🏔️ Location
In the mountains of Basilicata (Southern Italy), the village of Castelmezzano sits among the unique rock formations of the Lucanian Dolomites.
🎨 The Project
Il Respiro della Luce – Rock Mapping Residency is an international open call inviting videomapping artists, visual artists, light designers and sound designers to create new site-specific works for this landscape.
💡 What we explore
The project investigates how digital art can interact with nature, architecture and local traditions, turning the village and the surrounding rocks into a canvas for light and sound.
🌙 Final event
The residency will end with public night projections presented to residents and visitors.
The Residency
📍 Place
Castelmezzano, Basilicata (Italy)
Inside the Gallipoli Cognato – Lucanian Dolomites Natural Park.
🧭 Focus
Artists will develop site-specific videomapping works inspired by the landscape, the architecture and the cultural traditions of the village.
Who Can Apply
👩🎨 👨🎨 Open to artists working in:
-
videomapping
-
visual arts
-
light design
-
videomaking
-
sound design
-
multimedia art
🌍 Both emerging and established artists are welcome.
🤝 Applications can be submitted individually or as collectives.
Residency Details
📍How to reach Castelmezzano
Castelmezzano is located in the Lucanian Dolomites in Southern Italy, about 35 km from Potenza. The easiest way to arrive is by car via the SS407 Basentana road, exiting at Albano–Castelmezzano.
The closest international airports are Bari (BRI) and Naples (NAP), both about 2 hours away by car, with train and bus connections to Potenza.
From Potenza train station, buses or taxis reach the village in about 28 minutes.
For selected artists arriving by plane or train, our team will organize transfers from the nearest airports or railway stations.
📅 Residency period
8–22 June 2026
⏳ Application deadline
20 April 2026 (12:00 noon)
🎥 Final output
Each selected artist or collective will create a 6–10 minute videomapping performance with original sound design, projected onto the village architecture or nearby rock formations.
Apply
Q&A
Have the exact projection surfaces already been identified?
The projection area covers part of the village of Castelmezzano and part of the Dolomite rock face. For illustrative purposes, please refer to the mapping produced for a previous installation in the same area. Image here
Would it be possible to access any available 3D scans or mapping matrices related to the site?
The point cloud containing the 3D surface data will be made available to the artists during the residency, but not before the deadline for this call, to enable them to carry out simulations and renderings of the works as they are being created.
Where the video projectors will be installed, and if their technical specifications are already defined?
There are two planned projection points:
- below Piazza Emilio Caizzo, at a distance of approximately 240 metres, projecting a beam of light that illuminates the entire urban area;
- below the loggia of the municipal clinic, projecting onto the dolomite conglomerate rock face from a distance of approximately 45 metres.
Regarding the residency itself, I usually work on a Mac Studio and would be able to bring it with me. However, it would not be possible for me to travel with my monitors. Would screens be available on site for working purposes, ideally a 4K display?
The atelier for the residency will be equipped with 4K monitors; please submit your request once you have been selected so that we can arrange for the necessary equipment to be hired.
Concerning the final presentation, when are the video mappings scheduled to be projected, and from which date? If the projection period extends beyond June 22, would artists be expected to return for testing, or would a technician be in charge of the final setup?
The projects delivered as part of the residency must include technical specifications for the screening of the work at the time of delivery or at a later date.
Finally, from a technical standpoint, would it be possible to consider the use of a laser in addition to the video projection?
It is considered possible to incorporate further visual effects, such as laser projections in addition to the video projection.