Villa Mathilde

Villa Mathilde is a residency program with the ambition to welcome and nurture the creativity of artists from all backgrounds and disciplines. The residency is the result of an encounter between Manon Sailly, gallery owner and contemporary art professional, and Mathieu Chavaren, painter and visual artist, united in their desire to offer artists a unique place to work and find inspiration, as well as to contribute in the creation of a community in the Basque Country dedicated to art in all its forms. The residency is open to established artists as well as young artists and candidates demonstrating great potential for creativity. The program owes its name from the one engraved on the stone of the 19th-century building housing those “Ateliers” in Arcangues. The Villa is thus part of a specific environment and history, and is rooted in the authentic and exceptional character of the region. Material and financial resources are provided to support the artist's approach, but above all to potentially open up new horizons and new spaces for thought. The philosophy of the place is to detach reflective capacity from the obligation to produce, in order to explore new fields that only the location and local exchanges can bring to fruition: to take the time to think and create, while maintaining high artistic standards. The notion of community and exchange is at the heart of the project. Therefore, it is important in the program's philosophy to set aside time for encounters with other local artists and art professionals, as well as less initiated audiences (young people, senior citizens or simple amateurs).