Reviewed by Artists

Location Type

🌾 Rural Residencies

Step away from the noise. Rural residencies offer open space, natural beauty, and the quiet needed for sustained creative work.

195 residencies

All That We Are logo

All That We Are

Sandford, Australia

5.0 (1)

All That We Are is a dynamic, community-engaged, and immersive arts practice located in Sandford, Tasmania. Founded by Simon Spain and Victoria Ryle, the residency is dedicated to fostering creativity through a variety of artistic and community-oriented practices. Their philosophy centers on the belief that creativity is crucial for forming profound and enriching connections within oneself and the community. The program offers creative residencies for over 25 artists each year, providing spaces such as a self-contained studio and a library within their home, and the newly established Shaper Studio. The residencies are designed for both individual artists and groups, and are particularly suitable for visual artists, writers, researchers, and musicians. Artists are encouraged to immerse themselves in their practices, reflect on their creative processes, and engage with the vibrant Tasmanian art scene. The Shaper Studio, a distinctive feature of the residency, offers a large live/work space with stunning natural light and scenic views, promoting a blend of artistic endeavor and personal reflection. Specialized workshops, professional development, and creative coaching are also integral parts of the residency, helping artists to hone their skills, develop new ideas, and collaborate on community projects. The inclusive environment supports artists from various disciplines, facilitating a multidisciplinary exchange of ideas and cultural dialogues.

HousingDrawingInstallationInterdisciplinaryWriting / LiteratureMultidisciplinary+3
Arquetopia Foundation logo

Arquetopia Foundation

Puebla, Mexico

4.7 (6)

Arquetopia Foundation is an award-winning, multiple award-winning nonprofit arts and academic foundation with a significant social scope and global presence across three continents. Now in its 14th year, Arquetopia is dedicated to promoting critical thinking, a commitment to ethics, and a sense of reciprocity in artistic practices. It offers customized, professional International Artist-in-Residence Programs that are renowned worldwide for their comprehensive, research-based approach, focusing on social creativity. Arquetopia's residency programs, situated in Puebla and Oaxaca in Mexico, Cusco in Peru, and Naples in Italy, are tailored to provide a vast array of learning opportunities. These programs are distinguished for their commitment to sustainability in the arts, fostering research and critical thinking in creative processes. Arquetopia's model challenges preconceived notions of history and place, encouraging artists to engage with local epistemologies and resistance models as sources of knowledge and inspiration for social change. The foundation emphasizes ethical artistic practices, acknowledging the problematic ties of artist residencies to colonization, imperialism, and the extractive practices of tourism. Established in 2009 as an autonomous and registered Mexican nonprofit, Arquetopia is self-sustaining, unaffiliated with any political, religious, or war industrial entities, relying on its self-generated funding model. The foundation was co-founded by Mexican visual artist and curator Francisco Guevara and North American classical musician Chris Davis. Originally started as an educational art center for inner-city youth, it quickly evolved to offer international artist residencies. Arquetopia stands out for its array of unique residency programs with substantial mentoring, focused on professional artists, writers, academics, and researchers. It provides a generous and culturally diverse space, hosting artists and scholars from all over the world, aiming to enrich the global arts community with a multiplicity of perspectives.

CeramicsCraftDrawingInstallationInterdisciplinary+5
Blue Mountain Center (BMC) logo

Blue Mountain Center (BMC)

Blue Mountain Lake, New York, United States

Founded in 1982, Blue Mountain Center (BMC) is located in the Adirondack wilderness on historically Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe lands. Originally a 19th-century golf resort, it now serves as a nurturing refuge dedicated to social justice for artists, activists, writers, and cultural workers. Blue Mountain Center focuses on providing a space that facilitates both the creation of transformative works and the rejuvenation of its residents. The center emphasizes the integration of its residents with the local and global communities, providing a serene environment conducive to creative and restorative practices. BMC operates on the core values of racial, economic, and environmental justice, and gender equality, welcoming a diverse group of applicants particularly those producing work that reflects social and ecological concerns. BMC offers month-long residencies from June to September each year, supporting a range of creative disciplines including writing, filmmaking, and visual arts, among others. Residents are selected by an admissions committee of accomplished authors and artists through a process that prioritizes work aimed at a general audience with a clear social conscience. The residency provides studio space, accommodation, and communal living areas, all set against the backdrop of the scenic Blue Mountain Lake. This setting not only inspires artistic endeavors but also encourages personal well-being and community interaction, free from the distractions of everyday life such as cell phones and constant internet connectivity.

