Space to Create
Meaningful work is rarely made in haste. It asks for room to think, a change of setting, and the time to give an idea the attention it deserves.
MAD House welcomes local and international artists, designers, makers, and small business owners to Porto for one to three months. Some arrive with a project already underway, while others come looking for time, inspiration, or space to explore a new direction. Residents have dedicated space to work, weekly guidance, and support in developing both their project and professional practice.
When needed, MAD House also connects residents with local makers, studios, and resources to help move their work forward.
Is this for you?
MAD House is for creative people who are looking for the time, space, and community to develop their work while living in Porto. We welcome people from different creative backgrounds who are curious to learn, share, and work alongside a small group of other residents.
We welcome:
Visual artists
Designers
Makers
Researchers
Filmmakers
Writers
Illustrators
Painters
Architects
Creative business owners
You don’t need to arrive with everything figured out. You might have a project you want to develop, a question you’ve been thinking about, or simply a desire to make space for your practice.
MAD House is especially suited to those who value mentorship, community, and a slower, more deliberate pace of working, without needing to step away from an existing business or creative practice.
Residents should have a basic understanding of English so they can participate in conversations, workshops, and community activities.
Inside the Residency
The residency is shaped by weekly sessions, dedicated time for your own work, and support that connects you to the right people and plans exactly when you need them.
01
Weekly Check-ins
Before your residency begins, Melanie will meet with you one-on-one to understand what you want to work on and help shape your direction for the stay. Each week, you’ll meet to discuss your work, goals, progress, and what you’d like to focus on next.
02
Dedicated time for your work.
Beyond these sessions, your time belongs to you. The studio, the quiet, and the city of Porto are yours to draw from as you develop the project that brought you here.
03
Finding a collaborator
When a project calls for a skill or process outside your own, MAD House can connect you with local artisans and makers in Porto. These introductions are made when there is a good fit for both sides.
04
What you will bring home
Residents leave with more than finished work. They leave with new perspective, renewed energy, and a clearer sense of what comes next.
MAD Residents are encouraged to share their work and creative process with the wider community during their stay at MAD House. This may include teaching a workshop, giving a presentation, hosting a demonstration, or sharing their practice in another public-facing format. These opportunities are intended to foster connection, conversation, and exchange between residents and the local creative community.
Where You'll Stay
Each resident is hosted on-site at the MAD House. Every room has been considered individually, and priced according to its size, privacy, and amenities.
Private Room with Balcony & Bathroom
From €1500/ month
Private Room with Shared Bathroom
From €950/ month
Shared Room with Shared Bathroom
From €750/ month
How to Apply
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The application is designed to give us a sense of your practice, what you want to work on, and how MAD House can support you. Before you begin, have the following information ready:
Your contact information
A portfolio, website, or Instagram
A short description of your creative practice
What you’re currently working on
What you’d like to work on during your residency
Why you’re interested in MAD House
Resume and CV
Your preferred residency dates and length of stay
Your preferred room
Any specific workspace, equipment, materials, or local connections you may need
Anything else you’d like us to know
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Have everything ready?
Frequently Asked Questions
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MAD House is open to visual artists, designers, makers, writers, artisans, researchers, and small business owners at different stages of their practice. You do not need to have an established business or a specific level of professional experience.
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No. You do not need to arrive with a fully formed project, but you should have an idea, question, or area of your practice you want to explore. The residency is designed to give you the time and space to develop it.
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Accommodation (shared or private room)
Shared workspace access
Weekly community dinner
Weekly guidance sessions
Support and tailored introductions from the MAD House team
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Meals and groceries, travel to and from Porto, travel and medical insurance, project materials and supplies, specialized equipment, and any external studio or workshop fees are not included. Personal expenses and guest fees are also the resident’s responsibility.
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Each resident has a desk in their room, as well as access to the garden patio and shared spaces throughout the house for working. If your practice requires equipment or workspace that is not available at MAD House, we can help connect you with local studios and makers in Porto. Any external workspace or equipment costs are arranged directly with the studio or maker.
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Each resident has a one-on-one session with Melanie at arrival, along with weekly group meetings with the other residents. These conversations are a chance to share progress, work through challenges, set priorities, and think through both your current project and the development of your creative practice.
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Some practices, like ceramics, woodworking, jewelry making, music, or dance, need dedicated space or equipment that we can't provide in your private room or shared spaces. In those cases, we'll help connect you with a local workspace, studio, rehearsal space, or another artist to share resources with. The cost of that space is arranged directly between you and the artist or space, helping support Porto's local creative community.
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A 50% deposit is required when you are accepted into the residency. The deposit is non-refundable.
The remaining 50% of your residency fee is due 45 days before your arrival. You may cancel your residency up to 45 days before arrival, but your deposit will not be refunded. Cancellations made less than 45 days before arrival are non-refundable.
In exceptional circumstances, MAD House may offer a postponement or transfer to another residency period at its discretion. This is not guaranteed and must be approved in advance.
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Each stay runs between one and three months, depending on the scope of your project.
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Overnight guests are welcome with advance notice and a €25 per night fee. Guests may stay for up to three consecutive nights and must sign a guest waiver before arrival.
If you would like a partner, family member, or collaborator to stay for the duration of your residency, please contact MAD House to discuss the arrangements and additional fee.
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Applications are reviewed based on the project or area of practice you want to develop, what you hope to gain from the residency, and how the residency can support your work. We also consider the overall group, as residents will be living and working alongside one another.
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MAD House welcomes applications from small groups who would like to work or develop a project together. Each person should submit their own application, with a short note explaining who they are, what they hope to work on, and how you would like to use your time at MAD House together.