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British Council - Villa Karo Design for Climate residency Programme in Benin 2026

  • Writer: Omran Aburayya
    Omran Aburayya
  • 6 days ago
  • 2 min read

If you're a design professional passionate about sustainability and eager to engage in cross-cultural collaboration, the British Council and Villa Karo invite you to apply for the Design for Climate residency in Benin, taking place in spring 2026. This fully funded, eight-week program supports two designers—one from the UK and one from West Africa (Nigeria or Ghana)—to explore climate-focused design in a unique cultural setting.

📝 Programme Summary

  • Location: Grand-Popo, Benin

  • Host Institution: Villa Karo – Finnish Institute for West Africa

  • Study Level: Professional residency

  • Target Group: Designers based in the UK, Nigeria, or Ghana

  • Fields of Focus: Architecture, fashion, product design, sustainable design, and other design disciplines

  • Award Value & Coverage:

    • Return travel costs to Benin

    • Private accommodation with breakfast, cleaning, and laundry

    • £1,000 stipend for daily expenses

    • Support for creative production costs

    • Networking opportunities with local and international artists

  • Duration: 8 weeks (23 March – 17 May 2026; later start date possible)

  • Application Deadline: 9 June 2025, 23:59 BST

  • Eligible To: Professional designers based in the UK, Nigeria, or Ghana.

🌍 Scholarship Overview

The Design for Climate residency is a collaborative initiative between the British Council and Villa Karo, aiming to address climate challenges through interdisciplinary design practices and cross-cultural exchange. Participants will develop new design projects inspired by their residency experience, engage with local artists and community members through workshops and discussions, and showcase their work through exhibitions or presentations. The residency also encourages documentation and sharing of experiences via reports and British Council platforms.

🏛️ Villa Karo Facilities

Villa Karo, located in Grand-Popo, Benin, has served as a cultural bridge between Finland, West Africa, and the broader international community for over 25 years. The facility offers dedicated workspaces, a cultural history museum, a museum of contemporary art, multipurpose spaces and workshops, and regular cultural events and programming. Residents are accommodated in the Main Building, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with rooms equipped with a bed, mosquito netting, desk, wardrobe, and ceiling fan. The communal setting encourages informal exchanges across different disciplines and backgrounds, while connections with surrounding communities offer opportunities for collaboration that can inform design processes.

🎁 Residency Benefits

  • Full residency services at Villa Karo

  • Private accommodation with breakfast, cleaning, and laundry

  • Return travel costs to Benin

  • £1,000 stipend for daily expenses

  • Support for creative production costs

  • Networking opportunities with local and international artists

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  • Be professional designers based in the UK, Nigeria, or Ghana

  • Have experience in any design discipline (architecture, design, fashion, etc.)

  • Be interested in addressing climate change through design

  • Be able to commit to an eight-week residency in Benin in Spring 2026

Both early-career and established practitioners are welcome to apply. Applications will be evaluated primarily on the viability of the work plan and alignment with the ‘design for climate’ theme.

📝 Application Procedure and Documents Required

To apply, please fill in the Microsoft Forms application and include:

  • Your CV

  • Portfolio

  • Proposed work plan

Applicants are encouraged to be specific about their interests and intentions while remaining open to the collaborative nature of the program.


ℹ️ For more information visit the official call webpage


🔗 OFFICIAL LINK


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