OPEN CALL! TTO Residency and Mentorship Scholarship

A One-Year Opportunity for Ghanaian Trans, Non-Binary, and Women Artist

Please read all the information on this page carefully before completing the application form below.

TTO Residency and Mentorship Scholarship: 

A One-Year Opportunity for Ghanaian Trans, Non-Binary, and Women Artists

Applications for the 2025 Artist Residency Program are open from 30th October until   20th of November 2025 (11:59PM GMT).

NOTE: The earlier you apply the higher your chances! Successful applicants will be notified by the 5th December 2025.

TTO Residency and Mentorship Scholarship

(Formerly the crazinisT artisT studiO Scholarship Award)

Program Overview

The TTO Residency and Mentorship Scholarship is a one-year program funded by Va-Bene and dedicated to supporting Ghanaian trans, non-binary, and women artists aged 18–30. It specifically assists early-career artists who face economic hardship, social exclusion, or political threats that limit their freedom of expression and artistic growth.

This initiative provides a safer, braver and nurturing environment away from potentially hostile communities, enabling participants to focus fully on developing their creative practice and artistic voice.

Eligibility Rationale

This opportunity is exclusively for Ghanaian artists who identify as trans, non-binary, or women. While queer and marginalised artists globally face shared challenges, privilege and access vary widely. Within Ghana’s local context, many queer young artists may experience increased vulnerability due to limited education, economic inequality, religious or ethnic discrimination, and systemic prejudice.

Although the perfocraZe International Artist Residency (pIAR) has hosted over 200 international artists over the years, participation from Ghanaian artists remains limited, largely due to the financial barriers that prevent many queer artists from dedicating time to their artistic practices. This new initiative therefore expands TTO's support to four emerging artists annually, ensuring they can commit to residency and creative development without financial constraints.

Funding and Support

To ensure an enabling and equitable environment for artistic development, focus and experimentation each selected participant will receive:

• A stipend of GHC 12,000, disbursed quarterly, to support research and production expenses.
• Free shared accommodation at TTO/pIAR for the entire residency period.
• Structured mentorship and artistic guidance provided by the director and other renowned guest artists, curators, and scholars who visit pIAR from both Ghana and internationally.
• Optional daily communal meals (three per day) available throughout the residency.

This support framework ensures that artists can immerse themselves fully in their creative process—free from economic and social constraints—while cultivating dialogue, collaboration, and confidence in their artistic journey.

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Eligible Disciplines

Open to artists working in:

• Performance Art
• Installation
• Poetry
• Fashion Design
• Music
• Dance
• Sound Art
• Archival Research (visual documentation and collections)
• Video Art
• Photography
• Filmmaking
• Creative Writing

Residency Details

• Open Call: October 30, 2025
• Application Deadline: November 20, 2025
• Residency Period: Begins January 1, 2026
• Duration: 12 months (full year)
• Location: perfocraZe International Artist Residency (pIAR) / crazinisT artisT studiO, Kumasi, Ghana

Participant Commitments

• Focus on an individual, self-directed project and present quarterly progress updates during open studio sessions.
• Reside on-site at TTO/pIAR for the full 12-month duration. A maximum of three research trips, each not exceeding two weeks, may be permitted — and may be partially funded if clearly justified and essential to the artist’s project.
• Organise a final exhibition (solo or group) at the end of the residency.
• Participate actively in all TTO/pIAR programs, including monthly peer-sharing sessions with international residents.

Terms and Conditions

• Extension: The scholarship may be extended if additional development is justified.
• Termination: Contracts may be ended after the first three months (no refund) if the participant deems the program unsuitable.
• Early Withdrawal: Termination before two months requires repayment of funds (except in emergencies).

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following online:

• Portfolio: 5–10 documentation files (images or videos) showcasing at least three distinct previous projects. Applicants unable to provide a portfolio will be invited to an interview session to assess their eligibility and artistic potential.
• Project Proposal: Outline of the work to be developed during the residency.
• Motivation Letter: Explain why TTO/pIAR is ideal for your growth.
• Availability: Confirm full-year commitment. Do not apply if you cannot commit to 12 months.
• Scholarship Interest Video (max 5 min): Record a 5-minute video of yourself explaining why you are an ideal candidate for the scholarship. You may speak in English or any Ghanaian language.
• Please submit your video in MP4 or MOV format.
• For shorter stays (4–12 weeks), apply to our Short-Term Residency Program instead.

