Art Residencies
How to Apply, What to Expect, and Why They're Worth It
If you've ever felt the need to step away from your routine and immerse yourself fully in your art, an artist residency might be exactly what you need. Residencies offer time, space, and resources to focus on your creative practice without the distractions of daily life. They can provide opportunities for networking, skill development, and sometimes even funding or exhibition possibilities. But the process of finding and applying for the right residency can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never done it before.
Residencies come in all shapes and sizes. Some are remote and quiet, designed for solitude and deep work, while others are structured to encourage collaboration and community engagement. Some offer full funding, covering travel, housing, and materials, while others require you to contribute financially. Understanding what you need from a residency is the first step in making it worthwhile.
Why Residencies Matter
Many artists I know (myself included) hit creative walls. Sometimes the work just isn’t coming together, or the energy to create feels drained. A residency can be a reset button—a chance to work without external pressures, explore new ideas, and connect with other artists who are also in that experimental space. The time away can offer clarity on your direction, introduce you to new ways of working, and even lead to unexpected collaborations that shape your practice in the long run.
Another big factor? Networking. Residencies introduce you to curators, critics, and fellow artists who can open doors. Sometimes these connections lead to exhibitions, commissions, or simply friendships that sustain your career long-term. And even if you don’t leave with direct professional opportunities, the insights gained from seeing how other artists work can be invaluable.
Applying for a Residency
The application process can be competitive, but don’t let that discourage you. Just like anything in the art world, it’s about persistence, refining your approach, and sometimes just finding the right fit.
Most residencies require a statement of intent, a portfolio of work, and sometimes letters of recommendation. Your application should reflect not just what you do, but why a residency is right for you at this moment in your practice. Be clear about what you hope to accomplish and why you’re choosing that particular program. If a residency has a community component, speak to how you engage with other artists or audiences. If it’s a research-based residency, highlight how your work aligns with their mission.
Something I always tell my students: don’t just apply to the most well-known residencies. There are countless programs out there, many of which might be better suited to your needs. Some residencies specialize in emerging artists, experimental work, or specific disciplines. Others are regionally focused and prioritize artists from certain backgrounds. Do your research and tailor your applications accordingly.
Where to Find Residencies
If you’re new to residencies, start with sites that aggregate open calls and opportunities:
Res Artis (www.resartis.org): One of the largest global networks for artist residencies.
Alliance of Artist Communities (www.artistcommunities.org): Focuses on U.S.-based residencies and offers grant opportunities.
TransArtists (www.transartists.org): Provides an extensive list of international residencies and resources.
Call for Entry (www.callforentry.org): A platform that lists open calls for residencies, grants, and exhibitions.
What to Expect During a Residency
No two residencies are exactly alike, and your experience will depend on the structure of the program. Some residencies are highly independent—you’re given a space and time to work, with little obligation to interact. Others have scheduled critiques, workshops, or public engagement elements. Before committing, make sure the residency’s expectations align with what you’re looking for.
Some artists thrive in communal settings, feeding off the energy of shared meals and group critiques. Others need silence and solitude. There’s no wrong approach, but knowing your preferences helps. Be realistic about what you need to do your best work. If you know you need complete isolation, a residency with daily group activities might not be ideal.
Letting Go of Old Work to Make Space for the New
Residencies are often about moving forward creatively. For me, part of making room for new ideas means literally clearing out old work. Every year, I go through my studio and decide what needs to go—sometimes that means letting go of pieces that no longer serve my practice. I burn them, a ritual that feels like releasing creative baggage. Not every artist works this way, but the idea is the same: residencies can be a way of starting fresh, unburdened by the expectations or limitations of past work.
When you arrive at a residency, you might find yourself clinging to your usual ways of working. That’s natural. But don’t be afraid to experiment. The point of a residency isn’t to produce perfect work—it’s to give yourself the space to try, fail, and discover something new in the process. The best residencies push you outside your comfort zone, forcing you to confront your habits and rethink your approach.
Residencies don’t guarantee success, but they do provide a unique opportunity to step back and refocus. They give you time—something that’s increasingly rare for working artists juggling multiple commitments. And they create space for new work to emerge, whether through experimentation, collaboration, or simply the mental reset of being in a different environment.
Not every residency will be life-changing. Some might be frustrating, or not quite what you expected. But each one offers something—a lesson, a connection, a breakthrough idea. And often, those benefits only become clear in retrospect, as you look back and realize how that time shaped your practice.
So if you’ve ever thought about applying for a residency, try it. Start researching, put together your materials, and send out applications. Even if you don’t get in the first time, the process of applying helps clarify your artistic direction. And when the right opportunity comes along, you’ll be ready for it.