Artist Residency Reviews

Time to concentrate on my practice. Fantastic surroundings, nature, house and studio situation. The staff is very helpful. Stipend to cover living costs and travel. I could bring my dog, and my husband stayed there for free for a large part of my residency. It is a bit remote, so if you don't like to be alone, it may be not a place for you. I brought my car, but the residency has a car that the residents can use. There are not so many social happenings (a few meetings). So you have to reach out to the other artists for this.

Benefits: The residency at MASS MoCA was an exceptional experience. I had the best group of artists in my cohort, and we had a lot of fun both in and out of the art activities. The town is beautiful, and having full access to the museum was phenomenal—I could take my time exploring the galleries, which was a constant source of inspiration. I also had the chance to meet curators and members of the local art community, which I believe will be incredibly useful for future networking. The support from the staff at Assets for Artists was excellent; they were always there to help and even organized trips to get supplies. Challenges: One major challenge was transportation. North Adams is small, and there is no Uber service or reliable bus system. Renting a car is an option, but only for the full month, which may not be necessary as you won’t use it all the time. Additionally, while the apartments were fully equipped, it’s a good idea to coordinate with roommates about cleaning, organization, and shopping early on, so you don’t end up spending time managing household chores. Practical Advice: Make sure to engage with the local community and fellow artists—it helps to build connections and fully immerse yourself in the residency. Take advantage of the museum access, and plan trips for art supplies in advance since the town is limited in options. Coordinating with roommates about basic household duties will also save you time and energy. Costs vs. Gains: Although transportation and the small size of the town can be difficult to navigate, the investment in the residency was worth it. The opportunity to connect with other artists, museum curators, and the local community, along with the artistic growth I experienced, far outweighed any challenges. I’m eager to return in the future.

Gocta Lab provides living and working space in a spectacular location in the middle of the Peruvian high jungle. The nature and landscape around you is breath-taking, and among other wonderful places is the iconic Gocta waterfall. The hosts have strived to build a great facility that combines art with crafts, agriculture, and mindfulness, and they continue to develop and add new branches to their exploration of the area. The hosts are well connected to the community around them and can connect you to amazing traditional crafters and all sorts of local wisdom. This is a residency in which you can disconnect from the urban pace, immerse yourself in nature, and connect with a rural community.

The opening times are from 10:00 till 16:00, so you have to organize yourself well.

The barracks are isolated from everything in the middle of nowhere, but there are always more artists staying in the other barracks. But the nature is incredible; if your project concerns community, it's wise to make contact before arriving at the residence.

Magical place to inspire, create, and to produce. If you love nature like a part of your art, this your place.

Verãozão na Fazenda São João is an unique experience for creative work without time, alone and with others —a selected group of artist of different countries and disciplines—. A space for exploration and enrich deeper the roots of ours actions, surrounding by waterfalls and butterflies, mangos, fireflies, frogs and rains. On a valley that give as present an indescriptibles skys. And even more, coffee fields and agroecological farm. Everywhere great views and calm. Then the living working spaces, lovely and lovely home and studios, private and collectives. My favorites, among the natural exuberant environment, on the central house: the library and the book collection, the kitchen, the sophisticated living room, the bar de sinuca late at night, the pool. And the roads, the chapel, the stables. And over all, the people, people. The ones that pulse it Antonio, Amanda, Verónica, Inaie, Sandra in memorian, and the ones that share that moments, unforgettable. I always recommend Verãozão, and always was great. For immersive experience, full of joy, an intense exploration with wifi disconnection. Go! juliet.b.a

The village and surrounds were big enough to be inspired by and explore but not too much going on, which was good to focus on my work.

RSJ is a place of overwhelming beauty. I’ve been 3 times, and its raw beauty takes my breath away every time. It is also a place that is deeply refreshing and inspiring. As a sound artist, the pure, natural soundscapes are reason enough to come, but the community that lives and works there are some of the most lovely people I’ve encountered. I’ve participated in their Somsocosmos program that focuses on sound/music, and through that residency I’ve made many connections that have created further opportunities in Brazil and beyond. I would highly recommend Somsocosmos to anyone in sound/music, but RSJ is also an ideal place for a self-directed residency for an artist in any field. Its beauty, tranquility, and the work it inspires sustain me long after I leave.

Casa da Figueira is an inspiring place, and the relationship with the neighbors (Terra de Guaxo, village) is very friendly. The organic garden is a standout feature and a very important aspect. I’ve been to Figueira several times with different colleagues, and it was always a great experience! Casa da Figueira é um lugar inspirador, a relação com os vizinhos (Terra de Guaxo, vila) é muito amistosa. A horta orgânica é um diferencial e um balizador muito importante. Estive algumas vezes na Figueira, com colegas diferentes e foi sempre bom!

