The M-residency

M not only shows art, it also gives emerging artists the chance to create new work in the best conditions and with expert guidance. The M-residency is the name of the project. But how does it work?

What is the M-residency?

Every year, M aims to offer a residency to several emerging artists. At least one of them must have a link with Leuven. The focus is on visual art and, by extension, performance.

A residency generally lasts five months. The first period is mainly devoted to reflection and the drawing up of a project proposal. Once that is ready, M looks at how it can support the creation of the new work: offering technical support, drawing up a project plan and a budget together with the artist, inviting a curator to talk about the work... In short, everything the artist needs to be able to work in peace and surrounded by others.

The residency always ends with an exhibition.

Where does the M-residency take place?

M has its own studio: a four-metre high, 115-square-metre space with plenty of light. It is located in Cas-co, a former warehouse that belonged to Stella Artois in the Vaartstraat, which has been transformed into workspaces for visual and performing artists.

What makes the M-residence unique?

There are more organisations that organise residencies, but M offers emerging artists two unique assets:

M has built up great expertise in terms of content, production and communication. This is entirely at the service of the artist.
M invites M-art patrons, art collectors and curators to the M-studio. This enables the artist to make new contacts and build up a network.

The M-residences are made possible thanks to the support of the M-art patrons and M-ambassadors, and of Amplo, HR-partner for the cultural sector.

Who are the M-residents?

Judith Van Oeckel (September 2025), Ellen Dhondt (March 2025), Brahim Tall (October 2024), Angyvir Padilla (March 2024), Lola Daels (September 2023), Anna van der Ploeg (March 2023), Niels Poiz (September 2022), Tom Hallet (February 2022), Alice Van der Wielen-Honinckx (2021), Jivan van der Ende (2021), Yannick Ganseman (2021), Evelien Cammaert (2020), Maud Gourdon & Chantal van Rijt (2020), Brecht Heytens (2019), Florian Waerzeggers (2018), Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa (2018) and Benjamin Seror (2017).

Tell me more about the current M-resident

M-atelier in Cas-co — M Leuven, foto: Sanne Delcroix

M-resident Alice Van der Wielen-Honinckx — M Leuven, foto: Lore Stessel

M-residenten Chantal van Rijt & Maud Gourdon — M Leuven, foto: Eva Donckers

M-atelier in Cas-co met werk van Yannick Ganseman — Yannick Ganseman, foto: Matthijs van der Burgt

M-residentie M Leuven — M Leuven, foto: Sanne Delcroix

With the support of Amplo

AMPLO is a partner in the M-space at Cas-co and gives the artists in residence a financial boost. AMPLO started out as the Social Bureau for Artists (SBK), but grew into a leading and reliable HR partner for the creative sector. In addition to payroll and personnel administration, AMPLO offers a range of additional services for companies and freelancers. They work on behalf of their clients and the sector as a whole, think along with them to support creative projects in a solution-oriented way and provide accompanying advice with their unparalleled expertise.

current M-resident

Judith Van Oeckel

Judith van Oeckel has a five-month M-residency at Cas-co. In her work, she explores the intersections between dance, performance, and visual art, focusing on themes such as ownership, control, and the preservation of movement.

Get to know Judith