AiR Villa Sonnenberg

Villa Sonnenberg is now accepting applic­a­tions for their 2026 Artist-in-Resid­ence Programme.

The theme for the year is «In Motion». Full details of the call for applic­a­tions can be found in the full terms and condi­tions: Open Call 2026

The Villa Sonnen­berg Found­a­tion invites profes­sional artists of all discip­lines to apply for a three-month resid­ency in 2026. The resid­ency programme is exclus­ively for indi­viduals.

The Foundation Villa Sonnenberg

The 250-year-old Villa Sonnen­berg was once the country estate, family home, restaurant and resid­ence of the composer Peter Mieg. It was modern­ised in 1914 and has recently been completely renov­ated.

Today Villa Sonnen­berg is one of the most valu­able cultural assets in Switzer­land. Both the building and  garden are protected by the canton and the federal govern­ment. The found­a­tion is committed to preserving the histor­ical monu­ment and bringing it to life to the benefit and enjoy­ment of the public. For this reason, we operate a cultural guest house in Villa Sonnen­berg and promote inter­na­tional art and cultural exchange with an “Artist in Resid­ence” programme. The artistic work of our studio guests is given new impetus and the oppor­tunity to develop further at Villa Sonnen­berg.

The villa is located in Lenzburg, Switzer­land, an area which has an impressive variety of museums and a rich programme of events. There are some lovely walks right on the door­step of Villa Sonnen­berg.

The residency

As an artist in residence, you will have the opportunity to realise a project related to the annual theme and to participate in everyday life at Villa Sonnenberg. The estate with its historic buildings and picturesque garden has been recently renovated and is open for events, conferences, and overnight guests. During your residency, you will contribute through various events (workshops, exhibitions, readings, concerts, etc.). Your residency will culminate in a final public exhibition or presentation of your work.

For more information read the Open Call document.

Duration of residency

Studio residencies at Villa Sonnenberg usually last three months:

• Mid-May to mid-August 2026
• Mid-September to mid-December 2026

Please indicate all time slots that are possible for you and prioritise them in your application. Attendance of at least 80% is a prerequisite.

Accommodation

You will stay in a modern studio on the top floor of the main house with a small, equipped kitchen and private bathroom. Bed linen, bath towels and cleaning materials are provided. You are responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of the studio and the infrastructure used. The studio has a WIFI connection. Smoking is prohibited in the entire house and all outbuildings. We cannot accept pets. The studio is for single use.

Application

Please read the full applic­a­tion docu­ments and submit a project proposal based on the year’s theme «In Motion».

Find more information about application documents and how to apply on villasonnenberg.ch and in the Open Call

Deadline is 31 May 2025.

The final decisions of the residences of 2026 will be made in the end of August 2025.