India | Last Ship artist residency 2025–2026

Last Ship artist studios are calling for application from international and national artists for their residencies of 6 to 8 weeks between mid-October 2025 and March 2026 near the UNESCO World Heritage temples of Khajuraho, India. 

Little known prehistoric and ancient historic sites in this region tell parts of a story more than 10,000 years old, of the Mughals, the Chandelas, going back to the Guptas, the Kushans, the Shungas and the Indo-Greeks all the way to prehistoric cave-dwellers, revealing secrets of the birth of the philosophies of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and their common Tantric spiritual traditions. The artists of the residency are invited to have their own experience of this heritage, like the sadhus, aghoris, and mystics who make solitary pilgrimages through this region.

The residency at Last Ship does not ask for a tangible outcome from the artist. The artist can choose to create work or not, or may spend time in contemplation, research, exploration without tangible results. What is expected is respect for Last Ship is some degree of participation and engagement with its community, as much as the artists personal space and own rules of engagement permit. 

Support

Each artist will be provided with a studio, accommodation, food and local travel for the duration of the residency. 

Last Ship residency application guidelines

Deadlines: 

• 14 July 2025 (mid-October to December 2025 residencies) 
• 7 August 2025 (December 2025 to January 2026 residencies)
• 6 September 2025 (February to March 2026 residencies)