themselves or purchased in Salvador.
Sacatar is located on a 9000 square meter oceanfront property, in a seasonally occupied residential neighborhood of vacation homes.
For most of the year, the atmosphere is quiet and serene.
However, particularly during the high tourist season (December-February), some of these rental homes party long and loud, with no regard whatsoever for the neighbors. Also occasionally, there will be Festivals which also tend to be loud.
While on the island or in Salvador, we encourage Fellows to use their ‘street smarts’ (e.g., not displaying cameras or video equipment openly, carrying only what money is needed, particularly when walking through the less inhabited areas of the island, etc). There have been thefts and other petty crime resulting in the loss of cash and items such as cameras and cell phones.
On-site, Sacatar has staff and guards 24 hours.
Artists share the property with four resident dogs, several peafowl and a family of tortoises, as well as monkeys, crabs, bats, numerous species of birds, lizards, mosquitos, ants, spiders and frogs. Except for the monkeys, all of these animals enter and leave the house and studios at will. (Monkeys are best seen early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when you can hear their screeches and spot them fairly easily, but for the most part, they are elusive and secretive.) The peacocks often prance about in the inner courtyard. Birds sweep into the kitchen after bread crumbs. Bats may flit through the living room disoriented at night. Frogs sometimes move into the toilets. These things happen. There is little we can do to control the entrance and egress of these residents, although we keep the dogs out of the house during mealtimes and there are mosquito nets on all the beds. At Sacatar you may live more closely to diverse animal species than you are accustomed to.
Specifically regarding mosquitos, you will be responsible for any repellent you wish to use. “Natural” repellents are sometimes difficult to find on the island, but they are available at specialty shops in Salvador.
Malaria and yellow fever are NOT endemic to Bahia or most of Brazil. However, for instance, the United States’ Center for Disease Control recommends yellow fever vaccinations for travelers to Rio, São Paulo and Salvador. The zika and chikungunya viruses are of concern in all of Latin America and are present in Bahia. You should consult a medical professional concerning risks related to you with these and other mosquito-borne illnesses, such as dengue. Also, check your country’s guidelines regarding travel to Brazil.
See our Administration if you are interested in taking Portuguese, capoeira (the martial art of Bahia), dance or percussion classes. While Sacatar will not pay for such classes, private tutors are inexpensive and easily arranged. The Fellows often band together for group classes, such as capoeira lessons on the beach.
Yes. There are several, none of them fancy, but popular with the Fellows. The cost is very reasonable. And it is a great way to meet locals.
Usually not, but we will consider potential financial support through institutional or governmental entities on a case-by-case basis.
No. However, many previous Fellows wish to return to continue work in Bahia.
At irregular intervals, we send an email to all Alumni alerting them of a specific period in which there are one or more openings. We request they send us a single paragraph of what they might work on. Depending on studio availabity and maintaining diversity in age, gender and nationality, we invite the Fellow(s) for a second residency.
We are also open to hearing proposals and project ideas from former Fellows who wish to return to Itaparica. If you have a vision for furthering your work here, we encourage you to reach out and share your ideas.
Yes. Please call ahead and schedule an appointment to visit.
- What are the requirements regarding covid?
- Can I bring my partner, family or child?
- Can I bring my pet?
- Do artists receive a stipend for living expenses or materials?
- How much money will I need during my residency?
- Can you accommodate the physically disabled?
- Is there an age limit?
- What languages are spoken at the residency?
- Is there an opportunity to share my work or skills with the local population?
- What kind of electronic equipment do you provide artists?
- Is there reliable internet service?
- Is there peace and quiet on the island?
- Is the island safe?
- What is a typical day like?
- What about local wildlife (and mosquitos)?
- Should I take any medical precautions before coming to Brazil?
- Are there classes I can take: Portuguese, percussion, capoeira, samba?
- Do I need a car while I am at Sacatar?
- Is there a gym or fitness facility nearby?
- Can the facilities in Brazil be rented?
- Can artists pay their own way?
- Can former Fellows re-apply?
- Can I visit the Instituto?
Your spouse, significant other, friend, parent or child may wish to join you for all or part of your stay. We cannot accommodate your family or friends at the Institute and we strongly discourage that you have them stay off-site. Such visitors deflect from the purpose of the Institute Sacatar, which is to provide Fellows valuable time away from life back home. Please make any arrangements with others to visit or travel after your residency is complete. Given our location on the ocean front, in a region with precarious medical services, and with the ability to host no more than six artists at a time, we — like many other residency programs — simply cannot host families. We suggest you contact the Sustainable Arts Foundation, which provides support for artists with families, by either directing them to those programs who can accept families or by providing financial support to artists’ families when a spouse is at a residency that cannot host families with children. Sustainable Arts Foundation http://www.sustainableartsfoundation.org/ Also, at the Alliance of Artist Communities site —www.artistcommunities.org — you can search specifically for residency programs that host families by scrolling to the link at the bottom of the SEARCH option. Such programs do exist, but many programs, such as ours, simply do not have the Infrastructure to host families.
