This page is for artists who want to
understand more about Artists' residencies and/or secure an Artist's Residency
​
This section covers:
  • What is an Artist Residency?
  • what do artists residencies offer?
  • who can apply?
  • ​how to apply
  • opportunities for artists residencies
​​SEE ALSO Artists Grants & Scholarships in the Money Section
​Artists’ residencies have become intrinsic to many artistic careers. They play an important role in facilitating and catalysing artists’ ability to move across the world. They have also developed into important elements in the (local) contemporary art scene connecting the local with the global art world.

What is an Artist Residency?
​

An artist residency is usually
  • an opportunity to stay in a specific place and
  • create and develop work without the distractions of daily life.
Artist-in-residence programs invite artists and other creative professionals to a temporary work space away from their usual environment and everyday life, to reflect, research, present and create. The residency opportunity encourages and enables artists to explore new materials, connect with new people, experience life in a new location and integrate that experience into their art. 
Residency Opportunities | Artist-Run Alliance 
An Artist Residency can offer
  • Opportunities to research, create produce, reflect
  • many and various locations to take some time out
  • retreat or community:
    • solitude / contemplation / reflection
    • community / engagement / stimulation
  • scope for specialists or those with a more open agenda​
REFERENCE: ​
Typical timescales range from a weekend to several months, and residencies can be highly specialised or just offer space to work. 

What do I need to know about Artists' Residencies?
​

No artist-in-residence programme is the same. Each programme or guest studio, large or small, established or experimental, has its own background and atmosphere. Working periods differ enormously: from two weeks to six months or sometimes even a year. Some specialize in one discipline, others are open to a great number of disciplines. There are also a lot of differences in financial resources, housing and studio facilities, application and selection procedures, coaching, exhibiting, networking.
Dutch Culture - Your artist in residence guide
Characteristics of an Artist Residency are that they:
  • are usually run for a defined (often short) period of time
  • provide space for an artist to be creative
  • either provide a stipend to offset costs
  • or feed and house the artist for free
  • some charge artists for their participation
  • funding is not paying the artist. Rather it supports them to enable them to make art in a focused way
  • some organisations will pay an artist to create work if it is significant.
  • the costs of travel to the residency are not always funded

Who applies for an Artist Residency?
  • artists wanting a focused period of time away from daily life to create and/or develop their art
  • career "artist residents" who
    • move from one to another 
    • want to make connections in a new country
TIPS ABOUT ARTIST RESIDENCIES

Be very clear about:
  • the purpose of the residency
  • what space is available - and whether or not it is shared
  • what your expenses will be - and what is and is not funded
  • what is expected of you
  • who can apply
  • what's expected in an application e.g. are you expected to leave an artwork behind?
  • whether the fee will leave you out of pocket or not

Note also that:
  • Artist Residencies will blacklist artists who do not behave well
The funding for a residency, its conditions, and the criteria for being selected vary greatly between different host art centers. Applications typically require artists to submit a project proposal, résumé, and letter of motivation or similar documentation.
Art Demystified: How Do Artist Residencies Work?

REFERENCE:

Opportunities for Artist Residencies 
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This section provides links to websites and places online where you can find out more about opportunities to apply for an artist residency.

Some organisations (e.g. Artist-Run Alliance) provide a database of all current artist residencies notified to their organisation
How to complete the application form
Rather than repeating it, I suggest you take a look at the long detailed section on ​
Over the past 10 years, we have hosted 55 residencies (including some collectives). Our residents have co-designed and delivered a huge range of learning activities to engage with the public in very innovative ways, but they have also done fascinating research on the V&A’s collections, creating new encounters and frequently ‘activating’ more dormant parts of the collections.
Celebrating 10 years of residencies at the V&A during LDF | Victoria & Albert Museum, London
​OPPORTUNITIES in USA
OPPORTUNITIES in the UK
OPPORTUNITIES Elsewhere

INDIA
Picture
an artist in residence in the Glacier National Park