Open Call – Tableware Design Residency

Villa Hegra – Campus Mana (France)

Campus Mana, Burgundy, France
June 1 – July 10, 2026
6-week immersive residency

Villa Hegra, in collaboration with Campus Mana, launches an open call for a 6-week residency bringing together creatives from Saudi Arabia.
Set in the heart of Burgundy, a region with strong artisanal traditions, this program offers a unique opportunity to explore the dialogue between French craftsmanship and Saudi contemporary practices.
The program is supported by the Culinary Commission of the Saudi Ministry of Culture.

Objective

Design and develop a tableware collection for Villa Hegra. Participants will create a series of prototypes, and a selection of pieces may be refined for small-scale production.

The residency also serves as a platform for inspiration and dissemination, potentially extending through exhibitions, publications, and conferences.

Materials and Creative Focus

The residency will explore different disciplines related to the art of the table:

textile (including basketry, caning, and leather marquetry)
wood (marquetry, small furniture, and accessories)
ceramics (earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware)
metal (copper and brass)

The residency brings together residents and local artisans, encouraging lasting professional connections. This approach aims to rethink tableware design while highlighting the richness of traditional craftsmanship within a strong cross-cultural perspective.

Program Structure

Week 1

Introduction to Nerikomi technique (ceramics)
Introduction to glazed lava technique (ceramics)

Week 2

Introduction to stained glass in tableware
Introduction to wax techniques

Week 3

Introduction to Boulle marquetry (wood)
Introduction to vegetal and textile basketry

Week 4

Introduction to carving techniques
Launch of prototype development

Week 5

Prototype follow-up with the Head of Workshops at Campus Mana

Week 6

Prototype follow-up with the Head of Workshops at Campus Mana
Introduction to natural dyeing (textile)

Artistic Direction

Gaël Charbau and Basmah Felemban (Villa Hegra)
Thomas Dariel (Campus Mana)

Who Can Apply?

Saudi designers, artisans, artists with an interest in material experimentation and collaborative production within a residency environment.

Why Apply?

Immersion in Burgundy and engagement with local craftsmanship
Access to specialized workshops and unique technical expertise
Artistic and technical guidance throughout the residency

Exchange with fellow designers, artisans, and artists
End-to-end development, from design to prototype production
Potential for full scale production and retail in liaison with the institution

Application requirements

Please submit a complete application including:

Motivation letter
CV
Portfolio of relevant projects and previous work (PDF or link)

Applicants are encouraged to address the following in their motivation letter:

A brief description of your practice
Your methodology: how you work, your approach, and the materials you use
Why you are interested in this residency
Any relevant experience with materials, fabrication, or working with artisans
Your approach to collaboration

Applications must be submitted via email to rsvp@villahegra.org before 10 May 2026.

About Villa Hegra

Villa Hegra is the first joint Saudi–French cultural foundation in AlUla. Inaugurated in October 2025 by His Highness Prince Badr bin Farhan Al Saud, it supports contemporary creation and cross-cultural exchange across multiple artistic disciplines.

Located in the central Sukhairat neighborhood of AlUla, Villa Hegra hosts artist residencies and studios, workshop and exhibition spaces, as well as a cultural hub including AlUla’s first indoor cinema and performing arts studio

Since 2023, Villa Hegra has hosted artists, designers and researchers in residency, including:

French designer Paul-Emilieu Marchesseau, who has worked on creating sustainable pieces for the Villa’s design studios in close collaboration with Saudi artisans (2024-2025);
Badr Ali, a Saudi visual artist who collaborated with the Swiss brand USM on creating customized furniture for the Villa’s spaces, with an off-site exhibition at the MATTER and SHAPE design fair in Paris (2025-2026);
Saudi artist Bashaer Hawsawi, who was invited to a research residency at the Mobilier national in Paris, discovering local craftsmanship and unique traditional techniques;
French artist Théo Mercier, who developed preparatory work for his major installation “House of Eternity” at the 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Biennale (2025-2026).

Villa Hegra is positioned within the international network of residencies Viva Villa, alongside institutions such as Villa Medici (Rome), Villa Kujoyama (Kyoto), Casa de Velázquez (Madrid), Villa Albertine (USA), and Villa Swagatam (India), encouraging cross-residencies within an international context.

https://www.villahegra.org

About Campus Mana

Campus MaNa is a place of life and creativity, a professional training center offering an unprecedented experiential learning experience in France. It brings together professionals from the fields of innovation, design, architecture, and craftsmanship, and welcomes curious individuals from around the world.

It is the dream of Thomas Dariel and Sophie Dariel, brought to life in Burgundy, just two hours from Paris.

Campus MaNa offers immersive residential professional training programs in the fields of design, architecture, crafts, and fine arts. The campus is equipped with a wide range of high-level workshops, including wood, metal, ceramics, color, and other specialized practices, providing students with access to professional-grade tools and facilities that foster hands-on experimentation and excellence in making.

Located in Champignelles, Burgundy, Campus MaNa is nestled in a preserved green environment. Bocages, forests, and ponds form the exceptional natural spaces of La Puisaye, classified under the “Natura 2000” label. The area offers hiking trails, cycling routes, and encounters with history, such as Colette’s birthplace, the Saint-Fargeau Castle, and the medieval construction site of the Guédelon Castle, showcasing ancestral artisanal know-how.