Have you ever wondered about how to become an artist-in-residence?
I asked featured guest Ruth Ava Lyons about how one becomes a resident artist. She replied:
There are several ways artists approach residencies. There are online resources like CaFÉ (www.callforentry.org) that announce residencies for all levels of artists. Artist Communities (www.artistcommunities.org) is wonderful for looking at programs in specific countries as well as res artis. Sometimes its simply interacting with artists who share unique experiences at residencies and garner your interest with their firsthand experience. At this point in my life, I am thinking about places that I am specifically interested in, however there are a lot of things to consider. For instance, there is an arctic circle residency that I would love to participate in, but it requires a significant monetary contribution. Some residencies are for long periods of time that would be hard on my family. Some residencies require active interaction with the public through a lecture or workshop. I am very protective of my studio and I am not willing to open it while work is in progress, so if a residency involves allowing studio visits, that will be very difficult for me to accommodate.
