The Tilos Artist Residency program continues for the fifth consecutive year on the island of Tilos. For 2026, the cultural organization Polygreen Culture & Art Initiative (PCAI) is continuing its collaboration with the British Council as part of the Circular Cultures (Making Matters), and welcomes Black Females in Architecture (BFA) at this year’s residency.

From September 28 to October 7, 2026, Black Females in Architecture will be on the island with the aim of exploring new environmental solutions through the lens of artistic creation.

BFA is a member-based organization and a social enterprise with a global network of nearly 600 members. BFA connects and supports Black women and women of mixed Black heritage working in the fields of architecture, design, and construction. Through advocacy, research, education, and collaborative projects, the BFA promotes visibility, equality, and leadership in the built environment.

In Tilos, Black Females in Architecture will be represented by Neba Sere (Specialist in spatial analysis, Associate Professor and Director of the Decolonizing and Decarbonizing program at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL) and Lauren Fashokun (specialist in architectural design and a collaborator with BFA).

The Tilos artist residency program aims to explore how the principles of the circular economy can inspire creativity, collaboration, and innovative thinking in architecture, design, materials, and urban planning. More specifically, during their participation in the residency program, the artists will have the opportunity to see firsthand the circular economy program that has been implemented on the island since 2022.

In collaboration with the Municipality, the schools of Tilos, and the residents, the BFAs will explore women’s knowledge, everyday cultural heritage, and living memory as they emerge through the narratives of the island’s women. These often-overlooked forms of knowledge will contribute to the creation of a living archive that will highlight and preserve the island’s stories, experiences, and collective memory.

Similar artistic “imprints” were created by Hypercomf, The New Raw, Resolve, PoOR and STORE during past artist residencies.

The Tilos Artist Residency is organized as part of Polygreen’s collaboration with the Municipality of Tilos. Just Go Zero Tilos, an innovative environmental project supported by Polygreen, launched on the island in 2022 with the goal of developing solutions that promote the circular economy and sustainability, and has made Tilos the first zero-waste island in Greece.