The Residency at Casa Gràcia

Announcing a new residency program in Menorca, Spain, for artists and writers

The Residency at Casa Gràcia

Announcing a new residency program in Menorca, Spain, for artists and writers

Wednesday 27 May

Menorca

The Residency at Casa Gràcia is a new program conceived to provide artists and writers the dedicated time and private space to further their practices in the historic city of Mahon in Menorca, Spain. Founded and developed by artists Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian, the program offers artists a retreat—residencies are self-directed without obligation to produce an outcome or public presentation—and encourages creative development and deep reflection, while fostering meaningful engagement with the local community on the island. Conceived as an incubator for ideas and cross-disciplinary dialogue, the Residency at Casa Gràcia seeks to foster an environment for creative exchange. Artists and writers from the Balearic Islands, mainland Spain, and around the world are encouraged to apply.

‘Menorca has offered me something rare: a sense of slowness, clarity, and openness that allows thought and creativity to expand. Creating this residency is an opportunity to share that experience with other artists—offering time and space for reflection, experimentation, conversation, and renewal.’

Rashid Johnson

Following a selection process, five places will be awarded each year: three visual artists are invited for residencies of up to three months, and two writers for extended periods of up to six months. While in residence, writers and artists will benefit from the knowledge and support of the local team at Hauser & Wirth Menorca, an art center on Illa del Rei that opened in 2021.

Ahead of launching the 2027 program, the Residency at Casa Gràcia will host the recipient of an artist grant from the Institut Menorquí d’Estudis (IME), a public research and cultural institution located in Mahon, during an inaugural season in fall 2026. The grant is supported by Es Baluard Museum and Hauser & Wirth Menorca.

Image for left hero section — The Residency at Casa Gracia. Courtesy Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian. Photo: Daniel Schäfer

Image for right hero section — The Residency at Casa Gracia. Courtesy Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian. Photo: Daniel Schäfer

‘There is something profoundly moving about Menorca and its mystical atmosphere. Scattered throughout the island are prehistoric talatalayotic structures, ancient stone monuments that quietly hold the memory of another time and civilization. For me, Menorca has always been a place that expands inner space where ideas surface more freely and where creativity feels connected to something both personal and ancient. It brings me great joy to create this residency alongside Rashid and to share this special place with other artists and creatives as a true creative haven.’

Sheree Hovsepian

Advisory Board and Application Process
The Residency at Casa Gràcia is overseen by a board of advisors who consider applications on an annual basis. The advisory board includes Rashid Johnson, Sheree Hovsepian, Katherine Brinson, Cristopher Canizares, Alex Ernst, Debbie Hillyerd, Gaurav Kapadia, Patrick Radden Keefe, Ravi Nandan, Colson Whitehead, Hank Willis Thomas, Iwan Wirth and Manuela Wirth.

The deadline for applications for the 2027 calendar year is 31 July 2026. To apply for the Residency at Casa Gràcia, or to learn more about the program and its application criteria, visit casagracia.org/apply.

Architectural Renovation: Casa Gràcia Residency Space and Studio
The Residency at Casa Gràcia is situated in a quiet residential neighbourhood in the heart of Mahon and offers three different spaces where residents can reflect and experiment, a 300m2 studio, study, and the largest private walled garden in the city center. Built in 1860, the renovation of the multifunctional building to create an inspiring live/work environment has been meticulously overseen by the award-winning architects and designers of Laplace, alongside Menorcan architects Maimó&Brosa.

Shared by the artist and writer in residence, the entire building has been thoughtfully renovated, transforming the site—once the entrance to a nightclub with the owners’ apartment above—into a residence defined by simplicity, clarity, and ease. The same philosophy extends to the interiors: traditional Menorcan furniture, locally sourced with care, paired with selected contemporary pieces, creating a timeless atmosphere that connects the island’s heritage with modern living.