What is Rezidan?

“Moka Smart City supports the arts, and the arts transform the city”

Rezidan is back for a second season! This Moka Smart City initiative offers artistic residencies for both established and emerging talent and street exhibitions to develop public art in the area! 

Season 1 in numbers

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Public Art

“Because our beautiful area is a source of inspiration”. 

Murals that reflect a philosophy and unite people around shared values; performances and exhibitions that highlight the unique beauty of Moka and celebrate the cultural heritage of the area. 

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Residencies

“An opportunity to think; a chance to break through”. 

Artistic residencies are an opportunity for artists performing a wide range of genres to grow from the encounter with leading figures in their respective disciplines. Visual and performing arts are part of the programme to allow fresh talent to emerge. New and confirmed artists as well as art collectives are invited to take part in the various residency programmes. 

Explore, inspire, create. We provide artists-in-residence with the required resources to connect, learn and go further in the pursuit of their respective disciplines. In return, these projects contribute to the city’s cultural life.

Discover our Projects

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Émergence – Visual Arts Residencies with Imaaya Gallery

Émergence is back following the success of the first season to promote the development of new talent in the field of visual and contemporary arts. This incubator enables selected artists to participate in a residency that will give them the opportunity to deepen their practice. They will meet established artists and will be mentored by Charlotte d’Hotman, Director of the Imaaya Art Gallery. 

It is the perfect opportunity to find or reinvent yourself as an artist with the chance to exhibit your works upon completion of the programme! 

  • About Charlotte d’Hotman

    Born to a Mauritian father and an English mother, Charlotte d’Hotman grew up in Mauritius. Upon her return to her native country after studying Art in London, she taught painting and artistic expression to children for a few years before opening the IMAAYA Gallery, with the idea of casting a spotlight on Mauritian talent. Over the years, IMAAYA has specialised in contemporary art, presenting with equal enthusiasm creations made using contemporary methods such as photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, installations and video, among others. 

  • About IMAAYA Gallery

    IMAAYA was founded in 2008, driven by a deep-seated desire to showcase the artists and visual artists of Mauritius. The gallery displays and promotes on a daily basis works of art that reflect the geographical and cultural diversity of the country, thus emphasising the strength, quality and importance of Mauritian Art as an expression of the island’s character. All aspects of the current creative landscape have been selected, promoted and exhibited in a professional way. Backed by the energy and experience of seasoned artists and the ambitious vision of younger ones, it promises exciting prospects for the years ahead. Initially located at Pointe aux Canonniers, the gallery moved to Phoenix in 2015 to be closer to artists and the public. With some fifty exhibitions and a continued partnership with around thirty artists, we are more than ever convinced that there is still plenty to see, create and discover through the work of the countrys artists.

  • Eligibility

    • Anyone over the age of 18 can apply for this program, regardless of their experience and nationality.
    • Participants must be available for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
    • Artists in the field of visual arts: painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and digital art.
    • Artist collectives can also apply. (Material budget remains at a maximum of Rs 20,000 for each collective)
  • Thing the selected artists will receive

    • An individual furnished studio at les Kocottes in St Pierre for a defined period (6 to 12 weeks).
    • A maximum budget of Rs 20,000 for materials.
    • Mentorship by Charlotte d’Hotman, curator of Imaaya Gallery, as well as established artists working on projects in Moka.
  • Key dates

    • The deadline to send application is the 27 October 2023.
    • Period of the first residency: 13 November 2023 to 9 February 2024.
    • Period of the second residency: 12 February to 3 April 2024.
    • Selected candidates will be informed on October 30, 2023.
  • Selection process

    A jury composed of Charlotte d’Hotman from Imaaya Gallery and Moka Smart City’s Arts and Culture team will select artists based on their portfolio and statement of intent.

    Portfolio Content:

    • List of artistic projects you have participated in.
    • Your best creations.
    • Descriptions of your projects (optional).

Registrations closed! Subscribe to What’s Up Moka on Facebook so that you don’t miss our future projects.

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Mokassiens 2

After a successful first edition, the Mokassiens exhibition celebrating Moka and its many facets is curated this year by Eric Lee. The young professional photographer raises the question of what brings together the diversity of personalities, backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures in the area. 

The exhibition will take place from December 2023.

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La Fresque de Telfair

This work will cover a facade in Telfair, Moka’s future city centre. Artists and the people of Moka are invited to engage in collaborative thinking on urban ecology and the city’s values under the guidance of an established artist. 

The call for entries will open in November 2023.

Rezidan Season 1: Residencies and projects

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Mokassiens

This residency brought together 3 photographers who took part in an outdoor exhibition at the Telfair Amphitheatre, celebrating the people of the area and their stories through their work.

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Emergence 

This visual arts residency carried out jointly with IMAAYA Gallery welcomed 9 emerging artists. Their works were presented at the 81406 exhibition, held at Les Fascines, Vivéa Business Park.

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Street Art

This project has brought together emerging and established artists to enhance bus stops and other public spaces in Moka Smart City with 9 original works.

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Art Talks Workshops

These monthly gatherings are held to enable the public to discover the world of artists through discussions and workshops on various themes.

Do you want to set up your cultural activity in Moka?

Rent a space at La Kocotte artistique or a commercial space