Residency: Part 1
Being an independent artist sometimes feels like you're out there on your own. The slogan "DIY" (Do-It-Yourself) sums up the indie spirit perfectly. But even the most independent artists need to feel accepted, to know that they’re heard and understood. We all crave connection—just because we create alone doesn’t mean we want to stay isolated.
Artistic residencies are a great way to find that connection, meet like-minded people, and expand your knowledge and inspiration. The goal of a residency is to encourage creative exploration, collaboration, and fresh ideas—without the everyday noise of life getting in the way. And that last part is crucial.
Being independent often means spending every day chasing opportunities and doing it all yourself. As much as we’d like to think being an artist is all about creating, the reality is different. Honestly, the admin side—writing proposals, managing budgets, applying for festivals and residencies, chasing sponsors and funding—often takes more time than the actual art. I’d love to be someone swimming in offers, but I’m not at that stage in my career yet.
So, when that one special day comes, and you get an email with a subject line like "Confirmation of..." it’s an instant energy boost. You know right away that one of your many applications has finally been accepted, and something exciting is on the horizon.
That happened to me back in May. I was feeling pretty down and went for a run to clear my head. My phone buzzed, and there it was: “Confirmation Required.” At that moment, everything shifted (at least my mood).
From that day on, I started preparing for my trip to the Turku Academy of Arts. The focus of the residency was Social Impact, Environmental Sustainability, and Equality. Along with four other artists, I was selected to explore these issues from an artistic perspective. What’s most important is that each artist brings a unique approach and skill set to the residency. The idea is that our different talents will complement each other in interesting ways. As a result, we’ll cross-pollinate our practices and share this two-week creative process in a space designed for adventurous discoveries.
At the end of August, I packed my bags and left Amsterdam for Turku.
