What is an Artist Residency?
Simply put, a residency provides artists with two things: time and space.
While there are many versions of a residency, the basic layout offers artists a place where they can go to have studio space away from everyday life. Allowing them to focus on their craft and have uninterrupted time to develop a project, finish a manuscript, or simply delve deeper into their work.
Artist Residencies have an application process in place in order to select the best qualified artists. This typically includes an application and a submission review. Rejections are common as space is limited and in high demand, leading to artists to apply for multiple residencies at once.
Residency programs will offer some combination of living and studio space. This can look like private spaces or shared spaces with other artists in residence. Quite often you will see residencies offering artists private lodging space with shared communal studio space. Residencies typically have more than one artist staying at a time, providing a unique opportunity to meet others and feed off their support.
Outside of this baseline model, there are as many different residency experiences as there are residency programs. This, as complicated as it can be to describe, let’s artists pick the residencies that best fit their needs and expectations. Residencies range from accepting only one discipline to accepting a wide selection of genres depending on how they are set up. This can offer a cohort of Poets to come together explicitly or crossbreed inspiration between composers, visual artists, and writers.
Resources will vary from residency to residency depending on what is provided and what is not. Some are located within big cities providing the hustle and bustle of life to spark inspiration. Whereas some operate in rural landscapes, allowing a sense of solitude to generate focus. In addition to that, the programs will sometimes provide workshops, expect finished products, or simply allow the time to be interpreted at your own pace.
Whatever you are looking for, there is a residency suited exactly for you!
In summary:
Artist Residences provide artists with time and space
They exist to offer artists a chance to develop their craft
Each residency program looks slightly different
Residencies provide living and studio space
Artists will need to apply to be considered for a residency
Rejections are common as space is limited
There will usually be more than one artist in residence
Residencies can be genre specific or include a variety of genres
Artist Residencies exist both in big cities and rural areas
Resources provided vary on the residency
Until Next Time,
Lillian Merritt
