La Marelle

Residency brief

La Marelle is a cultural institution which is used to hold writers’ residencies and plays host to a permanent literary scene comprising festivals, lectures, series of panel discussions or meetings, retrospectives, workshops and more. The authors-in-residency are invited to develop literary writing projects (novels, poetry, theater, young adult, comic), with the option of integrating other artistic fields: writing for radio, digital media, music or the fine arts.

La Marelle thus positions itself as a space for new encounters, experiences, intersections, brainstorming and more. La Marelle offers the opportunity to undertake active and dynamic residencies that are best suited to projects which are in their infancy or already in progress.

La Marelle has two residency spaces: one located within the cultural centre “La Friche de La Belle de Mai” in Marseille and the other at the Villa Deroze in La Ciotat.

  • Thematic focus Literature & hybrid writing practices
  • Location La Ciotat
  • Dates 30 April 2026 - 28 May 2026
  • Length of stay 1 month

Our space

The resident will be hosted at the Villa Deroze on the heights of La Ciotat, 35km from Marseille. La Ciotat is a picturesque 17th-century town with a fishing port, beautiful coastal scenery and easy access to the beach. It is located close to the Parc National des Calanques, known for its rocky landscapes and white sand beaches.

The Villa Deroze used to be the home of pharmacist Gilbert Deroze, who spent the last years of his life practicing sculptures and hosting artists at his home. His daughter, Danielle Deroze, decided to turn it into a residency space to keep this spirit alive.

Residency conditions

  • The resident will be given accommodation in an individual room equipped with writing desks, a bathroom and wi-fi. The common spaces include a dining room, kitchen, veranda and a large Mediterranean garden. The residence has 3 rooms which may or may not be occupied by other writers at the time.
  • The residency accepts only individual applications. However, family members and friends may be welcomed at the resident's discretion, simply by notifying the French Institute in India and the Villa managers in advance.
  • The resident’s travel costs to and from his/her home address will be covered by the French Institute in India.
  • The resident will receive a fixed stipend of INR. 60,000 per month to cover his/her food and living expenses.
  • The resident will receive a fixed residency grant of INR. 50,000 per month.
  • The resident agrees to give a maximum of 20% of his/her residency time to give lectures, workshops, conferences or participate in any other cultural activities organized by La Marelle.
  • 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) 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 resident must have a minimum of one published book to apply.
  • Applications from self-published writers will not be considered.

Past Laureates

Second Edition (2024 - 2025)
Bijal Vaccharajani Writer