Reviewed by Artists

Location Type

🌿 Nature-Immersive Residencies

Immerse yourself in nature. These residencies place artists directly in natural settings — forests, mountains, coastlines — where the environment itself becomes part of the creative process.

124 residencies

Arquetopia Foundation logo

Arquetopia Foundation

Puebla, Mexico

4.7 (6)

Arquetopia Foundation is an award-winning, multiple award-winning nonprofit arts and academic foundation with a significant social scope and global presence across three continents. Now in its 14th year, Arquetopia is dedicated to promoting critical thinking, a commitment to ethics, and a sense of reciprocity in artistic practices. It offers customized, professional International Artist-in-Residence Programs that are renowned worldwide for their comprehensive, research-based approach, focusing on social creativity. Arquetopia's residency programs, situated in Puebla and Oaxaca in Mexico, Cusco in Peru, and Naples in Italy, are tailored to provide a vast array of learning opportunities. These programs are distinguished for their commitment to sustainability in the arts, fostering research and critical thinking in creative processes. Arquetopia's model challenges preconceived notions of history and place, encouraging artists to engage with local epistemologies and resistance models as sources of knowledge and inspiration for social change. The foundation emphasizes ethical artistic practices, acknowledging the problematic ties of artist residencies to colonization, imperialism, and the extractive practices of tourism. Established in 2009 as an autonomous and registered Mexican nonprofit, Arquetopia is self-sustaining, unaffiliated with any political, religious, or war industrial entities, relying on its self-generated funding model. The foundation was co-founded by Mexican visual artist and curator Francisco Guevara and North American classical musician Chris Davis. Originally started as an educational art center for inner-city youth, it quickly evolved to offer international artist residencies. Arquetopia stands out for its array of unique residency programs with substantial mentoring, focused on professional artists, writers, academics, and researchers. It provides a generous and culturally diverse space, hosting artists and scholars from all over the world, aiming to enrich the global arts community with a multiplicity of perspectives.

CeramicsCraftDrawingInstallationInterdisciplinary+5
Camargo Foundation logo

Camargo Foundation

Cassis, France

The Camargo Foundation, nestled in the picturesque coastal town of Cassis, France, has been a beacon for pioneering research, experimentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration in the Arts and Humanities since 1971. With the mission to foster groundbreaking creative and scholarly work, the foundation annually awards the prestigious Camargo Fellowship, along with hosting various other programs aimed at enriching the global arts and humanities discourse. The foundation welcomes applicants from all corners of the globe, embracing diversity and a wide array of creative thought and practice across three main categories: Scholars, Thinkers, and Artists. Scholars engage with French, Francophone, and Mediterranean cultures through arts and humanities research. Thinkers, including curators, journalists, and practitioners in cultural fields, contribute critical thought aligned with the arts and society. Artists across all disciplines are expected to be the primary creators of new work, bringing a mature artistic voice to their projects. The Camargo Foundation facilitates collaborative projects and supports interdisciplinary endeavors, providing a platform for individuals and teams to research, experiment, and create. Residents participate in exchanges and networking, presenting their work within an interdisciplinary setting, and engaging with the local and international community. With its serene setting, the foundation offers a stimulating environment for residents to pursue their projects, underpinned by a commitment to deepening understanding and dialogue across cultures and disciplines.

StipendHousingInterdisciplinaryMultidisciplinary
Chokechaka Golden Bridge logo

Chokechaka Golden Bridge

Calca (Huaran), Cusco, Peru

Chokechaka Golden Bridge Artist Residency is a multidisciplinary program located in Huaran, in the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas. It offers a serene and culturally rich environment for artists, scholars, and creatives seeking both personal focus and community engagement. The residency is designed to support independent work while fostering deep connections with local traditions, landscapes, and communities. Residents are invited to explore their practice through dialogue with local artisans, scholars, and elders, and are encouraged to collaborate across cultural and creative disciplines. The facility accommodates up to eight participants at a time, providing private bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, shared workspaces, and access to both indoor and outdoor creative areas. A dedicated private studio is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and all guests have access to a communal kitchen, living spaces, and a ceremonial maloca for gatherings or performances. The residency supports immersive cultural experiences through visits to Inca heritage sites, traditional weaving and ceramics workshops, and excursions into the Andean landscape. Chokechaka emphasizes sustainability, cultural preservation, and intercultural exchange as core values. Founded by artists with roots in both Peru and the United States, it serves as a creative bridge between ancestral knowledge and contemporary practice. The program is open year-round to international applicants and welcomes those who value creativity, reflection, and shared learning in an awe-inspiring mountain setting.

HousingCeramicsDrawingInstallationWriting / LiteratureMultidisciplinary+4
Ionion Center for the Arts and Culture logo

Ionion Center for the Arts and Culture

Kefalonia, Greece

The Ionion Center for the Arts and Culture offers a uniquely immersive environment for artists, scholars, and creatives from around the world. Located on the picturesque Greek island of Kefalonia, this center serves as a hub for fostering creativity across a wide array of disciplines including visual arts, performing arts, and environmental sciences. The center's programs are varied, ranging from artist residencies and master classes to international exhibitions and interdisciplinary projects, allowing participants to explore and develop their work in a stimulating, supportive setting. Each program at the Ionion Center is designed to integrate the rich cultural and natural landscape of Kefalonia, using the island's history and beauty as a backdrop for inspiration and research. With facilities that encourage both individual and collaborative projects, the center offers spaces for exhibitions, performances, and creative experiments. The residency programs are particularly notable for their inclusion of artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, providing them with the opportunity to engage deeply with the local community and environment. Financial support is available through various grants connected to specific programs each year, ensuring accessibility for a broad range of participants. The center also emphasizes the importance of sustainability and ecological awareness, integrating these themes into its projects and educational initiatives. With its commitment to fostering global artistic dialogue and cultural exchange, the Ionion Center for the Arts and Culture stands out as a beacon for creative minds seeking to deepen their practice and connect with other like-minded individuals from around the world.

