Artquest has run international residencies in Berlin (2007-2011), Amsterdam (2010-2014) and Australia (2008-2011). More recently we have run research residencies in London (2013-2020).

Parramatta Artists Studios - host of 2008-2011 Artquest residency OZ

Artist residencies are always popular opportunities. Artists enjoy time away from their home situation, making new work or taking part in research for their future work. They take many different forms and may include studios, accommodation, materials or other professional support.

Artquest has supported 3 international artist residencies since 2007:

  • <<3 months in Berlin>> included a studio and accommodation for 3 months in Mitte, Berlin. The residency came with a bursary and travel costs.
  • Going Dutch included 3 months live-work space in Amsterdam with travel costs and a materials budget.
  • OZ was an artist residency in a land far, far away. 3 months studio and accommodation in Parramatta Artists Studios, Sydney, with travel and materials budget.

Reflecting on these residencies and responding to feedback from artists, we changed focus in 2013 and developed research residencies in London. International residencies are a barrier to artists with caring responsibilities and employment who cannot leave home for long periods. Our research residencies worked with smaller museums and collections in London. Artists were invited to respond to specialist collections in their work, and given special access to collections in store and curatorial staff.

As research residencies, no work was expected at the end of the research period. Studio space was also not provided. Artists were given research bursaries of up to £3,000.

Artquest worked with 3 partner collections for in London 3 years each as part of our research residencies:

  • The Foundling Residency allowed an artist to work with the special collections at the Foundling Museum. The Museum tells the story of the UK’s first children’s charity.
  • The Horniman Residency gave an artist access to the Horniman Museum collections of natural history, ethnographic and music-related objects.
  • The Conway Hall Residency worked with the Conway Hall Humanist Library and Archives, allowing an artist special access to this material.

Continuing work

Our final research residency at Conway Hall was interrupted by COVID-19. Unable to continue residencies in person, we initiated the Adaptations award in 2021, aimed at artists looking to make their practice more sustainable. Artists apply with an idea to change their business model – how they make and spend money – and are partnered with a researcher to understand how they work.

For all of our residencies, we asked artists to write articles for this site to tell others about their experiences. We also asked for tips artists could follow in making their own residency. We used this work to create an overview of residencies for artists.

In 2019 we held The Artist Researcher to highlight this work and encourage other small-scale museums and collections in England to work with contemporary artists. This panel discussion led to Artists Decolonise Museums, roundtable discussions in 2021 on how artists practice can help with the work of decolonising museums practice.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we created the WFH Residency, paying artists small sums to organise a ‘work from home’ residency in their own accommodation.

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