Moulin/Belle is an in process art residency founded in 2020 in Mareuil en Perigord in southwest France. Moulin/Belle will provide space for artists to slow down and reconnect with themselves, nature and their creativity. Moulin/Belle is located in the town of Mareuil, en Perigord, population about 900 people.  IG: @moulinbelleperigord FB page: Moulin/Belle FB group: Moulin/Belle Community

APPLICATION: https://forms.gle/Hy1csUoue4tgjDxH6

Prioritizing applicaitons turned in by May 3, 2024

All applicants will receive as response, selected applicants will move on to the interview phase.

VALUES
Creativity
We believe creativity enriches our lives--it helps us cope, live with ambiguity, notice patterns, make connections, take risks and persevere. We believe creativity is vital to health, and that often a creative outlet can provide healing, even if done casually.

Sustainability
We believe sustainability means sustenance, nourishment, time, energy, community and financial stability. We are committed to creating a sustainable ecosystem on many levels.

Simplicity
We believe simplicity allows us to create space to return to earth, to ourselves, to our breath, to our priorities, to our work.

Accessibility
We believe in offering an open and accessible space with multiple pathways for international and local creatives, including those within marginalized communities, to arrive, engage and thrive.

CREATIVE EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Moulin/Belle is an old mill, about 200 years old, and some spaces are “completed” and some need to be completely renovated. A day might look like gardening in the morning,  a lunch with fellow artists, followed by studio time, and a hike in the evening. We hope you build community with the other artists here and the local artists, too. We welcome feedback in the moment and after to make this the best experience for you and future participants.

You are responsible for all other meals. There is a weekly green market, grocery, pharmacy, butcher, bakery, wine cave and more, all within walking distance.

We will all be living under one roof, so we hope to give each other both time for connection and time for reflection. We expect contributions to maintaining the common areas as a daily practice. Currently we will host 2-6 participants at a time. We speak English and French. We have a border collie, Jeudi, but he is not allowed in bedrooms due to allergies.

YOU GET:
-A private or shared room
-Reasonable use of the space and its gifts (vegetables, herbs, etc, )
-Use of the kitchen, common areas and amenities (washer, wifi etc)
-Work space (please let us know--do you need a table to paint outside, a music studio, etc)
-Dedicated solo dance studio space (Generally around 2-4 hours/day)
-A new community

YOU GIVE:
 - Commit to work 3 hours per week, with an agreed upon schedule ahead of time.
- Subsidized fee of 30/night (shared large room, 2 people max) or 40/night (solo medium room) or 60/night (large private room)
- One time 25 euro cleaning fee
- Contribute to Moulin/Belle, to the space and community
- Agree to house rules, leaving no trace, and respecting the space, the other people living in the house with you, the earth and the local community
- Purchase travel insurance (very affordable) for the duration of your stay 
- Completing an exit survey to help us continue to craft the best experience for participants (optional)


OTHER OPTIONS:
Tuesday ballroom dance dance (5 euros), Thursday Zumba (5 euros), Visting Ceramic Studio, Hiking the forest trails, Yoga (9 euros)
 
TRAVELING HERE:
Details provided upon acceptance. From Paris there is a 2.5 hour train to Angouleme, and then 40 minute bus to our town, Mareuil en Perigord.

OUR HOPE:
We sincerely hope this work exchange is an opportunity to connect and learn, but also to discover southwest France, and to relax. We welcome feedback in the moment and after to make this the best experience for you and future work-exchange participants. We hope you have time and space to put your feet in the river, visit the local castle, go to the market, and exhale.