Call 2026
Carl Faust Foundation · Marimurtra Botanical Garden (Blanes, Costa Brava)

Eugeni Sierra International Residency for Botanical Illustration at Marimurtra

Three-month residency (July–September) for botanical illustrators with rigorous practice.
A scientific-artistic collaboration programme focused on direct observation, morphological accuracy and the documentary value of the image.

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Download the guidelines (PDF)

Duration

3 months

July – September (2026)

Location

Blanes (Girona)

Marimurtra Botanical Garden

Stipend

€50 / week

Up to €600 in total

Travel

Up to €600

With supporting documents

General description

The residency invites botanical illustrators from around the world to apply in order to develop a project in dialogue with the scientific and outreach teams of Marimurtra Botanical Garden.

Conceptual framework

The residency places art at the service of botanical knowledge and scientific outreach, in coherence with Marimurtra’s historical and contemporary mission as an institution for research, conservation and the transmission of knowledge.

Objectives

Contribute to the rigorous visual documentation of families and species of scientific interest.
Generate a corpus that is useful for outreach, education and scientific communication.
Foster dialogue between artists and scientists in an institutional context.
Strengthen botanical illustration as a tool for knowledge and support professional trajectories.

What we offer

Support and conditions

Free accommodation in Blanes.
Financial contribution (“pocket money”): €50 per week, up to a maximum of €600 (payments at the beginning of each month).
Travel allowance up to €600 (with prior justification of the expense).
Access to the botanical collections and scientific guidance.
Insurance under volunteer terms once the corresponding form has been signed, with coverage during the stay at the Garden.

Curatorial framework and scientific guidance

The project is part of a curatorial framework defined jointly with the scientific direction and the outreach department,
prioritising families or species of strategic interest for Marimurtra Botanical Garden.

What we expect

Commitments of the resident

Develop a project aligned with the scientific and curatorial priorities agreed with the Garden.
Deliver a minimum of three finished botanical illustrations (one per month of stay).
Commitment to direct observation and scientific rigour.
Collaboration with scientific and outreach staff.

Outcomes and deliverables

Each final work must be accompanied by a technical sheet (full scientific name, botanical family, location/collection, date,
technique, dimensions and relevant botanical observations). Digital files must be delivered in high resolution.

Who it is for

Open call for emerging or established botanical illustrators with demonstrable experience in scientific illustration.

Requirements and evaluation criteria

Demonstrable practice based on scientific rigour, direct observation and formal accuracy.
Particularly valued:
- Experience in scientific botanical illustration.
- Ability to work collaboratively with scientific teams.
- Interest in documentation and outreach projects.
- Basic knowledge of Catalan or Spanish (not mandatory, but highly recommended).

Non-discrimination principle

The Carl Faust Foundation carries out its activities in accordance with the principles of equality, inclusion and non-discrimination.
The selection process is based exclusively on criteria of artistic quality, professional rigour and suitability for the scientific and outreach project.

Call calendar 2026

Key dates (all in local time in Catalonia).

1 December

Call opens.

4 February – 15 April

Applications accepted (inclusive).

Second half of April

Pre-selection phase (not public).

30 April

Decision and official award.

Before 15 May

Communication to all applicants.

6 July

Resident arrival.

July – September

Residency period (3 months).

Required documentation

The application must be submitted digitally with the following materials.

Updated curriculum vitae.
Portfolio of work (recommended 8–15 pieces) indicating technique and year.
Motivation letter (1–2 pages).
Brief project proposal oriented to a scientific and curatorial framework.
Complete contact details.

Note: the absence of any of these documents may result in the exclusion of the application.

Recommended format

Links (portfolio/drive) instead of heavy attachments, if possible.
PDF for the CV and motivation letter.
Brief proposal: 1–2 pages, focused on documentation and outreach.

Selection process

How applications will be assessed

Applications will be assessed by a committee formed by representatives of the scientific direction, the scientific outreach department and external professionals (if applicable).

Acceptance of the guidelines

Submitting an application implies full acceptance of the guidelines, expressed by signing the corresponding form.

Usage rights and authorship

Authorship and licence

The author retains full authorship. The Carl Faust Foundation holds a non-exclusive, worldwide and indefinite licence of use
of the works produced within the residency, for scientific, educational, outreach, exhibition and institutional purposes,
with mandatory attribution of authorship.

Application

Fill in the form to submit your application. You can also download the guidelines.

Form

Reminder

Deadline: 15 April (inclusive).
Decision: 30 April.
Notification: before 15 May.
Arrival: 6 July.

Download the guidelines (PDF)