At Tafaria, creativity is not confined to studios & galleries.

It is a place where creativity connects artistic disciplines and reveals how the arts sustain and enrich modern living. Here, the arts are applied to science, agriculture, tourism, conservation, learning and daily experiences in ways you can see, hear, smell, taste and touch.

Tafaria Applied Arts Tour- What you get

Come and discover how the arts can be applied in your everyday life to make living more convenient, efficient and aesthetically appealing.

That the arts are not an abstract but a reality that can be part of your day to day life.

You will experience immersive art tours and see how the arts have been applied in day to day architecture, space planning, in farming, in science, conservation, communication, tourism, environmental care, food, fashion and general aesthetics

This immersive journey reveals how we have applied the arts to science, agriculture, conservation, tourism and daily life in ways you can see, hear, smell, taste and touch.

Tafaria Center for the Arts is a multidisciplinary arts center located in rural Kenya in the Laikipia countryside at Tafaria Castle.

The center promotes the use of the arts for happier social and economic outcomes and is supported by Tafaria Castle, Tafaria Foundation and other collaborating organizations and individuals.

Here, local and international artists, researchers and scientists come to create away from disruptions through our sponsored or self-funded art residencies.

Tafaria Center for the Arts Facilities

At Tafaria Center for the Arts, creatives get access to a range of facilities including workshops, studios, materials, exhibition galleries, recording studios, a performing arts auditorium, meeting rooms, full board accommodation and recreational amenities.

Art Activities at the Center

The center also facilitates connections with local communities for co-creation and cultural interactions. Additionally, the center offers professional lessons in painting, pottery, music, fashion design, and sculpture, conducted by our resident artists.

Visitors also immerse themselves in the arts through guided tours of our various art installations, galleries, museum, and herbarium.

To create at the center, apply for a residency through thearts@tafaria.com.

About Tafaria Art Residencies

Fully sponsored residencies:

Art residencies at Tafaria Center for the Arts are supported by Tafaria Foundation. The Foundation provides in-kind grants comprised of:

1. ⁠⁠⁠Full board accommodation at the creative hub and meals at the canteen
2. ⁠Use of all studios (fashion, pottery, music recording, painting, beauty, culinary, sculpture)
3. ⁠ ⁠⁠Use of workshops and some equipment
4. ⁠Art materials
5. ⁠⁠Facilitation for linkages with local communities
6. ⁠ ⁠⁠Use of Galleries
7. ⁠ ⁠Use of the auditorium
8. ⁠Recreational amenities
9. ⁠Office space and supplies

About self-sponsored residencies

For self-funded residencies, the Foundation provides in-kind grants that cover:

1. Use of all studios (fashion, pottery, music recording, painting, beauty, culinary, sculpture)
2. ⁠ ⁠⁠Use of workshops and some equipment
3. ⁠ ⁠Art materials
4. ⁠⁠Facilitation for linkages with local communities
5. ⁠ ⁠⁠Use of Galleries
6. ⁠Use of the auditorium
7. ⁠Recreational amenities
8. ⁠Office space and supplies

The Foundation does not cover meals & accommodation as this is self-funded. One can choose to stay at the Creatives Hub residencies for a modest fee or at the country lodge.

Both self-funded and fully funded residencies do not cover the following:

1. ⁠Insurance
2. ⁠Travel to the residency
3. ⁠ ⁠Airline tickets, visa application costs. Tafaria Can provide official documentation to help you in your visa applications.
4. ⁠ ⁠Extra living expenses and drinks

Residency expectations:

Artists/scientist or researchers applying for fully sponsored residencies are required to:

1. Work/involve the local community members particularly the youth in their work
2. ⁠ ⁠Using locally available materials where possible (particularly for visual artists)
3. Original ideas inspired by the local environmental (No carry over projects unless for self-funded residency)

Tafaria Art Residency FAQs

Are art collectives eligible for the residency?

Typically, not but sometimes Tafaria does calls that require collaborations. However, for self-funded residency, yes, collectives are eligible for the residency.

Does Tafaria own my work after the residency?

No, the work produced whilst in residence belongs to the artist. They may credit Tafaria if they so wish but it is not mandatory. Tafaria however encourages arts to leave some work behind to inspire others (Visitors & artists). All works produced in residence is copyrighted to the artist under the KECOBO via the National Rights Registry.

Are workspaces provided during the residency?

Yes, we have working spaces available. Tafaria is a residency program providing access studios, workshops, exhibition spaces etc during residency. Access to these spaces is managed by the center staff according to the needs of each artist. In case an artist wishes to make an installation at a public space e.g. a school, market, church etc, the same is facilitated by the Center where possible.

Can I use the Center equipment during the residency?

Absolutely, there is always the possibility of borrowing some Center equipment during the residency period depending on the availability.

Are the Center spaces accessible by people with reduced mobility?

The Center spaces are partially accessible for those with reduced mobility, although if additional assistance is required it can be arranged with artists who require it. This needs prior arrangement.

Is there an application fee?

There is no application fee. All applications unless otherwise stated are made and processed for free.

Can I submit an existing idea during my application?

Existing ideas for sponsored residencies are not eligible for this residency. Creatives are encouraged to take the formative days in residence to ideate inspired by their new residency environment or based on pre-determined themes if specified on the call.

Is there any letter or agreement to sign before residency commencement?

Yes; all participating artists sign a Letter of Agreement with the residency terms and conditions.

Are spouses and other visitors allowed to visit me during the residency

Yes, all are allowed as regular visitors to the center with prior reservations.

Are pets allowed at the residency

NO

Will I be contacted if my application is not successful?

All applicants are notified once the selection process for each call is complete.

Can Tafaria provide me support to obtain funding for my residency?

We can provide official documentation to help you in your applications for self-funded residency funding from other sources if you don’t qualify for a Tafaria sponsored residency.

How are artists selected for the residency?

The selection is undertaken by a committee composed of Tafaria staff and invited external professionals who reflect a diverse set of expertise and perspectives and lived experiences.

On what criteria are the applications evaluated?

This is largely based on how well one articulates/responds to the various objectives of the call, evidenced experience and general approaches to the stated theme. One must be an established or emerging local or international artist.

What disciplines do you accept?

We accept applications from all creative disciplines, including but not exclusively: visual artists, photographers, sculptures, illustrators, culinary arts, ceramicists, furniture designers, product designers, graphic designers, fashion designers, jewellery designers, filmmakers, creative writers, musicians, performance artists, and craftmen.