The Foundation is partnering with the Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l’image in Angoulême to support innovative projects on the French comics scene and to encourage creative work addressing the issues of tomorrow—human rights, biodiversity, citizenship, and health—through the creation of an artist residency at the Domaine des Etangs in Charente. This artistic residency is dedicated to the creation of a large-scale, ephemeral graphic narrative within the grounds of the Domaine des Etangs.
- Michael Sterckeman, recipient of the 2023 residency : Project “The Bird Sanctuary” — an ephemeral work of graphic storytelling created within the ruins of the Métairie de la Barre, as part of the “Art and Nature” trail. Drawing from illustration, comics, and visual narrative, the piece is intimately connected to its surroundings and composed of a series of large-format printed sequences. These prints will be affixed to the walls, allowing for interaction with the texture of the site, and will gradually fade over time.
- François Olislaeger, recipient of the 2025 residency : Project “The Time of the Ponds” — a poetic journey blending artistic exploration, ecological storytelling, and graphic installation within the park. This trail invites visitors to experience nature differently, through bronze figurines placed along the path and an accompanying illustrated booklet.
The International Cité of Comics and Images of Angoulême is a unique place in Europe dedicated to comics and images, with its Comics Museum, its Maison des auteurs (authors residence), its arthouse cinema, its bookstore, its specialised library of comics, its heritage library, its documentation and research center and its cultural and educational programs.