Platform comparison
Artaway vs TransArtists
TransArtists is an editorially-curated directory of residencies, published since the late 1990s. Artaway is a marketplace where artists and hosts arrange the exchange directly. They sit at different layers of the same problem — and which one fits depends on whether you want a curated reading list or a direct conversation.
At a glance
Which one fits you?
Choose TransArtists if
You want a deeply researched, editorially curated reading list of residencies across the world — written by people who've been doing it since the 1990s. Best for browsing, country guides, and understanding the residency landscape before you apply anywhere.
Choose Artaway if
You want to message a host directly, propose a creative exchange, or browse in Portuguese, Spanish, or French. Artaway is the marketplace where the conversation happens — not a directory you research and then leave.
Side by side
TransArtists vs Artaway — what differs
| TransArtists | Artaway | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Editorial directory + country guides | Direct artist-host marketplace |
| Scale | Extensive global database, decades of editorial work | 100+ listings, growing |
| Geographic strength | Netherlands, EU, and global coverage | 20 countries today; strongest in Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Argentina |
| Application flow | Each residency runs its own application pipeline off-platform | Message hosts and apply directly inside the platform |
| Cost | Free to browse; DutchCulture-funded, non-commercial | Free for artists; free for hosts during early access |
| Account required | No — browse the directory anonymously | Yes — needed to message hosts and submit applications |
| Vetting | Editorial team reviews and writes about each listing | Host profiles, reviews from past artists, listing approval before publish |
| Languages | English | English, Portuguese, Spanish, French |
| Paid commissions | Out of scope — residencies only | Supported as a listing type (alongside exchanges and residencies) |
| Founded | Late 1990s — DutchCulture program | Launched 2026 — early stage |
| Best for | Research, country guides, learning the residency landscape | Direct exchanges, multilingual discovery, paid commissions |
Where TransArtists wins
Three things TransArtists does better
Editorial depth
TransArtists has been published since the late 1990s, with an editorial team in Amsterdam writing country guides, sector reports, and individual residency profiles. That kind of editorial archive doesn't exist anywhere else in the artist-residency space — if you want context, not just listings, this is where to find it.
Non-commercial credibility
TransArtists is funded by DutchCulture, the Dutch arts mobility agency. It's not selling anything. That non-commercial posture earns it a kind of neutral authority other platforms can't claim, and it shows in the writing.
Free with no friction
No account, no signup, no paywall, no rate limits. You can browse the whole archive from a single search. For an early-research stage where you're just trying to understand what's out there, that frictionless model is hard to beat.
Where Artaway wins
Four things Artaway does differently
Direct host conversation
On Artaway you message the host inside the platform — no separate application flow, no off-site emails, no waiting on an editorial team to publish a new listing. For exchanges that don't fit a formal application form, that direct line is what makes the model work.
Exchanges, not just residencies
The 'art-for-stay' exchange model — trading creative work for accommodation, studio access, or paid commission work — sits outside the residency-program scope that TransArtists indexes. Artaway is built specifically for those direct arrangements.
Multilingual by default
Artaway is available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. TransArtists is English-only. For artists and hosts in Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, and Quebec, browsing and applying in your own language is a meaningful difference.
Paid commissions in the same place
Paid commission listings (murals, workshops, performances) are a supported type on Artaway, so the same platform you use for exchanges can surface paid one-off work. Residency-only directories don't index that.
Who uses each
Three personas for each platform
Who chooses TransArtists
- An artist researching the residency landscape in a new country for the first time, wanting context not just listings.
- A grad student or PhD researcher writing about residencies who needs an editorial archive to cite.
- A residency program director benchmarking against peer programs in their region.
Who chooses Artaway
- A Brazilian printmaker proposing a two-week trade at a Portuguese studio — no formal application, just a direct message.
- A muralist looking for paid commission work that residency directories don't index.
- An eco-artist wanting an unstructured rural exchange that doesn't fit any 'residency' application form.
Questions
Common questions
Last updated 2026-05-12. Listing and country counts pulled from the Artaway database on the date above. TransArtists facts drawn from their public site and DutchCulture documentation. We update this page when material differences change. Spotted something wrong? Email hello@artaway.org.