Art Residencies

A place for focused, unhurried creative practice.

The Studio Mirlo Artist & Writer Residency offers artists, writers, and interdisciplinary practicioners the time and space to immerse in their craft.

Set in the countryside just outside San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, the residency is self-directed and process-oriented, welcoming periods of experimentation, reflection, research, and creative development, without the expectation of producing finished work.

Residents stay in a private, light-filled loft surrounded by a nature oasis, with acess to Studio Mirlo’s living library, gallery, and cultural space. Residencies are offered for one to three months, with applications accepted year-round.

Apply for Residency

The Residence

Residents stay in a private, sun-filled loft set within the gardens of Studio Mirlo, with open views of the mountain Los Picachos. The space is designed for both everyday living and independent creative work.

The loft includes a spacious living area, fully equipped kitchen, king bed, workspace, bathroom, and private outdoor varanda. Residents are also welcome to enjoy the property’s gardens, solar-heated pool, and rooftop terrace.

Featuring heating and cooling, in-suite laundry, high-speed internet, and purified water.

  • Kitchen & dining.

  • Bedroom.

  • Workspace & living room.

  • Garden & pool.

  • Kitchen & dining.

  • Koi pond.

  • Residence.

  • Private terrace.

  • Bathroom.

  • Garden view of Studio Mirlo.

Studio Mirlo

The residency is part of Studio Mirlo, an independent cultural space dedicated to books, art, and slow encounters.

At its heart is a permanent, curated library formed around the book and vinyl collection of Merle Wachter, an inspiring collection with particular emphasis on art history, artistic methods & technique, photography, architecture & landscape design, history, ancient civilizations, Latin American culture, and ethnography.

Residents have access to the library and are welcome to attend exhibitions, literary salons, book readings, workshops, and gatherings taking place during their stay.

The Gallery

Studio Mirlo’s gallery is a space for exhibitions, creative dialogue and interdisciplinary exchange.

Residents are welcome to become part of the cultural life of Studio Mirlo through readings, artist talks, exhibitions, workshops, or informal gatherings. These possibilities are explored together, according to each resident’s interests and practice.

Participation is entirely optional. There is no expectation to produce, complete, or publicly present work during the residency.

The Setting

Studio Mirlo is located in San Miguel Viejo, in the countryside approximately 3.5 km from El Jardín, the historic center of San Miguel de Allende.

The residence sits within a quiet garden landscape with open views toward the surrounding mountains and high-desert countryside, while remaining approximately 10–15 minutes by car from central San Miguel.

San Miguel de Allende has long attracted artists, writers, craftspeople, and independent thinkers from Mexico and abroad. The residency offers the possibility of engaging with that cultural environment while having a quieter place to return to and work.

Creative Practices

Studio Mirlo welcomes emerging and established artists, writers, illustrators, photographers, translators, researchers, independent scholars, and interdisciplinary practitioners.

We are particularly drawn to practices that value curiosity, independent inquiry, experimentation, and the exchange of ideas across disciplines.

The residency is open to international applicants and is especially suited to those seeking an extended period of focused work in a quiet, inspiring environment.

General Information

Residency Length
1–3 months

Residency Fee
From US$1,500/month
Reduced monthly rates for stays of two or three months.

Open To
Studio Mirlo welcomes applications from emerging and established writers, artists, illustrators, photographers, researchers, independent scholars, and interdisciplinary practitioners. International applicants welcome.

What's Included
Private accommodation and workspace, high-speed internet, utilities and purified water, rooftop terrace, gardens & pool, as well as access to Studio Mirlo and its library.

Accompanying Partners
The loft can accommodate one resident and an accompanying partner.

Availability
Residencies are offered throughout the year according to availability.

Applications
Applications are considered on a rolling basis. There is no application fee.

Selection
Applications are reviewed based on the applicant's creative practice, proposed use of residency time, and suitability for the space.

Application Review
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of submitting their application.

Payment
A 50% deposit is required upon acceptance to secure your residency. The remaining balance is due 30 days before arrival.

Cancellation Policy:

  • 60 days or more before arrival: A 50% refund of the deposit will be issued.

  • 30–59 days before arrival: The deposit is non-refundable.

  • Fewer than 30 days before arrival: The full residency fee is non-refundable.

All cancellations must be submitted in writing via email.

Funding & Financial Support
Studio Mirlo is a self-funded residency program and does not currently offer grants or scholarships. Accepted residents seeking external funding may request a letter of support or confirmation of their residency to accompany grant applications. We encourage applicants to explore funding opportunities through arts councils, foundations, and other organizations in their home countries.

Questions?

Please review our FAQs section below. If you have questions please get in touch at studiomirlo.mx@gmail.com or via contact form.

Application

The form below asks for a short biography, examples of previous work, and a brief description of what you hope to explore during the residency. We are less interested in a fully formed project proposal than in understanding your practice, what draws you to Studio Mirlo, and how a period of unhurried time here might support your work.

The residency is best suited to practices that can be undertaken within a residential workspace. At present, Studio Mirlo does not provide specialized facilities for large-scale or industrial studio practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. Studio Mirlo is a self-directed residency designed to provide time and space for independent creative practice. There is no required program or expected outcome.

  • The residency fee includes private accommodation and workspace, high-speed internet, utilities, purified water, access to the gardens and swimming pool, and use of Studio Mirlo's library and cultural space.

  • The residence includes a dedicated desk/work area and additional indoor and outdoor spaces suitable for writing, reading, drawing, research, and other forms of quiet creative practice. Studio Mirlo does not currently provide specialized facilities for large-scale or industrial studio work.

  • Studio Mirlo is located in San Miguel Viejo, in the countryside approximately 3.5 km from El Jardín, the historic center of San Miguel de Allende. Central San Miguel is approximately 10–15 minutes away by car.

  • Yes. Residents have access to Studio Mirlo's permanent collection and are welcome to attend exhibitions, readings, workshops, and other gatherings taking place during their stay. Participation in Studio Mirlo programming is entirely optional.

  • Studio Mirlo is a self-funded residency program and does not currently offer grants or scholarships.

    Accepted residents seeking external funding may request a letter of support or confirmation of their residency to accompany grant applications. We encourage applicants to explore funding opportunities through arts councils, foundations, and other organizations in their home countries.

  • Yes. The residence can accommodate one resident and an accompanying partner.

  • The property includes stairs and uneven outdoor terrain and is not wheelchair accessible. Please contact us before applying if you have specific accessibility requirements.

  • No. Because of the animals and gardens on the property, we are unable to accommodate pets.

  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants are asked to submit a short biography, a brief description of their practice and intended project, preferred dates, and a link to a work sample or portfolio. There is no application fee.