An artist residency provides a framework for an artist to grow within their work. They can focus on and explore a specific technique or concept while expanding their skills. There are many options for artist residency which include both in-person and online. However, for some artists, these opportunities will not be an option.
Reasons a Traditional Residency May Not Work For an Artist
Whether the residency program is online or in person, artists must apply to secure a seat. Only a few will be selected for the limited space. If an artist is selected, they need to have the time available to dedicate to the program. Residency programs vary, with some taking place over weeks or months. Others can last for a full year. If the artist needs to work another job to support themselves or is a caregiver for a family member, they may be unable to dedicate time to the residency program. This issue is further compounded if the residency is not near their home. Some residencies require a fee to participate. The artists must consider if they can afford the cost of travel and the fees associated with the art program.
Some residency programs allow the artists to choose the theme or topic of focus. Other programs provide a topic for a framework with group-orientated activities centered around the chosen topic. Some artists work well in this setting and will thrive. Other artists may find they work better in solitude which means they will not get as much from the residency program as they might desire.
Why a Home Residency is a Good Option
A Home Residency allows the artist flexibility. The artist can choose the topic they want to focus on and set the timeline for the residency period to work within their schedule. The artist can choose whether to work from their home studio or travel to any location of their choosing. Creating a home residency provides the artist with practice for writing residency and exhibition proposals. A home residency can help the artists focus on creating a body of work. This body of work can be used for an exhibition which can be an in-person or online event.
The Parts of an Artist Residency At Home
Creating an Artist Residency at Home is simple. You’ll be following the same style format you might follow if applying to a traditional residency program. You will need to determine your area of focus or purpose, set a timeline, set a goal for the types of work you would like to create, determine your budget, and have an idea of the types of resources you will need.
The Purpose
Determining your purpose will help you write the proposal and outline your steps/timeline for your proposed residency. The focus of your project can be one thing or a combination of elements:
- technical skill (for example, a study of tone and value)
- a concept or an idea( for example, an interpretation of time as related to your cultural values)
- a subject ( for example, a study of bear anatomy or the study of an artist or art style)
- a material ( for example, the use of fabric in collage)
If you are struggling to determine a purpose, try focusing on areas of your art practice that you want to improve. You can also look at your list of art project ideas. Are there any pieces that excite you but you have not had time to make them yet? Pull from that list and develop an art plan around creating that piece. This can also help you determine if there are other pieces you can make to support that first piece in an art series. If you still feel stumped, look at art exhibitions near you or online. Are there any concepts that an artist has explored that you might explore within your own art practice? Was there a residency program you could not attend in person that had an interesting concept? Use that as a framework.
Setting Goals and Writing a Timeline
Once you have a purpose, you can now determine your goals. Will you make one piece or multiple pieces? Keep in mind that you have flexibility. You can change the number of pieces you plan to complete as you move through your home residency. If you know the number of pieces you want to create, you can determine a timeline with a beginning and end to your residency. You likely know your workflow and how long it takes to complete a piece. Use this to help you decide on a start and finish for your residency. Some artists come into a residency with very little idea of the number of works they will produce. They prefer the freedom and openness of not setting specific goals, allowing the flow of the residency to determine how the work proceeds. You can use this approach as well and simply choose a start and end time for your residency.
Another factor to consider is where you will be working from and the amount of time you have to work each day. If you are working from your home studio, set work times. Be sure to let family members know about your goals and the times of day you will be working so that they are less likely to disturb you. Some artists choose to spend time away from home. They might book a hotel room or vacation rental. If this is the case, the time spent away from home may determine the number of pieces you can complete and the time of the residency. You can also choose to combine time away with time in your home studio. The key here is determining the how and the where to give you an idea of how to structure your home residency.
Determine a Budget
Some traditional residency programs provide grants for materials. When you submit a proposal to a program such as this, you may be required to submit a budget outlining the materials you will use and any special tools you might need. It’s a good habit to get into. It helps you practice writing proposals for these programs. It also helps determine realistically what you can accomplish through your home residency. The goal of the home residency is to provide focus. A budget can help in that it will narrow down what activities or materials you can include. This may help you to find creative ways of using limited materials. You might also be more careful in choosing resources such as classes or books. Knowing your budget may also help determine if you are able to work outside your home studio or take field excursions to galleries or museums for inspiration and research.
Resources
You do not need a full list of resources when starting your home residency. However, having at least 1-3 resources can assist you in writing your proposal. These resources can help determine what materials you need to budget for and help determine the amount if time you want to set for the residency. For example, if one of your resources is a class, you can factor in the time needed to complete the coursework.
The internet is a great starting point, especially if you have determined the purpose of your home residency. Depending upon your area of focus, you can find a full course curriculum or syllabus relating to your topic. Some museums and sites like Coursera or EDx offer the course for free. You can also find video recordings of lectures or seminars. These can help you with a framework for study. Once you have a framework, you can choose books or other materials that can be purchased or found at a local library. Some museums and galleries may also have library collections available for your access or access with a membership.
Art galleries and exhibitions are wonderful resources for inspiration. Some are available online if you can not attend in person.
Will your residency be conducted alone or with a group?
Most home residency options are completed in solitude. However, you can opt to include others. You can form a group collaboration with other artists in person or online. The group can share resources, conduct critiques of the work being completed and hold discussions related to the topic or theme of the residency.You might also have the option of taking a class or visiting a gallery together. Once the residency is completed, your group could choose to hold an exhibition together.
Another option is to seek mentorship. Some professional artists or art programs offer this as a service. The mentorship can be done in person or through online meetings.
It’s Time to Create Your Residency At Home
Now that you have a basic framework, you can create your art residency at home. Set up your studio space for success. Keep materials in easy-to-find places. If possible, leave the area set up at all times so that you can work easily. If leaving materials set out is not an option, pretend you are traveling and have the items in a suitcase or packed in a box you can easily access.
Some residencies provide meals for the participants. Meal planning ahead of time is helpful and will be one less thing for you to think about. Alternatively, you can budget for takeout or delivery options on set days of the week if a family member can’t help you with meal prep on those days.
I will share my home art residency here on my blog and my Youtube Channel. You are welcome to join in! The first topic will be Remix.
A Note About Using the Home Residency on Your CV
This is one of those grey areas. Researching the subject reveals multiple opinions. I see the same response to whether or not participating in art fairs/or popups or holding an exhibition in a coffee shop is good for your art career. Some people recommend it and others do not. Whether you choose to list it on your CV or not list the home residency is your decision. I believe there are situations in which people can make opportunities happen for them and this is one of those situations. In my opinion, it is no different than if an artist hosts a solo show in a space they rented out. At the end of the day, the work will speak for itself. If there is enough interest in the work, people will seek it out.
If you do decide to list the home residency on your CV, I recommend listing it as the residency name, date of the residency, and city and country location.
Additional Resources
Artist Lorraine Glessner creates Art Residencies At home
an interview with here about the residency:https://www.rfpaints.com/unique-color/2021/3/2/making-your-own-artist-residency
Documentation of her online residency on her art blog: https://lorraineglessner.wordpress.com/2019/04/17/the-self-made-artist-residency-part-1-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
Art Residency in Motherhood
This is the program that helped me get serious about my art. It is free to join and offers a kit to help you plan and get started. though geared towards mothers, it is helpful for any parent regardless of gender. https://www.artistresidencyinmotherhood.com/