The Research Residency is a research-based residency programme organised by Cemeti – Institute for Art and Society. Unlike the Regular Residency Programme, it is not centred on the production of artworks or a final presentation. Instead, it provides artists with the time and space to deepen their research process as an integral part of their artistic practice.

The programme supports artists in developing research questions, exploring specific contexts, building relationships, and engaging in activities such as fieldwork, archival research, site visits, and conversations with individuals and communities. Through this approach, research is understood not as a preliminary stage leading to artistic production, but as an artistic practice in its own right—one that contributes to the creation of knowledge, deepens contextual understanding, and opens up new possibilities for artistic inquiry.

Throughout the residency, participants engage in regular discussions with the Cemeti team and are connected with artists, researchers, academics, local communities, and other practitioners whose knowledge and experiences enrich the development of their research. The programme encourages an open and reflective learning process grounded in meaningful engagement with social, cultural, historical, and environmental contexts.

Entering its third year in 2027, the Research Residency continues to grow through collaborations with international partners. The programme was first launched in 2025 through a partnership between Cemeti – Institute for Art and Society, the Institut français d’Indonésie (IFI), and Cité internationale des arts (France). In its second year, the programme expanded through a partnership with the Singapore Art Museum (SAM). With support from the SAM Fund for Arts and Ecology, the residency also introduced an open call for artists based across Southeast Asia.

Through these international collaborations, the Research Residency seeks to expand opportunities for knowledge exchange, strengthen research-led artistic practices, and foster long-term relationships among practitioners in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and the wider international arts community.