The artist residency is a temporary opportunity for artists (and other creatives) to focus on areas of interest without the distraction of their home environment. In a concentrated period, creatives can maximise the use of space, time, and resources to research, prototype ideas, collaborate with others, or develop new work.
While a change in routine and environment can provide opportunities for creative development — the artist-in-residence model is not accessible to everyone. Disability, finance, funding, and parenthood are everyday challenges for professionals and non-professionals — and potential barriers for creative growth.
But the possibility for creativity should be available to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Using a simple 5 step process; The Artist Residency Canvas is a human-centered tool to formulate a self-directed residency — assessing what is desirable, with what is feasible, and viable to your creative needs and wishes.
Desirability
What you want to achieve and why. This can be as simple as reading some inspirational literature, conducting a research study, or producing a new body of work. Begin with the end in mind and consider the results you would like from the opportunity.
Feasibility
The spatial, temporal, and financial resources you want to realise your goals. At this point don’t compromise, imagine your dream scenario.
Viability
The obstacles you face in bringing these resources together. This is where reality bites. It may be you have commitments, a limited budget, or insufficient time that get in the way of what you would ideally like to do. Acknowledge them honestly.
Proposition
Take a divergent approach and consider resourceful ways to devise workarounds based on your blocks — reframe them, and explore alternatives or solutions. Residencies are after all only temporary changes to everyday environments.
Resolution
This is the how! A SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) proposal that caters for your requirements and accommodates the conditions of your daily life.
Using the Artist Residency Canvas is an iterative process, and a challenge to your creative thinking. If a proposed residency is not realistic now, park it — let it incubate. What may not be possible today, could be in a future point in time.
The Artist Residency Canvas cannot change the circumstances of daily life, but it can formulate and reframe the possibilities — helping you to fulfil your creative potential.
For more information about the creation and distribution of the Artist Residency Canvas, please consult the Creative Commons and FAQs pages.