Artist Residency Reviews

I had one of the best times at VCCA. I only spent two weeks there but I made such great memories, I was really lucky to be there with a great group of artists. So many of us had mentioned that we hadn't laughed that much in ages, I really think it can be a place where you make friends for life! It was sad when we had to start leaving and saying our goodbyes. The team at VCCA are very accommodating and it was really nice having our 3 meals a day prepared for us. But I do wish the meals were larger portions and they were better with dietary restrictions. Often they wouldn't make substitutions for your restrictions so you would have to eat less food. A lot of us were still hungry by the end of the night too. One thing to be aware of is that this is on a plantation. I had no idea when I got there and it was a huge shock. It would be better if that made it more obvious on their website.

Beautiful area.

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!

Having participated in numerous artist residencies around the US and abroad, the program that Bemis offers is truly unparalleled—it is by far the most transformative and supportive residency I have done in my career. Bemis is unique in bringing incredible national and international artists in a collective cohort, all of whom I have a strong relationship to this day from our time together at Bemis. The facilities of Bemis’s incredible personal studios, housing, common areas for exhibitions and gatherings, sculptural facilities, sound studio, gallery space, and libraries offer an immediate landscape of ease and accessibility for artists to succeed while in residence. Bemis is by far the most organized, well-run residency, overflowing with resources to complete any project imagined—and, with the help of its warm staff, an artist can approach and workshop new ideas to execute during their residency. If it’s not available directly through the fabulous fabrication facilities, such as working in another material like glass, large-scale printing, bronze, their team will connect you to the greater Omaha creative community which is rich with makers from many backgrounds. Similarly, if you want to collaborate with a particular member in the Omaha community for your artist project, the Bemis team is available to help you channel those resources. I was able to continue my oceanic research with the Omaha Aquarium and created a podcast episode detailing my time with the scientists in their coral conversation lab and other restoration efforts that the aquarium was doing behind the scenes. In the greater Omaha community, Bemis is unique in bringing artists from around the world to connect and forge lasting relationships with local artists and creatives through their extensive public programing, such as music and sound art events in their Low End performance space. It was at a performance that I met many local artists and musicians who I continue to have deep friendships with to this day. One ceramist I connected to in my first week at a Bemis Center Low End performance has become an invaluable friend who assisted me in developing my first ceramic glazes. Because of the generous stipend an artist receives while being in residence, I was able to later hire her as my glaze technician to learn alongside her in the glaze laboratory at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.

My experience with L'AiR Arts residency program at Atelier 11 has had a lasting impact on my career and artistic practice. Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, it gave me an opportunity to develop ideas for new work, dialogue with international artists and broaden my awareness of the global artistic landscape and my place within it. As part of a self-directed residency at Atelier 11, I created a dance film that has since been screened internationally. The development I fostered through my experiences with L'AiR has catapulted me forward in my artistic vision, self assurance and body of work.

You have a very private space if you choose to stay at La Casita which is a mansion attached to a beautiful private studio. If you are okay with just a private room, there’s an option for that as well. Not cheap but think worth the investment as you will develop a solo show. Having the studio space transformed into a solo show exhibition space is a quite an experience. Curators are a bit loosely engaged but they have well-structured cultural and activity program as this residency is run by a family who lived in this property for generations. Also they invite a local artist in addition to 3-4 international artists to stay at the property during the residency which helps to learn more about the Mexican culture. The hosts (Vincente and Lupe) are very nice people! I also got lucky with fellow residents and had a great time. A bit downside is that the exhibition is open only for 1 evening and you have to deinstall on the next day as it’s 5 week program which is not long enough to develop the show and keep it open for longer. The location is a bit far from the city center but I preferred the quiet local surroundings. They also have 3 lovely dogs who perfect the idyllic country life!

Great Residency , more gains than costs.

Benefits: The amount of space is very generous with most of the studios. The program is highly respected and the open studios event attracts an impressive number of attendees. Challenges: The studios are not air-conditioned and can get quite hot in the summer months. Some studios also do not have window coverings, so you may need to invest in blinds or some other way to block out the intense sunlight in the afternoons. DUMBO is a very noisy neighborhood, not only from the trains traveling over the bridge, but the constant construction happening on the streets below. The program also has a lot of rules, largely contingent on the property management's involvement and building policies. Practical Advice: Don't underestimate the emphasis placed on the open studios event, which is handled almost like an exhibition. You will be assigned to a few organizing committees to plan the event. This can feel like a lot to take on, but you can use it to connect with your fellow studio mates. Some artists may also have shows planned at the same time as the event, but I would recommend doing whatever you can to have your best work on view at open studios to take advantage of the exposure. Cost vs. Gains: The studio is free, so the only cost is the logistical effort involved (subletting current studio, moving from out of town). If your goal is to really connect to the NYC art community it is worth it. There is also no application fee, so it's easy to apply every year.

It’s hard to rate the MXX residency program based on a scale, because when immersed in Igatu life just happens and the boundaries between living and producing kind of make no sense. Living in Igatu for the residency allows us to think about the role of art in our lives and experience other ways of existence. Igatu is a place where all boundaries get mixed up, and that’s the beauty of it. Although it’s not easy to get to MXX (airplane, bus and taxi, in my case), it’s worth the effort. The Chapada Diamantina and its surroundings are gorgeous, both in terms of culture and nature.

