Journal
Guides, stories, and insights on art exchanges, residencies, and creative travel.
Myoju: An Artist Residency on the Shore of Lake Biwa
A jewelry studio working with the freshwater pearls of Lake Biwa has opened a residency in the historic merchant town of Omihachiman, 35 minutes from Kyoto.
What Is an Artist Residency? A Practical Guide (2026)
An artist residency gives you time, space, and a roof to make work in a new place. Here's how funded, self-funded, and exchange residencies actually work.
Nomadic Artist Guide: How to Keep Your Practice Alive
How to maintain a serious art practice while living nomadically — studio solutions, income streams, residencies, and art exchanges that make it work.
Artist Retreat Guide: What to Expect & How to Find One
What artist retreats cost, what actually happens during the week, how to find and vet a good one — and how art exchanges offer a lower-cost alternative.
Artist Residency Guide: How to Find, Vet, and Apply in 2026
An art residency gives you something most artists struggle to manufacture on their own: uninterrupted time. This guide covers finding the right program, vetting it properly, and putting together an application that lands.
Writing Residencies: How They Work and How to Apply
A writing residency offers time and space to focus on your work. Here's how they work, whether they pay, how to apply, how to vet one, and where to find the right program.
How to prepare for an art exchange
Your first art-for-stay exchange can feel daunting. This guide covers everything from initial communication with your host, to packing the right materials, to setting expectations for your creative output.
How to create a listing that attracts great artists
The best listings are specific, visual, and honest. Learn how to describe your space, set clear expectations, and use photos that show the real experience.
How to travel as an artist without going broke
You don't need a grant or a trust fund to make art in new places. Practical strategies for stretching your budget, finding free opportunities, and making creative travel sustainable.
How Iara did five art exchanges across four countries in four months
Between July and October, artist Iara Vida moved through Brazil, Spain, Portugal, the UK, and Morocco — teaching earth pigment workshops, painting murals, and giving watercolor classes in exchange for accommodation, food, and workspace. Here's how the exchanges worked.
How to vet a residency before paying the application fee
Application scams are real, and the legitimate ones can have 300:1 acceptance rates. A practical checklist for separating real residencies from cash grabs — and what to ask before you spend money on an application.
How to host an artist through Artaway
A practical guide for residencies, studios, guesthouses, and cultural spaces: what Artaway is, how an exchange works, what to expect from a visiting artist, and how to create your first listing.
The Lovely People Place: A Yoga and Art Residency by the Sea in Portugal
Inside The Lovely People Place in Figueira da Foz, a self-directed residency where artists, yogis, shared meals, and coastal life meet.
Setting up your artist profile to stand out
Your profile is your portfolio. Learn how to choose the right photos, write a compelling bio, and showcase your disciplines so hosts can find and choose you.
What hosts expect from visiting artists
Understanding host expectations is key to a successful exchange. From working hours to social etiquette, here's what most hosts hope for when opening their doors.
Managing artist applications effectively
When applications start coming in, how do you choose? This guide covers reviewing portfolios, asking the right questions, and making fair decisions.
Building a successful residency program
Turn your space into a recurring residency. Learn from hosts who've built thriving programs — from scheduling to funding to community building.
Safety tips for traveling artists
Staying safe while traveling to a new space. Practical advice on verifying hosts, setting expectations before arrival, emergency planning, and trusting your instincts.
Safety tips for hosting artists
Welcoming someone into your space takes trust. Learn how to screen applicants, set house rules, handle emergencies, and create a safe environment for everyone.
Making the most of your residency experience
You've arrived at your residency — now what? Tips on time management, creative routines, documenting your work, and building lasting connections.
Art exchanges vs residencies: which is right for you?
Both offer creative immersion in a new environment, but they work differently. Understanding the distinction helps you find the right opportunity — and set the right expectations.
A beginner's guide to hosting your first artist
You have a spare room, a studio, or a beautiful setting. Here's how to turn that into a rewarding creative exchange — even if you've never hosted before.
Artist in Residence Programs: How They Work and How to Get In (2026)
An artist in residence program gives you time, space, and often lodging to make work. Here are the five kinds, who pays whom, and how to get in.
Illustrator Residency Programs: A Practical Guide (2026)
An illustrator residency gives you time, space, and often lodging to make work. Here are the kinds that fit illustration, what they pay, and how to apply.
What Is an Artist Colony? History, Modern Equivalents, and How to Find One
An artist colony is a place where artists live and work side by side. Here's the history, whether they still exist, and how to find a modern one.
Virtual Artist Residencies: How They Work, What They Cost, and Whether They're Worth It
A virtual artist residency gives you structure, deadlines, and feedback without travel. Here's what you get, what it costs, and how to decide if it's worth it.
Artist Travel Grants: How to Fund Creative Travel (and a Free Alternative)
A plain guide to artist travel grants: the main types, real programs, how to apply, and a grant-free way to travel and make work when the funding cycles don't line up.
Music Residency Programs: How They Work and How to Apply
A plain guide to music residency programs: what they are, what actually happens, which ones to know, who pays, and how to apply as a musician or composer.
Ceramics Residency Programs: How They Work and How to Apply
A plain guide to ceramics residency programs: what they are, what a studio actually gives you, who pays, and how to apply as a clay artist.
Writing Retreats: How to Find One and How to Plan Your Own
What a writing retreat is, the four formats to choose from, how to work out what one will actually cost you, and how to plan your own instead of booking.