Artist Residency Reviews

My experience at Tuo Tuo was excellent. The place where it is located and the spaces accessible to the residents are exceptional, but what I really value are its hosts, Joni and Kaitlyn: magical beings of true kindness and responsible artists in everything they do.

My autumn/winter residency at TUO TUO felt warm and magical. I felt supported and seen both in my artistic practice and as a person, and my time with them inspired new chapters in my work. TUO TUO feels like a mossy womb, with fairy-like founders who plant, grow, play and make great mixtapes.

Benefits: this residency provided a very encouraging and safe space to work, and was supported by a solid group of individuals that I could count on for conversation, critique, and guidance as I navigated my month in Savannah. Challenges: I was able to bring my vehicle with me so I was constantly visiting many of the city’s institutions. But I can imagine without a car you may have had a slightly more limited experience. However, previous residents informed me that they were able to carpool with some of the On::View staff and colleagues. Practical advice: Take advantage of & attend everything you can. There is a wealth of creative knowledge and experience in Savannah’s art community. Cost vs Gains: I would encourage anyone to source their materials beforehand if possible. They do provide a small stipend at a local reuse art supply store (1 block away) but outside of that you may be limited without visiting the Blick by SCAD. Materials were the largest cost for me, as you are provided with living and grocery is not inordinately expensive. Overall, I gained so much from the time and space to work, I highly recommend it to any artist.

I didn't have a car but was able to get around with public transportation but it is limited so a car would have been good. The hosts were very helpful and kind. For me it was about having space and alone and time to think solely about art. I found it nourishing and rejuvenating. The setting is beautiful and I had a few different options for work spaces. I was the only artist in that space at the time so It would have been quite different with another creative there. This would suit people who are self motivated and focused and want to be in nature.

At the time in 2022, the print studio has just been opened, so they did not yet have all the necessary equipment. However, the support from the staff and engagement of local community was incredible. A worthwhile experience for sure.

They keep representing my work after the residency in art fairs, exhibitions, online... It has been a great experience.

The working space is enormous. You can work in Necia and also in Pocoapoco. Really for me it was a great experience. I worked very hard the time I was there. I am very pleased with my artistic growth. Beware of spicy food. Oaxaca is a very powerful place energetically; take advantage of the experience and tour the city as much as you can.

Benefits: Highlight key positive outcomes for your art and career. Scholarship, I was able to focus on my creative process, and at the end, there was an open studio to show the results. Challenges: Although we didn't necessarily have to produce something, I decided to do it. The challenge was to do it in a month. Practical tips: It is a good residency to do pre-production; you can focus on your artistic practice without so many pressures. Costs versus profits: Active participation in the dynamics of the residency (an open and collaborative approach seems essential to me. If your profile is more closed, it could be difficult) vs. paid production and presentation of results.

Completely immerse yourself in local life and nature. It is deeply inspiring.

Benefits: incredibly supportive residency in a gorgeous historical garden/farm setting. Access to a treasure of rare books and objects in the library. Challenges: the setting is rural—having a car makes things easier, but the staff are very helpful about providing transportation for errands, etc. Practical Advice: aside from working in your own studio, you can volunteer in the gardens or on the farm and spend time in the library—I highly recommend doing it all, my experience was so enriched by working with the plants and getting to know the farmers, gardeners, librarians and staff there. Although slightly controversial, I read ‘Bunny Mellon: the life of an American style legend’ during my time there and I felt the historical background of the people and the place really changed the experience of being there. I felt I had a much deeper understanding of Oak Spring and what it means to be a part of Mrs. Mellon’s legacy.

Too bad expensive.

Beautiful building, newly renovated studios, spectacular location in downtown Cascais. Surrounding natural parks to be explored. I went during Covid, and there was almost no activities carried out—a bit disappointing after paying full price. It is a quieter residency, where you can work in solitude.

