Artist Residency Program

Artist Residency, Wahat al-Salam~Neve Shalom

The artists’ residency of Wahat al-Salam~Neve Shalom invites Israeli and Palestinian artists to come for a three-month stay at the “House of the Keepers of Silence.” The program offers an open,safe space for artists seeking to create, develop, and present works in the fields of theater/music/cinema/visual arts/new media/literature etc..

Wahat al-Salam~Neve Shalom is a cooperative village where Jewish and Arab families, all Israeli citizens, live together in a shared, egalitarian society. The village was established in the late 1970s on the lands of Latrun Monastery. In the vision of Bruno Hussar, a monk and  founder of the village, “faith in the victory of love over hatred is the truest and deepest goal of the peace village.” Today, the village operates a bilingual, binational education system attended by children from the village and the entire region, and the School for Peace for adult courses. Additionally, the village has cultural and visitors centers.

The House of the Keepers of Silence is the house in which the village founder, Bruno Hussar, and his partner, Anne Le Meignen, lived. Anne dedicated her life to the village and focused her work primarily on the Spiritual Center – a pluralistic community cultural center. Next to the House of the Keepers of Silence is the Doumia Sakina, a dome for prayer and meditation by people of all religions and nations.

Anne’s will provided her home, a “modest and special house would serve to host people of spirit, culture, and art.” Her heart’s desire was that any artist who dwells  in the house for a significant period would be inspired by the spirit of the place, create there, and conduct participatory activities in the community.

We expect that the artist’s activity within the community will be unique, and it will be one that takes its final shape during their stay, each according to their field of endeavor, and  in coordination with the residency team.

The program offers three potential “artist residency” periods.

When submitting an application, candidates must indicate which of these periods they would be available for, should they be selected. The three residency periods:

• April 18 – July 18, 2027
• August 1 – October 31, 2027
• November 14, 2027 – February 14, 2028

(The residency duration is three months)

The program provides the participant with:

1- A modest, unique, fully equipped and furnished home situated near the spiritual and silence center, set in a rural atmosphere. Home maintenance and basic expenses are covered by the host organization (the village’s educational association).

The home will serve as both a living and working space for the artists.

2- In addition to the residency housing, the participant will receive a monthly stipend of 2,000 NIS as a work grant for the project.

3- Artistic guidance.

4- An opportunity to present the artistic outcome within the village, which features a gallery, a performance and workshop center, studios, and other public spaces available for the participant’s use, accompanied by artistic guidance and curatorial support from the residency team.

Application Submission Documents

1 – Artistic proposal and statement of intent: Candidates must submit a clear artistic proposal for the work they plan to create during their stay in the village. This should include a description of the artistic process they intend to undertake with and in collaboration with the community. The proposal must be accompanied by a letter of intent detailing the work the candidate plans to create during the residency, as well as their goals and intended contributions within their field of interest.

2 – Portfolio.

3 – Curriculum Vitae (CV), including details of the candidate’s experience working with and within communities.

4 – Letter of recommendation.

5 – All required documents must be sent in a single email to: residency@nswas.info

Application Submission

o The deadline for this call for applications is December 6, 2026.

o Responses will be sent to applicants approximately one month after the submission deadline.

By submitting an application, the candidate acknowledges that there is no guarantee of acceptance into the residency program. Acceptance is subject to the sole discretion of the selection committee.

Artistic Direction and Curatorship: Tama Krudo Weiss.