Cité internationale de la bande-dessinée x Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts

Exploratory residency

Residency brief

This cross-residency offers a duo of graphic novel or comic book authors the opportunity to explore the artistic scenes of India and France while working on a joint project. The selected duo will spend the first part of the residency in Angoulême where they will be able to discover the entire ecosystem of this city dedicated to images, in particular the resources of the Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image. The two authors will be hosted at the Maison des auteurs, the Cité's artists' residence, and will attend the prestigious Angoulême International Comics Festival during their residency. Likewise, they will spend the second part of the residency in Goa at the Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts. They will participate in the Goa Arts and Literature Festival, an opportunity offered by this cross-residency to be present at two major international comic book creation festivals in France and India.

About Maison des auteurs in Angoulême:

Dedicated to comics, the Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image (International City of Comics and Image) holds the largest heritage collection of comics in Europe and brings together the museum of comics, exhibition galleries, a heritage library, a specialized public library, a documentation center, an international residence for authors (the Maison des auteurs), a reference bookstore, and an art-house cinema. The Cité actively supports contemporary creation through the Maison des Auteurs (The House of Authors). Since its opening in 2002, La Maison des auteurs has welcomed around five hundred artists - emerging and established authors - from France, Europe, and other continents to develop projects there. In addition to the residency program, it offers numerous professional support services. Through its commitment, it now plays an unparalleled role in the French graphic creation landscape. During their stay, the two laureates will be able to discover all the resources of the Cité, meet many representatives of the artistic community of Angoulême (rich with more than 300 authors), and participate in the International Comics Festival.

About Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts in Goa:

Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts is a not-for-profit, process-based arts foundation founded by Dipti and Dattaraj V. Salgaocar. Since its inception in 2009, its vision has been to preserve Goa’s creative legacy, encourage cultural growth in India and promote a range of cultural activities across various media, geographies and time frames. With the patronage of Isheta Salgaocar, the Foundation has evolved into a bridge connecting Goa to India and the world, enabling the addressing of questions concerning our social and cultural environment, reflected across a large spectrum.

The Artist-In-Residence Lab (AIR-L) is an immersive residency programme, that offers an experiential opportunity of interdisciplinary research and exchange. It encourages projects that address new approaches related to our contemporary context and that can offer new understandings and perspectives of our society. The residency offered under the umbrella of Villa Swagatam is targeted at graphic novelists/comic artists.

  • Thematic focus Literature (graphic novels and comics)
  • Location Angoulême and Goa
  • Dates Angoulême : 5 January 2026 - 5 February 2026
    Goa : 6 February 2026 - 6 March 2026
  • Length of stay 2 months

Our space

About Maison des auteurs in Angoulême:

Angoulême is characterized by a national and international dynamic surrounding comic books for several decades, notably through its International Comic Strip Festival, its schools and businesses specializing in the field of images, and its public institution, the Cité Internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image (International City of Comics and Images). Located in a character building of over 1000m², the Maison des auteurs is located in the heart of Angoulême. The interior features include an exhibition hall, a computer and reprography space, and thirteen individual and collective workshops equipped to accommodate twenty-five authors simultaneously.

Residency conditions

In Angoulême:
  • The residents will benefit from a studio equipped with graphic creation materials (drawing table, light table, scanner, and reprography equipment) within the Maison des auteurs. The two residents will be accommodated in a centrally located apartment, either individual or shared (individual room).
  • The residents’ travel costs to and from their home address will be covered by the French Institute in India
  • The residents will be given a residency grant of INR 110,000.
  • Both residents will be expected to participate in the International Comics Festival in Angoulême and the Goa Arts and Literature Festival.
  • This is an exploratory residence, which means that there is no obligation of results at the end of the residency. However, the residency program needs to be acknowledged in any artistic production resulting from the residency.
  • The French Institute in India expects the selected resident to send them a short text (1000 - 2000 words) or comic strip testifying of their experience within 3 months of completion of the residency.
In Goa:
  • The Sunaparanta residency space has two apartments, 3 bedrooms on the first floor and 2 bedrooms on the second floor. Both the apartments have wi-fi connectivity. The residency space has one housekeeping staff. Common spaces include a living room, luggage storage, dining area and a kitchen
  • The residents will benefit from an individual room with air conditioning, an en suite bathroom and a writing desk.
  • The residency stay is restricted to participating residents of the programme and does not extend to friends, spouses and family members. Sunaparanta is happy to suggest suitable spaces for the stay of guests and friends.
  • The residents’ travel costs to and from their home address will be covered by the French Institute in India
  • The residents will be given a residency grant of INR 110,000 per month.
  • The residents agree to give a maximum of 20% of their residency time to give workshops, lectures, conferences or participate in any other cultural activities organized by the two cultural institutions.
  • They will be expected to participate in the International Comics Festival in India: the Goa Arts and Literature Festival.
  • This is an exploratory residence, which means that there is no obligation of results at the end of the residency. However, the residency program needs to be acknowledged in any artistic production resulting from the residency.
  • The French Institute in India expects the selected resident to send them a short text (1000 - 2000 words) or comic strip testifying of their experience within 3 months of completion of the residency.

Eligibility criteria

  • Proficiency in English is required for the applicant, whereas fluency in French is not a prerequisite.
  • The applicants must have a minimum of one published comic book to apply. Applications from self- published writers will not be considered.
  • Applicants can apply solo or as a duo comprising one French and one Indian writer. In case of solo applications, the organizers will pair the applicants with another applicant, keeping in mind the nature of their work, their career path, and their work aesthetics.

Past Laureates

Second Edition (2024 - 2025)
Lokesh Khodke Comic Book Author