Common Grounds project brings together artists, researchers, and local communities to address the underlying issues of urban and rural regeneration. Led by a consortium of three partners — La Citadelle de Marseille (FRA), Gradoscope (BG), and Fundación RIA (ESP) — the project aims to build collaborations that will be woven around three European sites facing soil pollution issues, engaging a diverse range of people and expertise: Stochna Gara, Sofia (Bulgaria), a disused freight railway station in downtown Sofia, La Citadelle de Marseille (France) a former military site in the heart of the city, and Froxán communal land community, Galicia (Spain), a wooded area formerly home to mines dedicated to war munitions production.
Through artist residencies and collaborations between ecologists, artists, mediators, residents, public authorities, and businesses, Common Grounds aims to create new narratives and perspectives on the role of soil in contemporary societies. The project is open to any proposal that could range from physical interventions to video installations and performances.
Artists from all fields are invited to participate, including visual art, architecture, video, photography, arts and crafts, performing arts, installation, and digital arts.
One local artist will be selected for joint research and production residency at each of the partner spaces. The residency programme lasts for six months between June and December 2025. Residency dates are:
- Sofia, Bulgaria, 2 June – 27 July 2025
- Marseille, France, 18 August – 12 October 2025.
- Galicia, Spain, 27 October – 21 December 2025
There are no limits on nationality, age, race, ethnicity, religion and gender. However, candidates must be settled in either Marseille (France), Sofia (Bulgaria), or Galicia (Spain).
The award for each artist selected will include artistic fees (2,000–3,00 EUR/residency), housing fees for non-local artists (400–500 EUR/month), production grants (2,000–5,000 EUR/residency), and the coverage of transportation costs (250–400 EUR/trip). Each partner will provide working spaces and human support during the residency period.
