The Nomadic African Studio emerged as an idea after the first-ever Biennale College Architettura, which ran in Venice from 22 June — 25 July 2023. Following its success, several tutors who participated in the Venice programme began thinking about a similar pedagogic experiment, this time on the African continent. We are delighted to announce that the first-ever studio will take place in Fez, Morocco, in January-February 2025. Our second studio will take place in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in July-August 2025. We plan to hold two studios a year, in the ‘winter’ or ‘harmattan’ months of the southern hemisphere (January-February) and the ‘summer’ or ‘rainy season’ months of the tropics and northern hemisphere.

A core group of six faculty will offer thirty participants — graduate students, early career academics/researcher and early career practitioners/policy-makers under the age of 35 — the opportunity to join us in exploring relevant, cutting-edge and future-facing topics in locations across the African continent. Places are fully-funded. Participants will be selected following an Open Call several months before the studio start date. An outstanding group called the Critics Cohort will act as advisors, critics and occasional hosts during each studio. Our Open Call for the first-ever studio, Magreb, will go out on 15 September 2024.