Nocefresca: New Year-Round Artist Residency Program Launches in Sardinian Village of Milis
Founded by Francesca Sassu, Nocefresca is a permanent artist residency located in Milis, Oristano, Sardinia. This residency operates throughout the year, providing tailored programs for artists, designers, and digital storytellers, backed by international scholarships. The initiative features workshops, studio visits, and excursions. Sassu, who has a background in cultural associations, dedicated three years to researching trends before establishing Nocefresca, which she co-named with Paolo Carta to reflect the creative journey. The residency welcomes diverse creatives without the necessity of producing a final work. Collaborators include Pepebianco, I Campi, Arutas, and Tocoele, along with regional art partners like Galleria Mancaspazio. In early 2021, participants included artists from Chile, Greece, Brazil, and the US, with murals by Mark Hewko and Lara Hawthorne beautifying local areas.
Key facts
- Nocefresca is a permanent year-round artist residency in Milis, Sardinia.
- Founded by Francesca Sassu after three years of research and participation in startup incubators.
- Name chosen with artist Paolo Carta, referencing walnut shape and Latin 'in nuce'.
- Program offers personalized plans with workshops, studio visits, archaeological excursions.
- Targets visual artists, designers, digital creatives, researchers, artisans, writers.
- Operates as an entrepreneurial service model, not a curated project.
- Partners include Pepebianco, I Campi, Arutas, Tocoele, and regional art organizations.
- First six artists in 2021: Ramiro Peonveiga, Marco Loi, Louise Honée, Zenovia Toloudi, Nick Ramos, Jennie Lee.
- September 2021 artists: Megan Porpeglia, Mary Ellen Childs, Mark Hewko, Lara Hawthorne, Oľga Paštéková, Dorota Hošovská.
- Upcoming artists include Lynne Brotman, Nina Liemola, Carolyn Mason, Momo, Stefano Conti, Sean Dahlman, Ellie Mac Bride, Anne Schumann.
- Local murals created by Mark Hewko in Milis and Lara Hawthorne in Simaxis.
Entities
Artists
- Francesca Sassu
- Paolo Carta
- Ramiro Peonveiga
- Marco Loi
- Louise Honée
- Zenovia Toloudi
- Nick Ramos
- Jennie Lee
- Megan Porpeglia
- Mary Ellen Childs
- Mark Hewko
- Lara Hawthorne
- Oľga Paštéková
- Dorota Hošovská
- Lynne Brotman
- Nina Liemola
- Carolyn Mason
- Momo
- Stefano Conti
- Sean Dahlman
- Ellie Mac Bride
- Anne Schumann
- Grazia Deledda
Institutions
- Nocefresca
- Sardegna Ricerche
- Ifold
- Casa Netural
- Pepebianco
- I Campi
- Arutas
- Tocoele
- Galleria Mancaspazio
- Transhumanza
- Progetto Contemporaneo
- Occhio
- Ottovolante Sulcis
- Casa Lussu
- No Arte
- Dutch Art Council
- Comune di Simaxis
Locations
- Milis
- Oristano
- Sardinia
- Italy
- Cagliari
- Sassari
- Nuoro
- Simaxis
- Chile
- Netherlands
- United States
- Texas
- Hawaii
- New York
- California
- Bristol
- Slovakia
- Finland
- Sweden
- San Francisco