Important Note

• This scholarship is strictly for Trans, Non-Binary, and Women Artists working within the disciplines listed above.
• Applicants seeking temporary relocation or emergency refuge without an artistic focus should apply to the TTO Temporal Relocation Program instead.

(works by artists in residence, check HERE to see the right credits)

perfocraZe International Artist Residency- [pIAR] is founded by the Ghanaian trans-woman, Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi (a.k.a crazinisT artisT), an internationally acclaimed multidisciplinary artivist, mentor, artvangelist, philanthropist and curator. pIAR  is hosted by “crazinisT artisT studiO” located in the hub of Kumasi, the second largest city of Ghana and the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom. It is an interdisciplinary artists program, performance ‘hatchery’, incubator, laboratory and interactive platform aimed at promoting exchange between international and local artists, activists, researchers, curators and thinkers. pIAR prioritises bridging the gap between the arts and the people as well reuniting the queer community and the family. pIAR was launched in 2018 after four years of its underground projects and has hosted over 120 artists from more than 25 countries since 2019.

Read more

https://www.crazinistartist.com/piar-artist-in-residency/

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1. Please read carefully before FILLING THE FORM BELOW THIS PAGE We do not accept application submissions outside of the FORM.
2. Deadline for application 20th November 2025 (11:59PM GMT)
3. NO application FEE! NO Residency FEE!
4. Prepare all documents before filling the form; the application processes CAN NOT be saved for later completion.
5. Copy and paste the following documents into the appropriate text boxes provided in the form
   • BIO (Not more than 300 words)
   • CV (Not more than 500 words)
   • Project Proposal (500)
   • MOTIVATION LETTER/STATEMENT OF PURPOSE (Not more than 300 words)
6. Your BIO and ARTIST STATEMENT will be used for publications, advertisement and in promotional materials. PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO IMPRESS US WITH SENSITIVE INFORMATION YOU DO NOT WISH TO SHARE IN PUBLIC.
7. Make sure you provide a non-expiring downloadable link to your portfolios Eg. Google drive, Dropbox, etc with open access or added password. (please strictly use the format below)
   • Images -JPG/JPEG
   • Videos- MP4/ MOV
   • sounds-MP3
8. CONFIRMATION- You should see this pop up as soon as your application has been successfully submitted: "Success! Your form was sent. pIAR Team will contact you in the next few days. If in 60 days you do not receive any email from us, please do follow up via email: piarvirtualstudio@gmail.com"
9. If you encounter any difficulties in filling the application form, please send emails to piarvirtualstudio@gmail.com to book appoint for help.
10. Applicants shall be invited for online interview (ZOOM VIDEO CALL) within the first 6 weeks after their application is received.

1. pIAR is suitable for artists working in performance, 'artivism' (art+activism) videos, photography, film, interactive/performative installations, interventions, graffiti, murals, curating, writing, storytelling and music/dance who want to explore beyond their comforts and privileges or vulnerabilities.
2. pIAR IS A HOPE FOR ARTISTIC & CULTURAL ADVENTURE: Participants must be willing and ready to take the challenges and responsibilities in navigating the socio-cultural complexities within Ghana, Kumasi and its environs.
3. pIAR emerged as a matter of urgency and the need for a safe space for a communal solidarity, radical empathy, learning, unlearning and deconstructing colonial histories and representations. Be mindful that there might be very heavy political and emotional discussions.
4. pIAR is self-funded with low budget so we do not have "sophisticated" studios and equipments. If you have any special need kindly speak with the team before you apply piarvirtualstudio@gmail.com
5. pIAR is built on the notions and intersections of activism, radical empathy, performativity, documentation and archiving. NOTE: All participants and activities at pIAR are randomly documented for archival purpose, websites and social media promotions.
6. Artists have the opportunity to live and collaborate with other artists from a wide range of disciplines, professional experience, ethnicities, cultures and ages.
7. Free accommodation (shared DORMS and facilities) Note that there is no private room at pIAR (except your private single bed)
8. Participants should at least be able to communicate in English
9. Participant agree to participate in all compulsory in-person presentations (All residents will introduce their practice in the first 8 days of the month.