Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) collaborates with Gasworks, one of London’s most dynamic contemporary art centres, to offer an artistic residency aimed at emerging artists based in Spain.
This fully funded residency will take place over eleven weeks, from April 8 to June 23, 2026, providing artists with the opportunity to delve into their creative processes, experiment, and establish cultural links within a vibrant international environment.
Selected Artist: Mònica Planes
The selected artist for this edition is Mònica Planes (Barcelona, 1992). Her work explores the relationships between bodies, materials, and architectural space. Understanding that sculpture has the capacity to both affect and be affected by its surroundings, Planes combines a moving body with fixed material structures in her work. Often using diverse materials—including concrete, hay, fat, or coal—she captures ephemeral gestures that reflect society and our surroundings.
The Project at Gasworks During her time in London, Mònica will explore how collective performance can generate a sculptural frieze. She will research Greek and Assyrian friezes at the British Museum to learn how these ancient panels construct visual narratives, inviting viewers to “read” through movement. Until now, her sculptural practice has emerged from individual actions; therefore, this project marks a significant shift towards the collective, where bodies shape the material and dialogue defines the movement.
About the Artist Mònica Planes lives and works in Barcelona. Recent exhibitions include àngels Barcelona; Fuocherello, Turin; and MACBA, Barcelona (all in 2025); La Casa Encendida, Madrid; and Museo Patio Herreriano, Valladolid (both in 2024); Tenerife Espacio de las Artes; and C3A Córdoba in collaboration with TBA21 (both in 2023). She was formerly a resident at the Spanish Academy in Rome, and her work is included in collections such as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, the National Collection – Generalitat de Catalunya, and MACBA.
About the Residency Programme
At Gasworks, residents benefit from a flexible and non-prescriptive programme that allows them to lead their own research and artistic development alongside a community of nine London-based peers. Artists receive administrative, pastoral, and curatorial support to maximise their professional growth and connection with the city of London and its artistic community.
This programme is a testament to AC/E’s commitment to the professional development of Spanish artists, the promotion of cultural exchange, and the international visibility of contemporary Spanish creation.
2026 Call for Applications (Closed) * Application deadline: November 17, 2025.