Tuesday, March 2, 2010

TIPS ON FUNDING ARTIST RESIDENCIES

Good morning. I just found this on the Transartist site and thought it might be useful for those of you applying to residencies overseas and far from home. Please check out their site sometime to learn about residencies and other opportunities around the world. Also, they have a message board for people looking for studio space or studio exhanges, etc.

From Transartists.org:

Of course a residency costs money. Some residency programs cover all costs, some residency programs don't cover any costs at all. In general, residential art centers will partly cover the costs, which always makes it necessary to find additional funding. Be sure about the budget before you go!

You got a grant of the residential art center?

Congratulations! But you have to check the following:

  • Do you get to keep the grant yourself or does the residency itself use it to pay for rent and facilities?
  • If you get the money yourself, are you free to use it for your own purposes or do you have to pay with it for the rent or for use of facilities?
  • How much is it? Can you pay the whole residency with the money?
  • Get a written agreement, stating how much you receive, when and how.
  • How much money do you still have to pay yourself?

You need additional funding?

You're selected, but the money offered or the facilities offered for free are not enough to cover the whole budget. Check out the following:

  • Don't agree to come over without being sure you can cover the whole budget.
  • Ask the residential art center for invitation letters or letters of support for applying for additional funding.
  • Ask the residential art center for information about their local funding possibilities.
  • Applying for additional funding takes time, always ask the residential art center if you can come over later when you need more time to arrange the budget.

You need to cover all costs yourself, even accommodation costs and costs of living?

Be sure about the motivation of the residential art center. Is it really a guest center 'for art's sake'?

  • Many guest studios just don't have the money to pay for your residency. But they do have a lot to offer 'in natura'. Just check out if the relation between what they offer and what you have to pay, is fair.
  • If a residential art center is operating on a purely commercial basis, it doesn't have to be a 'bad' center. It can be a quality center for art's sake. Just be sure about it!
  • Do you need to pay in advance, during or after your residency?
To read more about this subject and find a residency that might be good for you, go to:
http://www.transartists.org/articles/funding_check.147.html
Have a great day! Cheers, Mirabee

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Welcome to Mira's List

This blog provides information on upcoming grants, fellowships and residencies for artists, writers, composers, and media artists. It is for serious professionals only, from emerging to mid-career to established. I also publish information for graduate students from time to time. However, I do not publish information on exhibition or publishing opportunities, nor do I advertise artist retreats and workshops that charge money. At least that is my current policy. For more info on where to exhibit or publish, please see my links section which I try to periodically update. I sift through hundreds of search engines and websites to find opportunities for YOU dear artist. In return, I ask you to pass the information along to those who need it. Also, since this is a free blog, I don't always have the time to weed carefully through everything. If you find a grant or website or residency that is not up-to-date, is dodgy in some way, or is no longer in existence, please let me know! Also, if you stay somewhere at one of the residencies I suggest and have a good experience, I want that feedback too. Please check my FAQs at the top right side bar if you have questions before starting your search. Best wishes and happy hunting!