Artist Residency in Tuscany: Creativity and Culture at La Serena Hotel

La Serena in Forte dei Marmi offers an artist residency in Tuscany designed for visual artists seeking time, space and inspiration to create. Launched in 2024, the program runs from April to August and provides a dedicated studio, a serene setting and access to the region’s cultural landmarks, from the Carrara marble quarries to Pietrasanta. Practical details and conditions of participation are confirmed directly with the La Serena team.

An artist residency on Tuscany’s cultural riviera

Set in Forte dei Marmi on the northern Tuscan coast, La Serena carries forward the area’s strong artistic heritage. This stretch of the Versilia has long attracted artists, drawn to the coastal light, the outline of the Apuan Alps and the nearby marble quarries.
Within this context, La Serena’s artist residency feels like a natural extension of the hotel’s identity: an intimate five-star property framed by pine trees, where contemporary architecture, gardens and interiors are in constant dialogue with curated artworks.

For resident artists, creativity is woven into everyday life. The lobby, corridors, lounges and restaurant are filled with works by established and emerging artists. The hotel becomes both a home and a workspace, an ideal base to develop new series, experiment and reflect on one’s practice.

A program designed for visual artists

The residency program, launched in 2024, takes place between April and August. It is aimed at visual artists in search of focused time and immersive surroundings. Residents are offered a dedicated studio space on the property, a quiet atmosphere and the resources needed for deep creative work.

During their stay, artists are invited to produce new works. La Serena emphasizes the quality of creative time: a slower rhythm, proximity to nature and the shifting light of the Tuscan coast. The goal is to support each artist in pushing their practice forward, whether abstract, figurative or conceptual, in connection with or independent from the territory.

Living and creating in an art-led hotel

La Serena is not simply a hotel that displays art; it functions as an immersive gallery. Spaces are curated with pieces by both renowned and emerging artists, including several former residents. Each season, a new selection transforms the atmosphere of the property.

Within this setting, resident artists find a natural exhibition context. The program includes the production and presentation of works on-site, as well as moments for guests to meet the artists through informal open studios or studio visits. Hotel guests can follow the development of each project, discover works in progress and engage in conversation.

For artists, it is a rare opportunity to test their work in a lived-in environment, where encounters with the audience are intimate and unforced. For travellers, it means staying in a place where contemporary art is not an accessory but a living experience.

Inspiration from Carrara, Pietrasanta and the Tuscan landscape

From La Serena, artists and guests can easily reach key cultural sites in the region. The hotel designs tailored experiences such as private guided visits to the Carrara marble quarries and bespoke cultural itineraries in Pisa and Lucca. Forte dei Marmi is also a short drive from Pietrasanta, a Tuscan town shaped by a long artistic tradition and today recognised for its creative atmosphere.

This geography directly feeds the residency. The white marble mountains, the artistic heritage of the surrounding towns, the historic piazzas and churches, but also Forte dei Marmi’s beaches, markets and tree-lined streets become sources of inspiration. La Serena offers a comfortable base from which to explore this “cultural riviera” and bring it back into the studio.

Key Facts

• Five-star boutique hotel located in Forte dei Marmi, Tuscany
  
  
• Artist residency program launched in 2024
  
  
• Residency period runs between April and August
  
  
• Dedicated studio, calm environment and resources for creative immersion
  
  
• Artworks displayed throughout the hotel, including pieces by resident artists
  
  
• Open studios and presentations allowing guests to meet the artists
  
  
• Privileged access to Tuscany’s cultural riviera: Carrara, Pietrasanta, Pisa, Lucca
  
  
  

FAQ

What is La Serena’s artist residency in Tuscany?

La Serena’s artist residency is a seasonal program in Forte dei Marmi welcoming visual artists to develop new work within a five-star, art-led hotel. Residents benefit from a dedicated studio space, a serene environment and direct access to Tuscany’s cultural landscape, from marble quarries to historic cities.

Who can apply to the La Serena artist residency?

The residency is primarily intended for visual artists with an active practice, from emerging to more established. Painters, sculptors, draughtspeople and image-based artists can express interest via the online enquiry form.

How long does each residency last?

Residency length can vary depending on the session, the hotel’s calendar and the needs of the artist. The program runs between April and August, and the exact duration of each stay is defined individually at the time the residency is confirmed.

Can hotel guests meet the resident artists?

Yes. Resident artists are encouraged to open their studios to La Serena guests, giving them the chance to see works in progress and discuss the creative process. Selected pieces created during the residency may also be displayed across the hotel, making art an integral part of the guest experience.

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