Residencies can be transformative… or a waste of time. Choose with criteria, not blind excitement.
1) First question: what do you want?
- time and space to work?
- networking?
- a final exhibition?
- a change of context?
If you don’t know, you’ll pick randomly.
2) Always check
- accommodation included? (what kind?)
- studio included?
- stipend/fee/production budget?
- obligations: workshops, open studio, final show?
- image/documentation policy
3) Hidden costs
- travel
- insurance
- food
- visas (outside EU)
- materials on-site
4) Required output: does it fit your practice?
If they require a final work on a tight timeline and your process is long, it can become stress instead of growth.
Tip: for each residency, write one sentence: “why this is right for me”. If you can’t, reconsider.
