This section will try to help artists locate the traditional artists residencies as well as try to locate non traditional ones.
Most artists, no matter what their discipline, at some point want to try to go to an artists residency/community. Others try their hand at being an artist in residence or a visiting artists at a K-12 school system or at an university. Often times one has to have a residency or visiting artist track record in order to be accepted into the "established" programs.
One way to start a track record is to become a non paid artists in residence at a local school, church, social service organization, government agency in your area (you may over time be able to apply for funding or sponsorship from a local business for the program). Sometimes unpaid residencies are more fruit due to the bartering that occurs.
Traditional Residencies:
For those wishing to find an artist residency/ community:
Artists Communities- A directory of residencies in the US that offer time and space for creativity. Published by the Alliance of Artists Communities. This book also gives a contact list of global residencies. Contact info: Alliance of Artists Communities, 225 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. (410) 351-4320. Web:www.artistcommunities.org
Residencies or visiting artists programs in Schools or Universities can be
found by several different ways:
Contact your state arts council to see if they have a program placing artists in the schools (The Massachusetts Cultural Council does have such a program (617) 727-3668).Contact your local public school system and also contact the individual art programs with in the schools. Many school systems are in need of increasing the arts programing in their district and art teachers may also welcome a new ally (make sure you make them realize you are not interested in taking their job!)
Contact the University you are interested in being a visiting artists or resident artist at. Many universities have programs facilitating these types of programs. One could also call the Student Life Department or the Department that teaches your discipline (i.e. the art department, theater department, English department, etc.)
There are some Boston-area residencies:
The Boston Cyberarts Festival has its A.R.T.C.O.M (Artists in Residence at Technology Companies of Massachusetts).
The Berwick Research Institute has its AIR (Artists in Research)
The Bates Center has its Artist Residency at HOME, Inc.
DoWhile Studio has its own Artists in Residence Program
DoWhile is now collaborating with Studio Soto on the New Media Residency.
Non Traditional Residencies:
House/Studio Swapping:
If one is interested in spending some time in another
geographic area, they could do a studio/house swap with an artist who wishes
to come to your area.
National Association of Artists Organizations Can help you locate artist run organizations (i.e. an art center etc./alternative space) in the US who might have residency programs or might want to facilitate an artist to artist exchange/house swap. Also use the Artists Communities book to locate such artists.
Volunteer to have access to equipment,
technology, materials, or a site:
One could also investigate a non paid artist residency
or being a volunteer visiting artist at a business, social service agency,
local church, community center, government agency, etc. These site may have
some thing that you need to make your art with or will help you with you research
in (access to technology, materials, site , etc.). Again you will have to
do the research for this and before you approach the place, you should have
an easy to read proposal and support materials to give them to review. Make
sure that you are going to give something back to the "sponsoring" site (i.e.
a piece of artwork, offer workshops for their employees, facilitate extra
circular field trips, etc.). AND always remember to thank them!
Some tips on finding such places
One book that may be helpful in your research is the Boston Business Journal's:
Doing Business in Boston - author: Levine Published by Boston Business Journal (617)- 330-1000 - around $55 - a copy is in the Kirstein Business Branch of the Boston Public Library (523-0860) and more than likely a copy is also in the BPL main branch (this book will also be useful for locating in kind support, jobs, materials, what businesses might buy art, etc.).Boston Business Journal a weekly journal might also be of use in your research.
Of course the Boston Public Library is one of the best resources for this kind of research- both the BPL main branch (617-536-5400) and its Kirstein Business Branch (617- 523-0860).
A book to buy that will enable you to see the scope of nontraditional residencies is: Mapping The Terrain: New Genre Public Art. edited by Suzanne Lacy, published by Bay Press Seattle Washington © 1995. This book has info on such artists as, Meirle Lauderman Ukels, who, since 1970, has been an unpaid artist-in-residence at the NYC sanitation department (see pages 281-282).
