As part of the Rawabet project, the CNCM VOCE is launching a call for residencies specifically open to artists from the Arab region who have emigrated to Europe since 2015.
RAWABET
Rawabet is a cultural development, residency and exchange project bringing together several cultural organisations operating in Europe. Led by Ettijahat - Independent Culture (Beirut/Brussels), Rawabet is implemented in partnership with CNCM VOCE, Gezmataz (Genoa, Italy), coculture (Berlin, Germany), Masahat for Arab Culture in Exile (Oslo, Norway) and Transversal Project (Malmo, Sweden).
The project aims to help artists from the Arab world who have recently emigrated to Europe to develop their careers and facilitate their mobility in Europe. It mobilises shared experiences to promote innovation, solidarity and the involvement of different audiences in Europe with the aim of dismantling stereotypes and respecting the rights of refugees and migrants. The project also contributes to promoting freedom of expression and connecting artists from the Arab world who have recently arrived in Europe with professional networks, providing them with resources to conceptualise their projects and test new practices with other artists from Europe.
Rawabet is a project supported and co-funded by the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture.
The views and opinions expressed in this project are those of the project partners and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible.
CNCM VOCE
The CNCM VOCE's cultural project is rooted in the idea that contemporary musical creation, at its most innovative, is not necessarily the prerogative of capitals or metropolitan areas, and that it can, and indeed must, take root in rural areas provided they are rich in a strong musical tradition, as is the case in Balagne and more widely in Corsica.
The centre is positioned at the crossroads between the promotion of intangible cultural heritage, constituted by centuries of so-called "traditional" or "ancient" musical practices in Corsica and the Mediterranean region, and contemporary sound creation at its most innovative, in terms of harmony, timbre or texture, but also in terms of listening and experience. We regard artistic innovation as the fruit of surprising, diagonal and far-flung encounters. We aim to encourage the hybridisation of art forms and repertoires by promoting cross-disciplinary approaches. We also aim to help de-stigmatise what is known as "tradition" by restoring the density and intensity of creative practices and techniques that have been confined and stifled in the category of "folklore".
CALL FOR RESIDENCIES
The call is open to musicians, composers, artists and companies with a musical project who have been established in a European country between 2015 and the present day.
Eligible nationalities: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
Candidate artists must hold a residence permit or dual nationality authorising them to reside in the country where they are established.
Other criteria:
- Artists who have already released at least one album or EP
- Solo artists or groups of 2 to 6 members maximum
- Original composition (projects already broadcast are ineligible)
RESIDENCY TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The CNCM VOCE welcomes musicians, composers, artists and companies for a residency at its facilities in Pigna (Corsica) as part of their musical creation project. An artistic project can be hosted at any stage of its creation. Any musical or multidisciplinary project with music as a fundamental element can be carried out as part of an artistic residency. The Rawabet residencies will take place in the first quarter of 2026 for a period of 10 days. The residency period will culminate in an open performance, at no cost to the local public, which will take place at the Pigna Auditorium.
An audio and video recording will be made of each residency. The artists in residence will rehearse and record a musical composition of at least 45 minutes (any number of tracks). VOCE will supervise and provide the equipment, venue, facilities and professional support for the audio and video recording of each project.
Between 3 and 4 tracks recorded during each residency will be selected to appear on an audio compilation dedicated to the Rawabet project. VOCE will supervise the mixing and mastering of the selected tracks and coordinate the production and distribution of the compilation in digital format via the Casa Editions label.
To encourage the circulation of artists in Europe, the artists will also be offered performance opportunities.
The CNCM VOCE provides:
-Logistical, administrative and legal support for the residency;
-Transportation from port to port, preferably*;
-Accommodation and meals for the artistic team;
- The remuneration of the artistic team : each musician will receive a gross remuneration of €850, corresponding to the full employer cost;
-Access to the Auditorium di Pigna and the centre's music rooms;
-Adapted stage management support provided by a sound technician and a lighting technician;
-A dedicated moment for cultural participation in the form of presentations, discussions or exchanges with local audiences;
-Invitation to the centre's events (concerts, conferences, workshops, etc.) during the residency period;
-Audiovisual recording of the residency presentation, made available to the artistic team for non-commercial use;
-The recording in audio format, made available to the artistic team for commercial and non-commercial use. Only the tracks selected for inclusion in the project's audio compilation will be mixed and mastered;
-SACEM or SACD regulations
*Special transport conditions may be defined on a case-by-case basis: reimbursements, rail transport to departure ports, air transport, vehicle hire, etc.
APPLY
To be considered and accepted, a complete residency application must include:
1. The present residency application form, fully completed
2. A download link (Drive, Dropbox, WeTransfer, GrosFichier, etc.) containing the following documents:
a) A detailed presentation file of the artistic project
b) An Excel file with logistical, budgetary, and technical information
c) Communication materials, including:
- High-resolution visuals and photos (of the artist, stage, project, rehearsals, etc.), ideally including one vertical and one horizontal image of good quality
- Videos (YouTube links, live recordings, teasers, excerpts, etc.) or audio samples
SELECTION PROCESS
Residency applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of representatives from CNCM VOCE, Gezmataz, and Ettijahat–Independent Culture, based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of the project's core concept
- Practical and technical feasibility
- Artistic quality of the project
- Creative background and experience of the artistic team
Priority will be given to candidates originating from countries that have faced significant economic, political, and/or social crises in recent years, and who hold refugee status in Europe. The center is also committed to the representation and inclusion of women and LGBTQIA+ individuals in the cultural and artistic sectors.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 15, 2025
For any questions, please feel free to contact us at the following email address: alba@voce.corsica