Villa Lenox – The first French Artistic Residency in Southern Africa

More than a residency, Villa Lenox will become the new creative heartbeat of Cape Town. Opening in the first half of 2027, it will be the first French artistic residency in Southern Africa, offering a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the heart of South Africa’s vibrant cultural scene and to help shape the artistic and cultural dialogues of tomorrow.

                      Map of French artistic residencies worldwide

A LIVING PLACE AT THE CROSSROADS OF TWO HERITAGES

As the first French artistic residency in Southern Africa, Villa Lenox embodies a new ambition for artistic creation and cultural exchange in Cape Town. This exceptional project is located within The Lenox, a historic boutique hotel whose heritage restoration has been carried out by MEMORIST, a specialist entity dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage.
Since 1930, The Lenox has stood as an iconic address in Cape Town, having hosted major figures of the international scene, including the renowned Russo-South African painter Vladimir Tretchikoff. The rebirth of this historic building now makes it a new crossroads for international talent in the heart of Cape Town.

                     Villa Lenox, a witness to Victorian Architecture

AN IMMERSION INTO THE HEART OF SOUTH AFRICA’S CULTURAL DYNAMISM

South Africa now stands as a major hub of contemporary creation on the African continent, driven by a bold and innovative artistic scene, particularly in the fields of digital creation, crafts, and music. As the first African city designated a UNESCO City of Design, Cape Town embodies the vitality of the cultural and creative industries. With strong economic and tourism appeal, the city enjoys global visibility and attracts diverse audiences. Its museums, festivals, professional forums, and rich cultural programming contribute to its international influence. It is within this exceptional context that Villa Lenox is established. Working closely with cultural institutions, creators, and local artists, it offers residents a truly unique experience.

A TAILOR-MADE RESIDENCY PROGRAMME

                                    3D rendering of a studio-residency

With three exceptional live-in studios, Villa Lenox welcomes nine francophone artists each year for three-month residencies. Within this privileged setting, residents benefit from a space of complete freedom and reflection, designed to foster dialogue with South Africa’s creative ecosystem.
A true professional springboard, the Villa Lenox experience offers comprehensive support: artistic, logistical, and financial. Beyond research and creation, residents are fully embedded in the life of the city ; they share their artistic approach during key events on the local cultural scene, making each residency a decisive step in their international career.

EMBEDDING EXCELLENCE WITHIN THE LOCAL CREATIVE FABRIC

Villa Lenox deploys a rich, cross-disciplinary programme encompassing visual and digital arts, fashion, design, and writing (literature, poetry, screenwriting). Particular attention is given to craftsmanship and local know-how, illustrated through practices such as collective embroidery or clay work – Umhlaba in isiXhosa.

As a permanent space for dialogue, the Villa encourages cross-encounters between francophone residents and South African creators, forming fertile ground for original collaborations. This sanctuary of creation also opens itself to the city: the studios welcome collectors and art enthusiasts during key moments such as the Investec Cape Town Art Fair or First Thursdays, firmly anchoring the Villa within Cape Town’s international cultural calendar.

THE BREYTEN BREYTENBACH CREATION GRANT

Each resident will be awarded the Breyten Breytenbach Creation Grant. This prestigious support pays tribute to the Franco–South African poet and painter, a historic figure in the struggle against apartheid. Born in the Western Cape and passing away in Paris in November 2024, Breytenbach embodies through his dual body of work the deep dialogue between our two cultures and the spirit of freedom that drives Villa Lenox.

Breyten Breytenbach (1939-2024)

A PROJECT LED BY AN UNPRECEDENTED PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

Institut français of South Africa (IFAS)

IFAS, the cultural operator of the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, has been leading cultural cooperation between France and South Africa for over thirty years. As a field-based operator, it produces major events such as the Fête de la Musique and oversees prestigious support schemes, including the Gérard Sekoto Prize, which annually rewards excellence among emerging South African visual artists. Drawing on this extensive on-the-ground expertise and its strong local partner network, IFAS now ensures the operational leadership of Villa Lenox. From the rigorous selection of talents to the coordination of creation grants, the Institute guarantees both excellence in delivery and the international visibility of each residency.

MEMORIST

A centre of expertise dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of heritage, MEMORIST brings together exceptional skills in restoration, digitisation, and cultural engineering. A subsidiary of the French MOBILITAS Group – present in 103 countries and firmly established across the African continent -, MEMORIST relies on a unique global logistics network. As the owner of The Lenox hotel, MEMORIST is responsible for the structural restoration of this historic building and demonstrates a concrete commitment to artistic creation by providing three exceptional studio-residences, designed to offer artists a privileged working environment at the heart of Cape Town’s heritage.