Artist Residency Reviews

Resources are limited in Jilotepec. I saw that as a challenge, but it's important to take with you any essentials from the city in advance. Anyway, take for sure that staff is ready to help you solve any problem. WiFi is not the best in the world, take that in mind if internet is a key part of your work. You will love the place, the food, and unique atmosphere.

The space is beautiful; you are in the nature but also can go to the little town. The studio and the rooms are also very nice and can be used very well for any kind of practice. The team that works in the residency is also amazing and helps you with everything. The food is the best. Being able to share my work with the other residents and the mentor was life changing. Also the final open studio was really nourishing by sharing my work with people outside the residency. I highly recommend this residency.

The studio spaces were great and the home itself offered a calm environment to be able to focus on producing work. I think one of the hurdles is the financial cost of the program; however, there was no additional charge for group outings to museums or art-related trips, which was great and allowed for a really stimulating experience. Everyone at El Sur was helpful and wanted to support you in any way they could.

Es interesante proponer un archivo constante de los residentes sobre los temas coincidentes y que detona el espacio y la región de jilotepec, por ejemplo un recetario, que era algo que comentábamos con Cármen, responsable del area de cocina. (It is interesting to propose a constant archive of the residents on the matching themes that detonates the space and the region of Jilotepec, for example, a recipe book, which was something we discussed with Carmen, responsible for the kitchen area.)

You can source tools and other materials in the town!

Benefits: Great opportunity to dip one's toes into Mexico's art district. Challenges: Little to no knowledge of the Spanish language poses a significant obstacle to meeting local actors. (No mediators available). Practical advice: It is advisable to adapt one's artistic practice to an itinerary dynamic. There are little to no supplies available in town and the staff can't provide basic tools. Costs vs. Gains: At a price of USD 1800 (for non-Mexicans, 2022) this residency is a bona fide scam. They are not able to deliver on their promises and often advertised opportunities which were, in fact, unavailable.

It is a good residency to get to know the local art scene. Although it is located at the very south of the city, you can get connected via public transport. The house is amazing and the garden too.

Benefits Amazing living space and studio space. CDMX is a fantastic city overall. Challenges Site is located outside the city a bit. Definitely will need to take Ubers or use MetroBus to see cultural attractions. Practical Advice* Do some research on what you will need to and how and where you will get supplies. Overall highly recommend!

The El Sur residency brought numerous positive outcomes for my art. Immersing myself in the vibrant Mexican culture provided a rich source of inspiration, resulting in an evolution of my artistic style. The exposure to diverse perspectives and artistic influences at El Sur has expanded my creative horizons. Networking with fellow artists has been super inspiring. Challenges: Balancing cultural exploration with focused creative work. Costs vs. Gains: While there were financial costs for travel and accommodation, the gains in artistic growth, cultural enrichment, and networking were worth the investment, making the El Sur residency a valuable and rewarding experience.

I am honoured to be part of this artist residency; it is the first time I have worked with so many artists from different countries and industries. We were both independent and able to find ways to share ideas on each other's work, and I miss this time. As for the living part, SAPH offers a perfect living and working environment and is highly recommended.

It's a beautiful house with space to work. The activities and schedule are great.

The residency provides travel, accommodation, studio space, and visa coverage, while artists cover their own materials expenses. The three-month duration allows sufficient time to acclimate to Shanghai, build connections with fellow artists and locals, and explore the city's art scene and cultural offerings. Key benefits mentioned: - Structured framework with flexibility to set your own rhythm, focus, and routine - Central location offering abundant inspiration from Shanghai's vibrant, dense environment - Supportive residency team described as "wonderful, very nice and professional" - Opportunity for deep immersion in artistic practice away from daily routines Practical considerations: - The central, touristy area can be intense and overstimulating - First-time visitors to China should connect with the residency team and other foreigners beforehand to understand communication, transportation, payment systems, and other logistics - Patience with yourself, others, and your creative process is important given the significant cultural differences - The experience differs substantially depending on your home country and background What's covered vs. what you pay for: - Covered: travel, accommodation, studio space, visa - Your responsibility: art materials The review emphasizes that this combination of structure, support, and immersive environment in a new cultural context creates "a rare and precious experience" for artistic development.

I had a great time at Casa Lü! The staff is very friendly and helpful, and the studio and accommodation are good. The outings and conversations offered by the residency focus on Mexican culture and the Mexico City art scene, so it is quite important for participating artists to have an interest in this.

This residency is a perfect space to reflect on and evaluate your own art project in the process of being finalized. At the same time, it is an opportunity to start a new artistic work, because Schöppingen is a beautiful village surrounded by fields and forest, and the people are friendly. The residency team supports you in any situation, and you are free to share your work or process with the local people and other fellows.

Casa Lü offered a 6 weeks residency (with 5 artists) in a beautiful house with a cute garden and outdoors space in a quiet neighborhood of Mexico City. The program was thoughtfully curated to match (as much as possible of course) the artists interests, art and needs. From cultural outings to studio visits, coffee tours to evening outings, the support, availability and communication with the staff was absolutely amazing. Weekly meetings were organized with renowned curator and external artists throughout the entire residency, along with punctual meetings and activities (never mandatory though). The help and support they offer is of great quality and truly helpful, without ever feeling like it was too much, the balance between privacy/alone time and activities/meetings is very well balanced! The studios (and the kitchen and the rooms) are gorgeous, bright, spacious, and come with more than the basic tools and materials + a lot of local stores in the area sell quality art materials. Mexico City has sooo much to offer. I could go on and on about my time at Casa Lü, the whole experience was beyond my expectations on all levels!

Flight, accommodation, studio, breakfast, and visa issuance fees are provided by the residency. Artist is only responsible for the production costs of their work. The hotel is centrally located in Shanghai, offering a perfect location.

Be prepared for daily use; traffic and daily costs are on artists' own.

NARS was a great opportunity for me to be in NYC and experience being part of an art community in the city. The core of the program are the studio visits that were very diverse and helpful.

This was my first artist in residence experience, and it was exactly what I was looking for. My studio/living space was a great size, the facilities suited my needs, I felt supported by staff, I thoroughly enjoyed Open Studios, and had an amazing time in Berlin.

I speak from the point of view of a dancer. I loved my experience there. It might be tricky for a dancer, since the space itself doesn't have a dance space itself, but they have a good relation with a dance studio 15 min walk away. That should be taken into account when applying for grants, to include the fees of the dance space as well. Everything went very smoothly for me though, and what I created there, I still hold dear in my artistic practice. The rooms where you sleep have a beautiful desk, and space to think with a calm environment. I would advise to go there and I would go back there myself again, as soon as I get the chance.