Time, space
and a relationship.
An artist residency in Vieques, Puerto Rico, for research, experimentation and projects in dialogue with the Caribbean.
Fuerte Conde de Mirasol · Vieques’ cultural context · Photograph: Marco Caridad.
Research.
Experiment.
Share.
Biolumina welcomes contemporary artists interested in process, experimentation and situated research. We welcome visual art, performance, video, sound, textile and other practices that can develop in conversation with place.
Each stay combines independent work with local guidance. Public exchanges are developed with the artist and our collaborators, and may take the form of a workshop, conversation, studio visit or presentation of work in progress.
- Location
- Villa Borinquen, Vieques, Puerto Rico · Caribbean
- Format
- One residency at a time; the 2027 cycle provides for stays of one to two weeks.
- Includes
- Accommodation, private studio space, Wi-Fi, local orientation and arrival guidance.
- Fees
- No application or programme fees.
- Artist expenses
- Transportation and meals only.
- Selection
- Independent jury review, with interviews where appropriate.
2027 open call closed.
Applications reopen in December every year. We will publish the dates, guidelines and application form on this website and through our official channels.
Application dates & how to applyThinking
with others.
Biolumina invites curators to engage with artistic processes through studio visits, research and conversations with artists in residence and artists based in Vieques. Visits are arranged according to their relevance to the practices and projects developing here.
BCR — Biolumina Curatorial Research accepts applications from curators based in any country or territory for three-day, two-night stays, with accommodation and ferry covered. The annual artist residency open call has a separate process.
Jessica L. Ambler, Ph.D.
Guest curator supporting and bringing together the 2026 cohort. Her stay is scheduled for January 3–8, 2027, as part of the curatorial work connecting the resident artists’ processes.
Before you arrive.
Where is Biolumina located?
Biolumina is in Villa Borinquen, Vieques, an island municipality of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. It is an independent artist residency and a nonprofit program of Fundación Casa Mi Rey.
Flights to Vieques look expensive. Is there a more affordable way to get there?
Yes. Vieques is a small island separate from the main island of Puerto Rico. If you search for an itinerary with Vieques as your final destination, the price may include a connecting flight to the island.
An economical option is to fly to San Juan (SJU), take a taxi or ground transfer to the Ceiba ferry terminal, then take the ferry to Vieques.
The published ferry fare for adults aged 13–59 is US$2 each way: US$4 round trip, checked on October 18, 2026. The taxi or ground transfer is paid separately, and additional baggage may cost extra. Compare the total cost of both routes.
Before booking flights, check the current fares and Ceiba–Vieques schedules and tickets on Puerto Rico Ferry.
How long is the residency?
The 2027 cycle provides for stays of one to two weeks, with one residency at a time. Dates and project needs are agreed with the selected artists.
When does the next application round open?
Applications reopen in December every year. The application round for the 2027 cohort is closed, and the artists have been selected.
We will publish the dates, guidelines and application form on this website and through our official channels.
What are the studio and accommodation like?
The experience is simple and immersive, in a tropical setting. Each resident has a private space to live and work. Specific living conditions and project needs are discussed before the stay is confirmed.
What equipment is available?
Studio equipment includes a large-format loom, a large-format tufting frame and a tufting gun, two sewing machines, a laser printer, a photo printer, a laser cutter, a ceramic kiln, three projectors, a laptop, a camera for photography and video, photography and video lights, a tripod for a camera or phone, an iPad and a VR headset.
Please check availability and compatibility with your project. Work is independent, with no on-site technicians.
How does the public exchange work?
Activities are developed in conversation with the artist and a school, cultural organization or collaborating space in Vieques. The location, format and participants are specific to each proposal. Activities may take the form of a workshop, conversation, studio visit or presentation of work in progress.
Are there application or programme fees?
Applying and taking part in the program are free. Artists only need to cover their transportation and meals.
We are applying for grants so we can offer selected artists a stipend. We have not yet secured this funding, so no stipends are currently available.
Must I donate an artwork? Is there an annual exhibition and a publication?
Biolumina brings together work from each cohort in an annual residents’ exhibition. Each artist in residence is required to donate one artwork for the exhibition; the work becomes part of Fundación Casa Mi Rey’s collection. The exhibition and the residents’ contributions are brought together in a book publication.
Can I discuss access needs?
Yes. The natural terrain includes uneven surfaces and areas that may present mobility challenges. Please contact us before applying or confirming a stay so we can discuss current conditions and your needs.
Annual residents’
exhibition.
Biolumina brings together work from each cohort in an annual residents’ exhibition. Each artist in residence is required to donate one artwork for the exhibition; the work becomes part of Fundación Casa Mi Rey’s collection. The exhibition and the residents’ contributions are brought together in a book publication.