Brooklyn, New York, United States
Residency Unlimited (RU) operates as a distinctive non-profit organization in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, set within the historical South Congregational Church. Its core mission revolves around supporting the creation, presentation, and dissemination of contemporary art. RU distinguishes itself through its unique residency program and vibrant year-round public programs, fostering a rich environment for artists and curators from both local and international backgrounds. RU’s approach to residencies is highly customized, focusing on network support, project/production assistance, and public exposure for its participants. This includes personalized interactions with art professionals, weekly project support, and opportunities for public engagement through RU’s Brooklyn venue or partnering locations across New York City. The multifunctional space not only serves as a hub for communal activities but also as a platform for talks, screenings, performances, and exhibitions. One of the organization's signature features is its commitment to building professional networks, facilitating meetings with art professionals for critical feedback and studio visits. Moreover, RU places a significant emphasis on collaboration, working closely with a variety of institutional partners to provide residents with necessary workspace, technical and logistical support, thus enhancing the overall residency experience. Despite not offering individual studio space explicitly for artistic production, RU provides shared workspaces within its facilities, enabling for collaborative and independent work. This setup encourages residents to engage deeply with their projects while benefiting from the creative and logistical support of RU's dedicated staff.
The residency is geared towards networking, so not to produce new work. Though you can, and join a group show at the end of the residency. In terms of curators to meet, wish there was more access to local curators or curators with similar interests. Overall, it’s a good starting point to get acquainted with the art scene in New York.
There is a strong community of artists at the residency which is very supported by the organization by putting emphasis on creating a lot of get togethers, lectures, gallery visits etc. The staff is very helpful and I alway felt I could rely on them to help me solve any problems that occur. It is a good idea to find people or institutions that you want to connect with and then ask staff at the Residency if they can arrange a meeting because often times they can. During the residency I tried to make as many contacts possible and step out of my comfort zone. The benefit of this residency is the community of artists that are very open and supportive, as well as residency's connections with many curators and gallerists. The downside is that many meetings with curators and other contacts are not really tailored to each artist. Overall this residency is a great opportunity for someone who wants an art career in New York.
Ok networking residency, in cool location.
This was an amazing opportunity to develop my project, supported by a great network of professionals. RU put me in touch with a huge number of curators. Dealers and artists and it was really important to an artistic growth and a step further in my career.