Hotel Donna Rosa, a charming boutique hotel on the eastern coast of Sicily, invites women artists from around the world to apply for a mural residency.
We are launching a special project dedicated to women artists who wish to travel, create, and experience Sicily while contributing to the artistic identity of our hotel.
Selected artists will spend one week at Hotel Donna Rosa and create a permanent mural artwork on a wall selected within the hotel — either in a guest room or in a shared space.
Donna Rosa is a hotel run by a team of women and often chosen by women travelling on their own.
About Hotel Donna Rosa
Hotel Donna Rosa is located in Sant’Alessio Siculo, a small seaside village on the eastern coast of Sicily, near Taormina.
The hotel is run by Coralie (a Franco-German woman who landed in Sicily more than 20 years ago and chose to stay) and her team of women. Over the years Donna Rosa has become a place where many women travel solo, feeling safe, welcomed and supported.
This residency project grows from the same spirit: creating a place where women artists can travel, create and feel at home.
What we offer and what we ask
Selected artists will receive:
- 7 nights accommodation at Hotel Donna Rosa
- Breakfast included
- Option to apply as: one artist (private stay) or two artists sharing a room
- A dedicated wall within the hotel (guest room or common area). Approximate wall dimensions are 4×3 meters. Photos and details of the space will be shared with the selected artists before the residency.
- Basic materials can be provided by the hotel, subject to prior approval of the project
- Special discounts at partner restaurants
- Visibility on the hotel’s website and social media channels
The completed artwork will become a permanent part of the hotel. The artwork will include a visible credit with the artist’s name and references.
During the residency, we ask artists to be open to being photographed and filmed as they work. We also give preference to artists who are willing to document their process through photos and videos.
Artists agree to grant Hotel Donna Rosa the right to use all photos and videos produced during the residency for communication and promotional purposes, across digital and print channels.
Artistic theme 2026 edition: Voyage
A voyage is not only a physical journey — it is an inner passage, a cultural crossing, a transformation.
It is the sea you cross to arrive somewhere new. It is the moment you decide to stay. It is the languages that mix inside you, the memories you carry, the traces you leave behind.
At Donna Rosa, every guest is a traveler. Every encounter is a crossing.
We invite artists to interpret Voyage in its broadest sense:
- The physical journey — movement, migration, arrival, departure
- The inner journey — transformation, self-discovery, becoming
- The cultural crossing — between identities, languages, and worlds
- Time as voyage — memory, roots, what we carry and what we leave behind
Artists will have creative freedom within the theme guidelines.
Applicants will be asked to submit a preliminary proposal sketch as part of the selection process. Most of the walls are painted blue. You can also choose a common area with a yellow wall. Pictures will be attached.
Who can apply
We welcome applications from:
- Women artists (international applications are welcome)
- Muralists, painters, illustrators, recycling artists or mixed-media artists
- Artists with experience working on walls or large surfaces
- Artists with an active Instagram account or an online portfolio
Application requirements
To apply, please send:
- Link to Instagram or online portfolio
- Short biography
- Selection of previous works
- Short motivation letter
- Optional: preliminary concept idea for the mural
Applications will be reviewed internally by the Hotel Donna Rosa team based on artistic quality and feasibility of the proposed intervention.
Residency period
Murals will be created during selected periods when rooms and workspaces are available. The mural must be completed during the 7-day residency.
Possible residency periods:
- First session: 03.05.2026 – 26.06.2026
- Second session: 20.09.2026 – 31.10.2026
Deadline for applications:
- First session: requests will be evaluated as they come
- Second session: requests and projects should be sent within June 1st 2026
Selected artists will be contacted after the review process by June 7th 2026.
Why Donna Rosa
At Donna Rosa we believe hospitality is not only about offering a room — it is about creating a place where people from all over the world can meet, exchange and inspire. A place where you can leave a meaningful trace.
