What if we looked at the landscapes of Honfleur differently? In partnership with the festival, the Ferme Saint Siméon is launching a new call for applications for an artist residency for a young artist graduating from a higher art school in Normandy. Scheduled for February-March 2027, this residency offers the opportunity to explore contemporary landscapes and their transformations in a location emblematic of the history of Impressionism.
An artistic legacy to be continued
Perched on the heights of Honfleur, overlooking the Seine estuary, the Ferme Saint Siméon holds a special place in the history of Impressionism. In the 19th century, this former inn welcomed artists who came to paint the landscapes of the region. Eugène Boudin, in particular, frequented Claude Monet there and encouraged him to observe the variations in the sky, the interplay of light, and the changing atmosphere.
Today, the Ferme Saint Siméon seeks to keep this history alive by opening its doors to contemporary creation. Developed in partnership with Normandie Impressionniste, its residency program has already hosted several artists, including Julien des Monstiers, Françoise Pétrovitch, and Fujiko Nakaya, each of whom has explored the links between art, landscape, and the environment in their own way.
To mark the centenary of Claude Monet's death on December 5, 2026, this new residency intends to continue this momentum by giving a young Norman artist the opportunity to develop a personal work in contact with this place steeped in history.
Honfleur, a territory to observe and reinvent
How can we represent a landscape today, in an era where territories are evolving under the influence of human activities and environmental transformations? This is one of the questions that this residency invites us to explore.
Around Honfleur, the landscapes overlap and transform: old streets and quays stand alongside port infrastructure, industrial zones, and the flow of goods from the estuary. Just a few kilometers from the sites that inspired the Impressionist painters, an environment emerges marked by economic exchanges, territorial changes, and the evolving relationship between humankind and nature.
This diversity provides fertile ground for exploration for artists. Landscape, light, memory, atmosphere, and urban and industrial transformations can all inform their research, without being imposed themes. The aim is not to reproduce Impressionist aesthetics, but to extend its attention to reality by offering a unique perspective on the contemporary world.
The residence
The selected artist will benefit from a 10-15 day stay at Ferme Saint Siméon in February-March 2027. This immersion period will allow them to observe the territory, develop their research and experiment with new creative avenues.
In their application, the artist should specify, as much as possible:
- The project or research avenues considered;
- The approximate number of works he or she expects to produce during the residency;
- The formats under consideration;
- The media and techniques used;
- Any specific technical or material requirements.
An exhibition at the end of the residency (or later) may be considered.
If the project requires a longer production time, the artist can also continue working in their studio after the residency. The possibility of subsequently exhibiting this work will be discussed with the artist and will be considered by Ferme Saint Siméon and the Normandie Impressionniste team.
The residency will include a lump sum payment of €5,000 from Ferme Saint Siméon. In return, the selected artist will donate a work created during the residency, chosen by them, to be added to the establishment's collection.
Who can apply?
The call is addressed to artists who:
- have graduated from a higher art school located in Normandy within the last ten years;
- develop a practice in the field of visual arts.
All artistic proposals are welcome, subject to their compatibility with the conditions of reception and work of the residency.
How to participate?
The application file must include three elements:
- An artistic CV, presenting the candidate's background;
- A statement of intent, outlining the research or creative avenues envisaged (1 page maximum) ;
- A portfolio or a selection of works, allowing the jury to understand the artistic approach of the candidate.
The project does not need to be fully defined beforehand: the residency is primarily conceived as a period of observation, experimentation, and research. Applicants may, however, specify the works they intend to produce, their formats, and their media.
Selection
- The jury, composed of professionals from the world of culture, will meet at the Ferme Saint Siméon on December 3, 2026.
- The name of the selected artist will be announced on December 5, 2026, the centenary of Claude Monet's death.
- The residency will take place in February-March 2027, according to dates defined with the selected artist.
Application
- Application deadline: November 19, 2026
- Send your application to: residence@fermesaintsimeon.fr
