ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAMS
This list includes three distinct types of residency programs. Artist in Residence (AIR) programs are hosted by an institution such as a college, national park, or museum. These programs usually run for long periods of time (a year or a semester), usually host only one artist at a time, often pay an honorarium, and often expect the artist to interact with the public by offering a class, or presenting in some other fashion (which can even include allowing the public to watch you work in your open studio).
Artist colonies exist to allow artists time to work without distractions. Most are located in rural areas, and there is no public interaction (most have rules prohibiting anyone from interrupting artists in their studios between 9:00 and 5:00). A few can offer a modest stipend, and some request payment (usually partial payment of actual expenses), but many allow artists simply to come for free. Artist colonies usually have a number of artists in residence at any one time (from four to twenty), and a sense of community builds as residents share dinners and breakfasts together. Artist colonies host artists for lengths of time ranging from two weeks to three months, but most last approximately one month.
Both AIR Programs and artist colonies request work samples, references, and an essay describing your work plan while in residence, and both are competitive, with panels evaluating applications. A third category of retreat programs are not competitive and require no work samples or elaborate applications. These retreats serve artists on a first-come, first-served basis for a fee. These programs tend to last for shorter amounts of time, such as a week or two.
Listings are divided in the United States by region, then listed by state. International Programs are listed by country. (If a state or country are not listed, I know of no residency programs there.) Each listing includes the types of artists supported in parentheses at the end of each paragraph description (if known), for easier scanning. Types of artists are divided into four groups: literary, visual, performing, and media arts.
If you know of any changes or additions, please contact Kim Roberts at beltway@mac.com. This list last updated September 2012.
NEW ENGLAND: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
MID-ATLANTIC: DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA
DEEP SOUTH: AR, FL, GA, LA, MS
GREAT LAKES: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
ROCKY MOUNTAINS: CO, MT, WY
PLAINS: IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD
APPALACHIAN SOUTH: KY, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV
PACIFIC: AK, CA, HI, OR, WA
SOUTHWEST: AZ, NM, TX, UT