The last decade there is a steady rise in artist’s residencies. Artists enjoy to work abroad and get in contact with a different art scene and culture. But is it worth to attend an artist residency? Most artists believe attending a residency is a positive experience but there are several things an artist has to consider before applying for a residency. There are a variety of artist’s residencies on offer. Some artists residencies cover all the expenses of the artist taking part.(accommodation, transfer and living cost are covered).Some residences cover only a fraction of these cost and other residencies request a payment usually to cover the cost of the residency. Also the duration of a residency varies from a week to a year. The best way to choose a residency is to think about what you want to achieve in your career or work. Some residencies are part of a community offering interaction with the local people, others host only one artist at a time and others are artists’ colonies offering the opportunity to meet other artists. Also the place where a residency is located is important .Many residencies are part of a museum, university, art center or artists group galleries offering the opportunity to gain from a different art scene and create contacts for ones work. Before applying always check the safety and reputation of a place especially in far away locations. Write a clear proposal of what work you are interested to pursue during the residency and always send a thorough portfolio. Applications for residencies are competitive. An artist will definitely benefit from a change of surrounding, create new contacts and most of the times inject new enthusiasm his work. Here are some good addresses to start searching for a residency: The MacDowell Colony (U.S.A.) http://macdowellcolony.org Unesco-Aschberg Bursaries for artists http://portal.unesco.org Irish Museum of Modern Art (Dublin – Ireland)
Artists Residency with Cooperations, (Luxemburg) http://www.cooperations.lu Jan van Eyck Akademie, Maastricht (Holland) http://www.janvaneyck.nl Nordic Artists Centre, Dale (Norway) http://www.nkdale.no Centre d’Art I Natura Farrera De Pallars (Spain) http://www.farreracan.cat UCROSS Foundation (U.S.A.) http://www.ucrossfoundation.org Trans artists Foundation (Holland) http://www.transartists.nl Kuenstlerhaus Schloss Balmoral (Germany) http://www.uni-koblenz.de/'balmoral KuenstlerhausWorpsede (Germany) http://kuenstlerhaeuser-worpswede.de Lademoen Kunstverrerksteder (Norway) http://www.lkv.no The website Alliance of Artists Communities gives good info how to choose and prepare a portofolio or statemnet to apply succesfully for a residency. It has also extensive info on residencies in the U.S.A. The website http://www.re-title.com advertises residencies, exhibitions, bursaries and events worldwide.