Fablab Buinho Makers-in-Residency

NOTE: Portugal has eased Covid-19 lockdown measures and we reopened our residency program in August. We adapted our program in full compliance to COVID19 safety recommendations. 

A makers residency program in rural area of Messejana

Buinho residency program started in 2016, pioneering for being a fablab located in a rural village, and offering a full residency program. Since then our Residency program has been successfully growing the number of applications, and today Buinho is a European reference, enabling the merging of Art and Technology, or Art and Digital Fabrication. 

The Buinho Residency program is directed at makers, creatives and researchers from different backgrounds. The makers in residency program encourage exchange, dialogue, and experimentation. The residencies are process-based, allowing visiting makers and artists to develop projects in response to the relationship with the local environment and community, or to conduct research benefiting from Buinho’s resources, and the daily life and environment of Messejana.

The residency program also includes:

• free weekly tutorials and workshops about 3D printing, 3D modeling, CNC and laser cutting, robotics, and plastic recycling
• weekly contacts with the locals from Messejana where we explore traditional practices as goat cheese or bread making, or visits to traditional artisans’ workshops
• special programs and workshops for residents, such as the Precious Plastic Workshop (for recycling plastic: https://preciousplastic.com/), or our special education branch called Buinho Education (digital empowerment of local children and seniors).

Residency duration

The minimum period of stay is 2 weeks, and the maximum is 3 months. Residencies should start either on the 1st or on the 15th of each month.

We accept makers that apply just for two weeks since some may have work restrictions (example professors), and we don’t want to create entry barriers to those with professional duties. Nevertheless, we encourage artists to apply to a superior period to improve the quality of the residency (research, production, experience).

Accommodation

The Buinho residency program provides private accommodation and shared work-spaces in two different locations:

1. Sao Joao house is a XIX century shepherd’s house, remodeled in 2019 to offer a unique charm. It is located in the street of the museum, on top of a hill, offering from its garden a unique view over Messejana. It’s studios with high white walls and quiet environment offer the perfect setting for visual artists and writers.
2. The second space, the Buinho main studio and Fablab, is also a traditional house that was entirely renovated to provide a modern studio style residence. The building is divided into three spaces so that you can generate ideas, share them in a social area and be able to materialize them in the Fablab equipped with tools and machines.

Both houses are fully equipped and they include:
• working studios • private desk space • free Wi-Fi access in all interior and exterior spaces • equipped  kitchens • individual storage space and a fridge • cleaning service once a week 

Fees for accommodation

1. São João larger bedroom with private bathroom – 700€;
2. São João other two bedrooms – 650€;
3. Buinho bedroom with private studio – 700€;
4. Buinho bedroom with shared studio – 600€

Makers interested in participating should send on email info@buinho.pt the following info:

• short CV
• portfolio, and
• description of the project/ work to be developed during the residency

Applications will be evaluated by a curatorial committee and will take into consideration the  following parameters:

• creative and artistic quality
• social relevance of the project
• degree of innovation
• motivation of the candidate

Buinho’s residency program values multidisciplinarity, so we expect the acceptance of creatives from different backgrounds, media, and experience.  We also try to support emerging artists that seek opportunities for international visibility and curriculum. The level of scrutiny of the portfolio’s quality is proportionate to the artist’s experience. Although Buinho residency program is self-funded in order to cover the operational expenses, we can offer special conditions to struggling artists, depending on the availability of spaces and relevance of the proposed project.

Different activities and studios in offer

Each house mentioned in « About the space » has its own dedicated studio space. 

Studios at Buinho differ in the nature and propose, and some of them are dedicated to:

• painting, drawing, and large scale projects, as they have easels, plenty of natural light, and big white walls
• design activities, offering access to iMacs, PC´s, 3D printers, electronics bench, among other equipment
• construction and building activities, where artists can work with different technologies and materials, as plastic, wood, or metal, offering wide working spaces with access to specialized tools and prototyping machinery

More information about available equipment you can download following the link: https://buinho.pt/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/List-of-equipment-Buinho.pdf