TSKW is beautifully located in the heart of old town Key West. So there’s lots of opportunities to engage in both townsfolk and tourists. It’s the opposite of a residency that separates the residence from the “real world.” If you prefer to have your focus on learning and engaging with other artists, TSKW may be a disappointment. With only four artists at a time, you may make great connections or very little. Artists are responsible for their meals. If the artists are mutually interested in sharing cooking and eating together, that’s can be wonderful. If there is a lack of interest in communal meals, eating can be isolating. But kudos to the staff. They were always most helpful and kind.

Nocefresca was exactly what I needed to refocus on my practice after several hectic years. A small rural village with great community support. I understood it did not have the technical workshops that I usually require, but it did not matter…. The quiet time was a relief. The fees included great shared accommodation and a small studio. The highlight was the local people, fellow artists, facilitators and feeling part of this community; this will stay with me forever. I would recommend a hire car if you want to get around Sardinia, the village is rural and bus services slow and infrequent.

A nurturing residency run by a family and community of people committed to forwarding artistic material knowledge. Beautiful facilities in upstate NY. Far from everything which may be good or bad depending on what you're looking for. Small cohort of three artists. Also may be good or bad depending on what you're looking for. Mentoring and connection to the Golden resources is ongoing. Once you're a resident you're always part of the Golden family!

The residency was online during the pandemic period. The hosts were super nice to reply quickly. The communication and all the arrangements were well organized and warm.

I have been to Arquetopia Puebla twice and Arquetopia Cusco once. I worked on self-directed projects all three times, and every experience was very bountiful in its own way. Part of the Arquetopia experience includes weekly meetings and readings meant to educate and engage participants and encourage thinking critically; however, it is not a strict academic setting. No one will be judged if they tried but didn’t manage to complete the reading due to time restraints. Their residency may also include some planned outings, which are quite informative, and I would also suggest exploring the surrounding location yourself or with fellow residents during weekends because there is so much worth seeing in those areas. I do recommend: reading their manual thoroughly beforehand, and learning some basic Spanish to be well prepared!

As another reviewer mentioned, this was a very isolating experience. If you don't have your own transportation, you can start to feel trapped—and there's so much natural beauty in the area that you miss out on because you're just stuck. The art studio is quite small. When I was there, another artist basically took up the whole thing with enormous canvases, so I didn't get to use the area. Each completed piece I posted was met with a message from the owner telling me they hoped to receive something "as beautiful" at the end of my stay—it felt like they were constantly reminding me that I owed them a piece of art for the residency. I will add that the apartment was lovely, and I enjoyed all of the village cats, but I wouldn't return here.

The Golden Foundation Residency was a wonderful experience! The residency is one half an intensive program and one half studio practice where you spend a week or two working with the Golden technicians, learning about the materials, and attending workshops then the remaining time working on projects. It’s a lot of information at once so my best advice is to walk in with an open mind, don’t have a particular project or imagery in mind, and be curious about everything there. During intensive week, spend that time experimenting that way it’s easy to narrow down what you want to focus on in the second half of the program. In terms of costs, there are scholarships available and, unless stated otherwise, the program provides all material needs. Everyone in the program is so incredibly supportive, gracious, and understanding. There is no pressure to create finished work, just to experiment, challenge ourselves and use.all.the.materials. I’m an emerging artist so the program was a huge benefit to me! Not just in forming connections but building a studio practice that worked for me and introducing materials/mediums I’ve never worked with before. Also, a year after the residency, the Golden Foundation hosts their annual Made in Paint show for the previous artists in residents. The program is a great experience but the highlight is everyone who works there!

Residency is in an incredibly beautiful place which outweighs any minor disadvantages. It is a very remote place and I loved it. I got the full funding for accommodation, transport and project expenses through their support program for artists from Nordic and Baltic countries. It was very inspiring, exceeded all my expectations and truly was one of the key points for my artistic development. The staff were friendly, open to experiments and helped to connect with the local community. I recommend bringing all the necessary materials with you as this is such a remote place, there are no specialised shops anywhere near. (I was there during pandemic and right after the landslides destroyed the workshop place. I believe it is better equipped now)