A residency can mean different things to different organisations within the arts industry.

  • Normally a ‘residency’ means a period of time that an artist is supported by an arts organisation
  • Sometimes the period of time is several years, a year, a season of work, a specific project or just a few weeks.
  • Often support includes money, space to work and make art, and meetings with staff at the organisation to support the project and the artist’s skills or their career.
  • Sometimes accommodation is offered, but more often it means that the artist has a meaningful relationship with that organisation for that time, so it is like their artistic ‘home’. Deli does not offer accommodation as part of its residencies.
  • Sometimes it means that artists, as well as making work, are part of discussions and decision-making within the organisation.
  • Especially in the performing arts, residencies can be offered to companies as well as individual artists.
  • Sometimes the selected artists will be called ‘artist in residence’, Resident Artists or Resident Companies.