A Listing of Notable Artist Residencies in Europe

Artists, writers, composers, musicians, dancers, etc. need huge chunks of time for their creativity. An artist residency provides the perfect environment for creative folk to be sequestered for a month to several months in order to just devote time to their art. Because the purpose of the artist residency is to allow artists to create, family members and friends are often not allowed to stay.

Artists residencies may specialize in certain areas such as painting or performance. Some artists residencies may be located in pastoral landscapes, or may be located in big city art centers. Despite their differences, the one thing they all share is to provide the uninterrupted time and space for artists to create.

No matter where young artists live today, it is important for the development of their art careers to include international art experience, so it is necessary for artists to leave home and work abroad. Such cross-cultural artist exchange strengthens both the local and international artist communities. These new cross-cultural experiences can inspire creativity.

The following is a listing of some residencies located in Europe in cities known for their thriving art scenes such as Berlin, London, Barcelona, Paris and Amsterdam and in a wide variety of countries including Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Slovakia. In most of the artist residencies throughout Europe, English is the standard language spoken.

Many of the European artist residencies have reciprocity agreements with countries around the world. Contact your local arts council for further information on how to apply to overseas artists residencies. And click on the individual profile listed below for detailed information about the artist residency.