The new SPAZIO GRIOT residency is part of a broader five-year programme, building up towards the 70th anniversary of the Congress in 2029. Reflecting on the legacy of the Second Congress and its contemporary relevance and echoes, and using multiple tools of community engagement and collaborative action, our programme will foster dialogue and exchange with local communities as well as institutions and organizations.

Each year, nominated artists, writers, and creatives are invited to spend time in Rome to explore new ideas around the themes of the Congress and expand their practice by either extending projects or embarking on new endeavors. Residents are also encouraged to present their work at a public event within a year of concluding the residency.

The residency aims to provide a unique and high-quality opportunity for artists, writers and creatives to receive mentorship and to connect residents to peers in Italy and with international networks and communities, transcending geographical boundaries and fostering a sense of global solidarity and unity. At the same time, the residency continues a critical conversation about the accessibility to the arts and cultural scenes.

The 2024 residency, which will take place between June and July 2024, will be led by mentor, Chris Cyrille, alongside SPAZIO GRIOT’s Johanne Affricot and Eric Otieno Sumba. It will feature mentoring and working sessions, studio and museum visits, and artistic exchanges with established artists, theorists, curators from all over the world.

‘SPAZIO GRIOT: Second Congress of Black Writers and Artists 2024′ is co-produced with and supported by OASI SOLARIA, a biodynamic agricultural estate at the gates of Rome.