Between ecological observation and the speculative imagination of possible futures, the syntropic artistic residencies and the exhibitions of the resulting work affirm the power of art as shelter: a space where new agencies can emerge, where alternative realities are rehearsed, and where we collectively build the awareness that — as the visionary and activist Chico Mendes said — there is no future for humanity without a forest (or a montado) still standing.
Sintropias is an invitation to inhabit the world slowly and attentively — an exercise in relation, listening and regeneration, where time, space and matter intertwine in a shared gesture of care and creation.
Accommodation
The studio-house, independent from the main house, has two double bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen with some space for artistic activities. In some residencies, two artists will share the studio-house.
The estate also offers other spaces where artists can develop their practice, including a garage-studio — a covered space with electricity, suitable for projects or larger sculptural works.
Participating artists will also receive logistical support during the residency, ensuring they have the materials, space, conditions and assistance needed to produce work that can be exhibited in 2027.
Support
Each artist will receive a fee of €250. Travel and visa costs — for artists who need them — will be covered by the project.
Some meals will be provided, and artists will also be able to harvest food from our vegetable garden. Transport into town for shopping will also be arranged.
Expectations of the artist
We welcome participants who approach the residency with openness, care and respect — for the place, for the people involved, and for the work that made this project possible. The residency invites artists to engage with the local ecologies and cultural contexts in a reflective and non-extractive way. Participants should feel comfortable living and working in a shared and collaborative environment, with flexibility and sensitivity to the dynamics of the Quinta.
We also expect participants to engage with the concepts, philosophies and technologies present at the estate and in the montado.
Application
Applications can be submitted in written or oral form (PDF or video link) to sintropias.montado@gmail.com.
Please include:
- A short ecological biography (maximum 250 words).
- Contact details and current address.
- Alignment with Sintropias and/or a concept for experimentation in the montado (maximum 500 words).
- Images / previous work.
- Website / social media links.
- Date preferences. Select two from:
- 1–15 September 2026
- 15–31 September 2026
- 1–15 October 2026
- 1–15 December 2026
- 15–31 January 2027
- 1–15 February 2027
If these dates are not possible, please mention this in your application and we will try to accommodate other dates if your application is successful.
Note: some artists may be invited to return to install / situate their works in the exhibition in Autumn 2027.
Selection criteria
- Artistic merit.
- Proposal for artistic exploration.
- Alignment with the theme / purpose of the residency.
- Community / inter-species engagement.