I recommend this residency for those who are a good match. Program staff are very supportive and the campus is in a beautiful location in Upstate NY. However, many of the facilities are run-down. Granted, the buildings are 120 years old which adds to the rustic charm. It's history is what attracted me to the program. Some of the buildings have been renovated but there are others that need attention. It is my hope that the program will receive more funding to improve the living quarters. There are also some issues with spiders and squirrels in the facilities. Overall, the folks that run Byrdcliffe and the artist residents were wonderful. I believe my residency occurred during an administrative transition and a reason for some of the challenges I encountered. This residency has great potential and is worth attending for those who are a good match.

The summer artist residency Verãozão at RSJ was a unique experience of creative immersion and knowledge exchange. During the program, we had the opportunity to experience an inspiring and welcoming environment that fostered collaboration between artists from different fields. One of the greatest personal achievements was the opportunity to delve deeper into the study of bamboo, a material that has always interested me due to its versatility and artistic potential. I had the chance to test it in different techniques, such as construction and sculpture, exploring its structural and aesthetic properties at various scales. The freedom to investigate the material was essential for developing new approaches and applying what I learned in projects that became true collaborations with other artists in residence. The interactions and exchange of ideas were one of the highlights of the experience. In an environment that promoted dialogue and mutual support, it was natural for us to get involved in each other's projects. I participated in collaborative installations, helped build structures, shared knowledge about bamboo, and learned from each participant’s unique techniques and perspectives. In short, the residency was an intense and enriching experience, marked by the exchange of knowledge and the opportunity to experiment freely. I returned from it with fresh ideas and a renewed sense of belonging to the artistic community. More than producing works, it was a moment of building bonds and collective growth — something that I will take with me to future creations.

This space provided me with silence, comfort, and inspiring landscapes, as well as company that helped me deepen my work in a meaningful way. It also brought the challenge of incorporating all the new and wonderful things that emerged throughout the development of the work. Este espacio me brindó un silencio, comodidades, paisajes inspiradores, aparte de compañía que influyó en que pudiera profundizar en mi trabajo de manera plena. También el desafío de incorporar todo lo nuevo y maravilloso que se iba presentando en el devenir de la obra.

My artistic residency at RSJ was an overall positive experience. The possibility to work surrounded by so much nature helped me focus and gather insights. The fazenda has so much space to collaborate or work solo so I enjoyed painting alone and having the chance to get creative input about my work from other fellows on the spot as well as dive into their own practice. A highlight for me was the mix of body work we did; yoga, meditation and walks kept me grounded throughout my stay. The whole team was very welcoming, the food delicious and I can only recommend Residência São João to other artists looking to develop or write the first stages of a project surrounded by nature.

I had participated in the residency in January 2024, and it was an unforgettable experience. I was able to carry out research in a place of huge historical importance for Brazil, and I was graced with the presence and collaboration of other residents who were very open and courageous in sharing knowledge and body to raise and dissolve questions about the limits of art. Not to mention that the convergence of the residence with organic agriculture and natural food are key points to allow, feel, and tell a story of Brazil that is truly reconciled with the natural, fertile, and abundant power of the country.

The farm is an incredible, unique, and enchanting place! The entire community and the land of Guaxo are kind and filled with amazing artists. It’s a place for deep and essential exchanges. A Fazenda é um lugar incrível, único e encantador! Toda a Comunidade e a Terra de Guaxo são amáveis e artistas incríveis. Um lugar de trocas profundas e necessárias.

wonderful hosts interesting group of residents, the popup exhibition in the garden was a highlight where I met local creatives, great location for example drawing on the roof be prepared to take initiative in an unstructured environment.

The building itself is pretty, with a little garden to enjoy when the weather is nice, though some of the studio spaces can be challenging to keep warm in the winter. One aspect I highly recommend is how they facilitate connections with local organizations and other artists, helping you network within the community. The organizers are very warm and welcoming, regularly checking in to see how everything is going. However, when it comes to costs, the residency requires participants to secure their own funding.

My second residency at Arquetopia is winding to a close, and I'm reluctant to leave this beautiful place which has so critically impacted my practice. All of the discussions I had at Arquetopia were extremely thought-provoking. Artistically and philosophically, I found them to be the most important conversations I've had at any residency and immensely helpful in my understanding of myself and my work. My first residency was a year ago in Oaxaca (writing/research), and my second one (ending tomorrow) was in Puebla (ceramics), each a runaway success. The project support and cultural immersion components were stellar, especially during my second one. I recommend this residency program for artists who really want to learn from tremendous experts and scholars and not only those intending to produce substantial work.

It was an excellent process to explore other places and be able to exhibit and discuss my work with people I don't know and who want to show me what I don't see about my work. I enjoy the friendships I made. I loved La Plata. The art there is really special and realistic. I had to do it more alone, but I felt good about my processes; I was able to get to know the city better, reconnect with old friends, and realize that art is very collective.