Partnership with FREEE Nigeria
REC-LAB RESIDENCY
International Art, Design & Sustainability Residency Programme
Nigeria – Portugal
Funded six-week international residency in Nigeria for interdisciplinary research and collaborative projects exploring the potential of recycled, natural, and underutilised materials, with a particular focus on end-of-life tyres. Bringing together artists, designers, architects, engineers, scientists, and makers, the programme aims to develop new material applications, regenerative practices, and circular solutions while fostering local and international knowledge exchange.
REC–LAB is a Nigeria–Portugal, design-led research and material innovation platform exploring future materials, circular design, and regenerative practices. It investigates the regenerative potential of recycled, natural, and underutilised materials, through interdisciplinary research, experimentation, and knowledge exchange.
The programme brings together contemporary art, design, textiles, architecture, engineering, material science, technology, and entrepreneurship, creating an interdisciplinary environment for experimentation, knowledge production, and collaborative problem-solving.
REC–LAB connects artists, designers, architects, engineers, scientists, researchers, makers, and community practitioners to investigate how discarded materials can be recovered, reimagined, and transformed into new products, prototypes, functional applications, and forms of knowledge.
A particular focus is placed on end-of-life tyres and other challenging waste materials, using hands-on experimentation and creative research to explore their potential beyond conventional recycling and towards innovative cultural, functional, and design applications. At its core, REC–LAB aims to foster a circular and regenerative material culture, where creative practice and technical knowledge intersect to address environmental challenges while opening up new possibilities for design and production.
Rooted in the Nigerian context and connected to wider African and international networks, the programme creates opportunities for knowledge exchange, skills development, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and international partnerships, positioning material innovation as a space for both environmental action and cultural transformation.
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Title: "Boundless Borders"
Curator: Inês Valle
Artist: Rui MacedoFirst Phase Opens to the public from: 10/06/2026 (long-term display)
Venue: National Palace of Mafra, Portugal
Partners: National Palace of Mafra, Museu e Monumentos de Portugal, UNESCO, The CERA PROJECT, Orient Foundation (India). Project Sponsor bcp-Millennium Foundation Residency & Community Programme Funded by DGARTES -
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Please click here to access
the Press Release (Portuguese / English )
Project official poster
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We offer a range of solutions designed to meet your needs—whether you're just getting started or scaling something bigger. Everything is tailored to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
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Register to apply;
Application only via ONLINE FORM;
Before submitting the application Online Form, check all the eligibility criteria. We advise you to read the Call Conditions and the Frequently Asked Questions;
Applications can only be submitted once all the mandatory fields of the form have been completed and uploaded the required documentation in English as PDF files according to the
Call Condition:
– CV (max. 1-pages A4)
– Cover letter (max. 300 words);– Recommendations (2 people);
– Project proposal (max. 4 pages A4)
– Portfolio (max. 5-pages in A4)At the end, click on the “apply” button. To prevent difficulties in submitting applications, avoid submitting your application in the last few days before the deadline.
Please note that not all residency and research locations are accessible to reduced mobility. For inquiries about accessibility or other topics, please contact us through this form.
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Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.