StipendHousing
Bundanon logo

Bundanon

Illaroo, Australia

5.0 (2)

Bundanon's Artists in Residence program, set within the cultural and natural landscape of Australia, is one of the most extensive of its kind nationally. Established by Arthur and Yvonne Boyd, the program has been operational since 1997, supporting over 250 artists annually across all creative disciplines, including visual arts, writing, music, and performance. Located in a region renowned for its scenic beauty, this program not only offers a retreat for artists but also a vibrant community space for creative exploration and public engagement. The residency facilities at Bundanon include studios, rehearsal spaces, and accommodation in single and shared apartments, as well as self-contained cottages capable of hosting up to 10 people. The program is designed to encourage artistic development without the pressure of specified outcomes, allowing for experimental and exploratory approaches to art-making. This supportive environment is supplemented by various fellowships and awards, aimed at providing financial assistance and facilitating creative growth. Structured through collaborations with various arts organizations and cultural agencies, Bundanon’s residency program serves as an incubator for innovative practices and a forum for cultivating deep connections among artists from around the world. With its commitment to diversity and inclusion, the program particularly encourages applications from First Nations artists, artists with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse artists, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

StipendHousing
Chokechaka Golden Bridge logo

Chokechaka Golden Bridge

Calca (Huaran), Cusco, Peru

Chokechaka Golden Bridge Artist Residency is a multidisciplinary program located in Huaran, in the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas. It offers a serene and culturally rich environment for artists, scholars, and creatives seeking both personal focus and community engagement. The residency is designed to support independent work while fostering deep connections with local traditions, landscapes, and communities. Residents are invited to explore their practice through dialogue with local artisans, scholars, and elders, and are encouraged to collaborate across cultural and creative disciplines. The facility accommodates up to eight participants at a time, providing private bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, shared workspaces, and access to both indoor and outdoor creative areas. A dedicated private studio is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and all guests have access to a communal kitchen, living spaces, and a ceremonial maloca for gatherings or performances. The residency supports immersive cultural experiences through visits to Inca heritage sites, traditional weaving and ceramics workshops, and excursions into the Andean landscape. Chokechaka emphasizes sustainability, cultural preservation, and intercultural exchange as core values. Founded by artists with roots in both Peru and the United States, it serves as a creative bridge between ancestral knowledge and contemporary practice. The program is open year-round to international applicants and welcomes those who value creativity, reflection, and shared learning in an awe-inspiring mountain setting.

HousingCeramicsDrawingInstallationWriting / LiteratureMultidisciplinary+4
Cow House Studios logo

Cow House Studios

Wexford, Ireland

Cow House Studios, established in 2008 in County Wexford, Ireland, offers artist residencies for professionals in various disciplines. These residencies provide a platform for artists at different career stages, from emerging to established, and contribute to the local community by bringing contemporary artwork to a rural setting. The studio environment fosters creativity and interdisciplinary exchange, with artists sharing a large, adaptable space. This setup encourages interaction and inspiration from each other's work. The residency programs at Cow House Studios include the Open Residency Program, the Parenting Artist Residency (PAR), and an annually themed curated residency. The Open Residency Program is flexible, catering to artists from diverse fields for periods ranging from one week to six weeks. The PAR, developed in collaboration with The Mothership Project, specifically supports parenting artists, offering childcare and other necessary support for artists with dependents under 18. The curated residency, initiated in 2014, involves a curator proposing a theme for the residency, leading to the production of new artworks and possibly an exhibition or publication. Cow House Studios is committed to supporting the artistic community through these programs and collaborations with national and international organizations. These partnerships provide opportunities for exhibitions, publications, and professional development. The studio, run as a not-for-profit endeavor, is supported by Wexford County Council, which helps in expanding and experimenting with new residency models.

HousingDigitalDrawingGraphic ArtsInstallationWriting / Literature+6