Artist residencies represent one of the most sought-after opportunities among creatives worldwide. Regardless of the length of the programme and where it takes place, the residency offers the artist a chance to break away from their usual context and enter a more intimate, creative dimension. After all, in a sector that too often lacks funding and training, working being able to count on the financial and wider support of an institution or organisation is an optimal, or at least stimulating, scenario for the artist. The location is often a key element in choosing a residency programme. Whether it's a sumptuous castle from the 13th century or a chateaux in the French countryside, a tree house in a fir forest in Scotland or a luxurious hotel in the former financial district of Shanghai, each location contributes to the experience of the participants, being most of the time an integral part of it. From Italy to the rest of the world, whether the desire is to work in the Arctic or in the green hills of Sicily, our gallery brings together fourteen artist residency programmes in dream locations.
14 outstanding architectures hosting artist residencies
From the French countryside to a former luxury hotel in Shanghai, from a 13th-century palace to a tree house in a forest in Scotland, a selection of residencies set in unique locations.
Image: Arctict Hideaway, Pasi Aalto, Fordypningsrommet Fleinvaer
Image: © Bruno Zanardo Torre ZF2, LABVERDE
Image: Andreas Golinski, Mandranova in Residence, 2012
Image: Michaela Yearwood-Dan (on the walls), Katy Stubbs (ceramics), photo by Petrò Gilberti
Image: courtesy Ocean Space
Image: courtesy Fabrica
Image: Fogo Island, Bridge Studio, photo: Alex Fradkin
Image: courtesy Chateau Orquevaux
Image: courtesy Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Image: "La meraviglia" exhibition, Manifattura Tabacchi, Ph: Leonardo Morfini
Image: courtesy London Fieldworks, copyright London Fieldworks
Image: Participants lakeside by Wesserunsett Lake, 2012, Courtesy of Skowhegan
Image: courtesy The Wapping Project
Image: courtesy Swatch Art Peace Hotel
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- Clara Rodorigo
- 14 January 2022
Opening image: The Arctic Hideaway, Pasi Aalto, Fordypningsrommet Fleinvaer, Norway.
Born from a concept by jazz musician Håvard Lund, who bought the site in 2004, The Arctic Hideaway in Norway is a workspace offering musicians, artists and creatives the possibility of renting rooms and mono-functional houses to work, but above all to "rest and reset". The project was realised by TYIN tegnestue Architects in collaboration with Rintala Eggertsson Architects. The two studios worked together with Håvard Lund, students and volunteers to create what has become a small village in the magical setting of the Arctic.
LABVERDE presents Art Immersion Program, a ten-day program in the Amazon forest in Brazil. The aim of the program is to create a multidisciplinary platform that promotes a constructive debate on environmental issues and combines theory, data and field experience. The programme will take place near the city of Manaus and will explore ecological reserves and forest areas. It is intended for visual artists, musicians, writers, dancers, activists.
Mandranova is a farm and resort located in the hills of Palma di Montechiaro in the province of Agrigento, near the picturesque Valley of the Temples. It offers two annual programmes of artist residencies in May-June and September-October, dedicated to international mid-career artists. The residencies, curated by Maria Chiara Valacchi, include a hospitality programme that allows artists to work on site-specific projects. In addition, the programme includes a printed publication dedicated to each participant's experience.
Palazzo Monti is a residency programme in a 13th century building in Brescia. The palace houses beautiful frescoes dating back to 1750 and provides a unique location and temporary home for Italian and international artists and curators. They live and share the rooms of the palace experimenting and testing their artistic practice. So far, more than 170 artists from 50 countries have been hosted by Palazzo Monti. The artist residency programme was established in 2017, and is funded and curated by Edoardo Monti, a collector and curator from Bergamo.
The Ocean Fellowship 2022 offers the opportunity to fund and conduct research in the context of the Venice Ocean Space. For 2022, four fellows will be selected who identify as indigenous or who align themselves with Indigenous issues. Rebecca Melborne and Harald Gaski will guide the participants through the three-month residency, which will include conversations, workshops, meetings with the local community and the project's partners (including ISMAR-CNR, UNESCO, Ocean-Archive, Ca'Foscari, Samí Pavilion). The programme aims to explore and give voice to the indigenous perspective on the relationship between human beings and the ocean.
Fabrica, in Treviso, provides more than just a residency programme: it calls itself a "communications research centre". Founded in 1994 by Luciano Benetton and Oliviero Toscani, it is based in a space renovated and extended by the famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Fabrica's cultural programme is dedicated to creatives under 25 from all over the world. Among the guests: Roberto Saviano, Samantha Cristoforetti, Martin Parr...
Fogo Island Arts' international residency program offers artists the opportunity to spend between two and four months on Fogo Island, Canada. During this time, artists will be provided with accommodation, a studio, and a weekly stipend. At the end of the residency, the artists will present an outcome of their time on Fogo Island, be it a work, a workshop or a performance. The unique structures are a famous example of modern minimalist architecture.
The international residency programme for artists and writers at Chateaux Orquevaux, in the Champagne-Ardenne in France, offers artists a unique context to work and find inspiration. The residency programme includes artist presentations, an evening of literature, and outdoor activities to share the experience with other participants. By shifting the focus from the final product to the creative process, the residency aims to create an "international environment where all artists are welcome".
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was founded in 1916 and has attracted visitors from all over the world ever since. Today it is one of the few national parks in an active volcanic area, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. The National Parks Arts Foundation is presenting a one-month artist residency programme in summer 2022. The residency includes a $2,000 stipend, free accommodation, a studio, events, publicity, excursions to discover the natural wonders of the area and more. As if that wasn't enough!
The three-year programme of artist residencies at the Manifattura Tabacchi in Florence is a project curated by Sergio Risaliti, artist and lecturer at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence. Risaliti mentors the selected artists, who will also have the opportunity to meet with professionals and take part in dedicated workshops. The third edition, entitled "L'armonia" (Harmony), featured guests as renowned as Cristiana Perrella and Marinella Senatore.
A tree house becomes an artist's studio: Outlandia is the brainchild of London Fieldworks and was designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects. Inspired by the shelters of our childhood, it represents an opportunity for artists and creatives to work completely immersed in nature. Surrounded by a fir forest, the structure is situated on a piece of land by the Forestry Commission, three miles from the Scottish town of Fort William. A project that aims to fortify "the links between creativity and the environment".
Skowhegan is a nine-week summer artist residency program. Created by artists in 1946, it is dedicated to emerging artists and offers them the opportunity to experience and work in the context of a historic 350-acre farm in rural Maine. Each participant is also offered a personal studio and has access to a sculpture studio, a fresco studio, a media lab, an impressive library, and can count on the support of a broad artistic community.
The Wapping Project Residency in Berlin is an opportunity for midcareer artists and creatives to stop, reflect and rest. A precondition of the programme is that no output is produced at the end of the residency. The duration is two months and it includes free accommodation in a characteristic Berlin flat in an Altbau, a building dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, in Kreuzberg, West Berlin. The Kreuzberg district is known for its multiculturalism and lively art scene. The perfect opportunity to enjoy Berlin.
The Swatch Art Peace Hotel is a former luxury hotel located in Shanghai's former financial district. Built in 1908 as a Palace Hotel, it now houses an artist residency programme designed to bring together artists from around the world, offering them the opportunity to experiment and work in a unique environment. The focus of the residency programme is on creative exchange and contamination, and artists are encouraged to work on individual or collective projects. The duration ranges from three to six months, with participants being guests of the sumptuous former hotel. The suites were designed by the Parisian collective Jouin Manku.