A big group of team to make an amazing 3-months-experience! 10 international artists, 2 local artists, 4 interns, 2 invited curators, and 2 organizers (Julianne and Maeshelle). I really loved getting lots of feedbacks and input from these wonderful and diverse group of professionals and they documented the whole growth journey of artists really well with in-depth interview, which is published on their blog, and photos. Potluck lunches on every Friday gives a home-like warm feeling and you get to share your culinary culture with the group. Weekly activities were fun and engaging also. It could be a bit of hassle to find an accommodation that is affordable and close enough to the studio, but the studio space is humongous and interesting with the industrial and artistic vibe. I really loved my stay for 3 months and the organizing team is so sweet and helpful. Leipzig is a very interesting city also. Definitely recommend to come and explore! You get a free entrance ticket to some big museums and galleries as a PK (Pilotenkueche) resident too.

Benefits: Amazing network and connections. Warm support from the team! Challenges: It's a comfortable private studio/accommodation (in the mezzanine area), but the team uses the shared kitchen/meeting area (not the mezzanine) as their office during the weekdays/day time, which can be a bit challenging if you need those working hours to be your own private working hours in the space. But for me, it worked nicely as I felt I was well supported with the regular visits, and also the team gave me space when I absolutely needed to have the space to myself alone even during the business hours. Practical advice: Have a site-specific project as it's a super special place. And ask for help! Make new friends. Local artists in Paris in Montparnasse are super helpful and kind. Costs vs. gains: The payment is not low, but you get a lot! Especially during the busy art week seasons in Paris! So many visitors you will get to your studio to present your practice!

The Fish Factory Art Residency program has been an amazing adventure, nestled in the Icelandic fjords; it creates the perfect environment for creativity and exploration. I enjoyed my time in Stöðvarfjörður and had ample time in nature, exploring the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore. I felt deeply inspired by the surrounding mountains and ocean, conversations with the rest of my cohort, and time in the shared studio. I created a whole new body of work inspired by the Icelandic nature. Something to think about before coming to the residency is your art supplies; make sure you bring what you need, not all the supplies are available in the studio and if you need to order anything it will have to come from Reykjavík (shipping can get expensive). Once a week the owners of the residency will take the cohort to the neighbouring city to get groceries, there’s a small store next to the residency with essentials but it’s a tad more expensive - plan your meals, snacks, and cravings accordingly! If you want to travel to other places on the shore, there’s not a lot of local transportation available but you can rent a car from Egilsstaðir airport. To make the residency rewarding I recommend thinking about what kind of projects you’d like to do, set a few goals for yourself, and don’t forget a rain jacket and a good pair of boots! For this adventure, I did save up the funds for a long time because I knew that Iceland is a bit on the expensive side, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t feel limited while there. And that helped a lot! I got to do a lot more things than I expected!

I really loved my time there! Emily and Jon were super pleasant to work with and very helpful. I recommend this residency for any emerging artists. There was no fee for attending. I don’t believe there is a stipend, but I do think they now offer housing, which is a plus. Because I also had two jobs outside of the residency, I did find it a challenge to balance all three. However, this residency is great if you need a studio space and want the opportunity to engage with a community. Everything is sort of on the artist to get the work going and make an impact, but everyone at Sulfur is there to support you as needed! It’s a great step to help you learn how to work independently in a creative career.

I loved being at the Fish Factory. The studio space was a huge room which six of us shared. I had a large table and a vertical board to hang work on. The entire building had many different workshops available such as woodworking (not available when I was there), a sound studio, pottery, metalworking, small printshop. Opportunities abounded though there was no one there for guidance so it was necessary to already have the knowledge of how to use it. I did watercolors. The environment was stunning. I love Iceland. The town is isolated so without a car, one would be stuck in town. There are hikes to go on, and the residency provides transportation (at a minimal cost) to go to a grocery store each week. I had a car and was glad to be able to explore on my own. A question asked about networking and professional development. I met the other artists, of course, and the folks who run the residency (they’re super nice!), but there was no professional development. They provided a place to work and a place to stay (a house up the hill, shared with other residents) and weekly rides to the grocery store. They were available for questions. The town is tiny - about 150 residents - so there weren’t opportunities there either to make connections. There are two galleries in town and I met the folks there. It’s a beautiful tiny town in a beautiful setting. The house I stayed in was nice. The work space was good. I loved having a month to do my work!

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)

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.

Such a great experience overall. A perfect balance of days in the peaceful garden setting to work and reflect with excursions into Mexico City to feast on the wealth of art, culture and history. While we were not right in the center of the gallery scene, I loved the south of the city where there is plenty to see including the fantastic contemporary art museum at UNAM, the Luis Barragan buildings in Tlalpan and Jardines de Pedregal, and the zocalito in Tlalpan is delightful.

I had an excellent experience at this residency and would recommend it to any emerging artists who need focused time to develop a project or body of work with curatorial support. The residency really allowed me to hone in on ideas and start developing a more cohesive practice. The curatorial support was essential in having a sounding board with the right questions to challenge me and push my work forward. Overall, it was an excellent experience that I am really grateful for. If you want to really integrate yourself in the community, this will have to be something that you put effort in yourself, but there are definitely opportunities to connect with the community and previous residents if you reach out. I would recommend the program most to those who need focused time at a critical point in their practice. (Photo Credit: Toni Hafkenscheid)

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.

A wonderful experience surrounded by amazing people. I am normally super cynical, but this programme was so supportive and held so beautifully by an incredible team. It is definitely more of an opportunity to explore networks, test ideas and meet people than a studio residency, and the fee is not enormous but it is just about enough to get by on. The location is so central and the house is full of joy.