Are you an aspiring artisan from Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Kenya, or Tunisia working with stone, marble, bricks, plaster, stucco, wood, metal, or mosaics?    

This residency is a rare chance to grow your craft and heritage preservation skills in one of the world’s most inspiring heritage settings.  

ICCROM is launching an Extensive Craftsmanship Training Residency within the framework of the project “Towards Sustainable Development in Africa: Transformative Capacity Building to Advance Craftsmanship in Cultural Heritage Conservation”, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The project is implemented by ICCROM in partnership with the Vatican-affiliated Be Human Association and local partner institutions: the Musée des Civilisations of Côte d’Ivoire, Université Senghor in Egypt, the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), and the Institut National du Patrimoine (INP) in Tunisia. 

The initiative aims to strengthen the skills of 20 African aspiring artisans (5 per country) who have a strong interest in one or more of the following specialties: stonemasonry and marble work, bricklaying, plaster and decoration, carpentry, blacksmithry, or mosaics.  

Location: Rome, Italy 

Duration: 8 months residency (2 months Italian culture and language training + 6 months training) 

Start date: April 2026* 

Accommodation: The apartments and rooms are shared between people of the same gender and according to the preferences of the candidates.

* The starting date may vary depending on visa processing timelines. 

Course Fee & Costs  

There is no course fee to attend the programme. The organizers will manage the visa process for all participants, and cover round-trip travel costs from the participants’ country of origin, accommodation, insurance, and meals. Participants will receive a per-diem to cover basic daily expenses, in accordance with applicable institutional regulations. 

The  training model 

The programme, delivered by ICCROM’s experts and partners, takes the successful organizational and educational model of the School of Arts and Crafts of the Fabric of Saint Peter in the Vatican as its reference framework from which the teaching staff and educational materials are drawn and adapted according to the specific needs identified by local partners. Rooted in education and hands-on training, the programme supports the local preservation of cultural heritage by fostering traditional craftsmanship at risk of disappearing.   

The primary objective is to train aspiring artisans in the maintenance and preservation of cultural heritage by transmitting skills, techniques, and professional practices. Through collaboration between African artisans and Italian master artisans, it promotes skills development, cultural exchange, and intergenerational knowledge transfer in ways that are locally relevant and sustainable. 

Course Methodology  

The course adopts an intensive, practice-based approach, combining lectures, workshops, seminars, guided visits, and applied work on real sites, following four interconnected learning components:  

  • Core modules on heritage maintenance and preservation,  

  • Specialized modules based on participants’ craft specialization, including stonemasonry and marble work, bricklaying, plaster and decoration course, carpentry, blacksmithry and mosaics  

  • Hands-on practical activities 

  • Seminars and field visits 

A provisional programme is available and will be further refined based on participants’ profiles and partner inputs.

Participants will have the chance to learn from Italian master artisans through hands-on training in Rome. For this reason, during the first two months, an Italian language and culture immersion will also be provided to help participants learn key terminology and deepen their understanding of Rome's culture, history, and traditions.  

The core modules and additional lectures provided by ICCROM will be delivered in English and with technological support. 

A core objective of the programme is to generate a multiplier effect by enabling participants to act as trainers and resource persons upon their return, ensuring the replication and institutional anchoring of the programme at national and local levels. Following the eight-month residency, selected participants will return to their home countries to participate in a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme, ensuring local ownership and long-term impact beyond the residency. 

How to apply  

The programme is open to 20 young aspiring artisans (5 per country) with citizenship and residency in Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Kenya, or Tunisia, with a demonstrated interest in one of the following fields: 

  • Stonemasonry and marble work  

  • Bricklaying, plaster and decoration  

  • Carpentry   

  • Blacksmithry   

  • Mosaics  

Previous professional experience is an asset, but not required. Knowledge of English and/or French is mandatory.  

Priority will be given to women and to candidates with limited financial means to access similar training opportunities. 

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications by 25/02/2026 through the official form. 

The application form will require the following documents (in English or French): 

  • Copy of Passport with a validity of at least 1 year

  • CV + motivation letter, or alternatively a video (1-2 min.)  presenting the candidate and motivations to apply 

  • Portfolio (video, pictures) 

  • Self-declaration or reference letter from local community representatives confirming reliability, and commitment

Selected candidates will be contacted to schedule an online interview with the organizers.  

Accepted formats: pdf, doc, docx, jpg, jpeg, png, tif, tiff, pptx, mp4, mov 

Maximum file size: 10 MB 

APPLY NOW

For technical issues with the online submission or any further inquiry, please contact: residencyprogramme@iccrom.org 

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