HousingCeramicsMultidisciplinaryPaintingPhotography
Mackinac State Historic Parks logo

Mackinac State Historic Parks

Mackinac Island, Michigan, United States

The Mackinac State Historic Parks Artist-In-Residence Program offers a unique opportunity for artists from various disciplines to immerse themselves in the serene and inspiring environment of Mackinac Island. Designed to foster the creation of artistic works that reflect the rich history and natural beauty of the island, this residency welcomes artists in mediums including writing, music, sculpture, painting, photography, and more. Each residency lasts for two weeks, providing artists with a peaceful retreat where they can focus solely on their creative endeavors. The selected artists are accommodated in a remodeled studio apartment equipped with essential amenities, located on the second floor of the historic Mackinac Island Visitor’s Center. The program encourages artists to engage with the island community through a public presentation, enriching the cultural landscape of Mackinac Island. In exchange, artists contribute a piece of their work to the Mackinac State Historic Parks, leaving a lasting legacy of their stay. A collaborative selection process involving representatives from the Mackinac State Historic Parks, the Mackinac Island Arts Council, and the Mackinac Island Community Foundation ensures that participants are chosen based on merit and their potential to enhance the program’s goals. Through this residency, artists are granted the freedom and space to explore new ideas and perspectives, inspired by the island’s unique amalgam of historical and natural elements.

StipendHousingDrawingInstallationInterdisciplinaryWriting / LiteratureMultidisciplinary+4
National Park Arts Foundation (NPAF) logo

National Park Arts Foundation (NPAF)

Various, United States

The National Park Arts Foundation (NPAF) offers a unique series of Artist in Residency programs within the National Parks of the United States. Partnering with the National Park Service and its affiliates, NPAF aims to bring artists of the highest caliber into the heart of the country's most stunning natural landscapes. With over 300 programs produced and more than 120 artists supported, the foundation emphasizes the deep connection between the arts and the natural world, allowing artists to draw inspiration from and work within the parks' serene and awe-inspiring settings. The residency programs are designed to be relevant to both the participating artists and the broader art world, ensuring the experiences and works produced during the residencies resonate beyond the parks. Artists from various disciplines, including visual arts, music, literature, and performance, are provided with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to focus on their projects amidst the parks' breathtaking sceneries, free from the distractions of everyday life. Active in parks across the nation, NPAF's current Artist in Residency programs for 2023 and 2024 are accessible through a selection process detailed on their website. These residencies offer artists a supportive environment to explore new ideas, develop their practice, and engage with the parks' unique landscapes and cultural histories.

StipendHousingCeramicsDigitalDrawingGraphic ArtsInstallation+10
Ox-Bow logo

Ox-Bow

Saugatuck, Michigan, United States

Ox-Bow School of Art & Artists’ Residency, nestled in Saugatuck, Michigan, is a sanctuary for artists seeking to immerse themselves in a vibrant creative community. With a history of fostering artistic growth and experimentation, Ox-Bow offers a variety of residency programs tailored to meet the needs of artists at different stages of their careers. The Summer Residency Program, open to artists and writers, provides a fully-funded opportunity to work within a dynamic community of students, faculty, and visiting artists. The innovative Longform residency, a hybrid model, combines studio work with skill development and critical discussions, facilitated by esteemed artists and educators. Ox-Bow’s picturesque campus, surrounded by natural beauty, offers private studios, communal living spaces, and access to specialized workshops, encouraging a blend of focused work and communal engagement. Residents benefit from studio visits, lectures, and the chance to share their work, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and practices. Ox-Bow’s commitment to accessibility is evident in its scholarship opportunities, ensuring a diverse group of artists can participate in its programs. This nurturing environment, away from the distractions of daily life, allows artists to explore new directions in their work, engage deeply with a community of peers, and emerge with renewed inspiration and focus.

StipendHousingCeramicsDigitalGraphic ArtsInstallationWriting / Literature+7
Sitka Center for Art and Ecology logo

Sitka Center for Art and Ecology

Otis, Oregan, United States

5.0 (1)

The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, nestled in Otis, Oregon, operates with a profound commitment to fostering creativity at the intersection of art and nature. Through its residency programs, running from October to May, the Center offers artists, writers, musicians, architects, and scholars in natural science the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the inspiring natural setting of Cascade Head and the Salmon River estuary. Each year, up to 50 residents from a variety of disciplines and career stages find solace and inspiration on the campus for up to three months at no charge. In addition to focusing on their work, residents engage in community outreach, conducting free exhibits, lectures, and scholarly research, making their stay not only a personal transformative journey but also a contribution to the local and educational community. Sitka's comprehensive approach includes not only residencies but also extensive workshop programs and youth art education, enriching the creative and ecological knowledge of individuals of all ages. The Center, equipped with various studios and residences set within an 80-acre preserve, provides the perfect backdrop for both solitary reflection and communal exchange. Residents benefit from private living spaces, studios, and communal areas, all designed to support their creative processes within a serene environment that encourages exploration of the natural world.

HousingDigitalDrawingGraphic ArtsInstallationWriting / Literature+6