Black Females in Architecture (BFA) have been selected for the 2026 Tilos Artist Residency.
The Tilos Artist Residency programme, now in its fifth consecutive year on the island of Tilos, continues to grow and flourish. For the 2026 edition, PCAI is continuing its collaboration with the British Council through the Circular Cultures (Making Matters) programme, welcoming UK-based artists Black Females in Architecture (BFA) to lead this year’s residency.
From 28 September to 7 October, Black Females in Architecture will be based on the island, exploring potential environmental solutions through the lens of artistic practice and the creative approaches and tools that art can offer.
BFA is a membership organisation and social enterprise with a network of almost 600 members globally. BFA connects and supports Black women and Black-mixed women working across architecture, design, and construction. Through advocacy, research, education, and collaborative projects, BFA champions visibility, equity, and leadership in the built environment. Black Females in Architecture will be represented on the island by Neba Sere (Spatial Practitioner, Associate Professor, and Director of Decolonising and Decarbonising at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL) and Lauren Fashokun (Αrchitectural Designer & BFA Collaborator)
Tilos residency aims to explore how the principles of upcycling, zero waste and circular economy can inspire creativity, collaboration and regenerative thinking in architecture, design crafts, materials and urban design. More specifically, during their residency, BFA will have the opportunity to research further the awarded circular economy programme implemented on the island from 2022.
In collaboration with the Municipality of Tilos, local schools and associations, together with local residents, the artists will explore women’s knowledge, everyday heritage and living memory. These often overlooked forms of knowledge will contribute to the creation of a living archive that celebrates and preserves the island’s stories, experiences and collective memory.
Similar traces have taken the form of artworks, design objects and fanzines created by Hypercomf, The New Raw, Resolve, PoOR and STORE during previous editions of the residency.
The Tilos Artist Residency is organised in the context of Polygreen’s collaboration with the Municipality of Tilos. Just Go Zero Tilos, an innovative environmental project, powered by Polygreen, was launched in 2022 on the island aiming to develop solutions that promote circular economy and sustainability, and made Tilos the first zero-waste island in Greece.
More about BFA
BFA was formed in 2018 following a chance meeting between four Black women working in architecture who identified the need for a supportive space and professional network. A WhatsApp group was created that same day, which became the foundation of what would grow into the BFA network. Over the following year, the four co-founders collectively developed BFA’s vision, mission, and early activities which focused on connecting members, hosting public discussions, and advocating for representation within the industry.
BFA continues under the leadership of its current Co-Directors, who have expanded the organisation’s focus towards spatial practice, cultural programming, and community-led design.
https://www.blackfemarc.com/
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Image credit: Showcase in Accra ‘Women’s Way of Knowing the City’ in collaboration with Edan Ghana, 2025 by Ivy Gbeze
