[12:01] residencyunlimited: Hi there!
[12:01] FPguest: I prepared ahead of time — I wanted to first ask on this chat about community service that an artist performs during an artist residency. Community service to me anyway seems a “free” or nominal cost event to benefit members of the community at large, that is, local to the artist’s residency. At what point doThe promoters cross the line by turning the community serviceinto a (profitable) fundraiser for the promoters and take everything? I understand that for many programs funds have dried up from corporate sponsors and people are scrambling for funds. But should the artists shoulder the burden. What is fair ?
[12:01] FPguest: HI
[12:02] FPguest: I don’t chat much so I’m not sure of the protocals
[12:05] residencyunlimited: no worries, let’s see here.. from your description it seems that you were asked to partake in community activities during your residency, which turned out to be a fundraiser for the the program, which brought in a good amount of funds yet you felt left out?
[12:05] residencyunlimited: is this correct?
[12:05] FPguest: Well it wasn;t me but one of the other artists.
[12:05] FPguest: I had made my deals before I went.
[12:05] residencyunlimited: ah ok..
[12:06] FPguest: The money if there was any was to be split a certain way.
[12:06] FPguest: bear in mind that I’m a visual artist that produces things,
[12:06] residencyunlimited: was it in the end? split?
[12:06] FPguest: and the other artist was a performer.
[12:07] residencyunlimited: right I see
[12:07] FPguest: For me yes, but for the performer they took it all.
[12:07] FPguest: The take in this circumstance was $5000.00 , at least that’s waht I hear.
[12:09] residencyunlimited: performance artists often get left out.. for reasons that the work they produce is considered to be ephemeral.. so i’m assuming the artist did not have a prior agreement with the organization in terms of a fee for the actual event..
[12:10] FPguest: No he did not have a financial agreement. he came to do a community service
[12:10] FPguest: though
[12:11] FPguest: So I guess the advise is to make sure if money is to be made, have it all spelledout ahead of time so none gets left out.
[12:12] residencyunlimited: Absolutely, and this is a crucial component of any residency program.. and often an origin of conflict.
[12:13] FPguest: 2nd question — If a program doesn’t have dedicated studio spaceFor visual artists should they be offering a visual arts residency?Artist are most resourceful and can make do with just about anything, but is there a norm? What should we expect?
[12:14] residencyunlimited: Often, residency programs assume that the artists they host know what they are getting into, but if this is not clarified.. things can get messy.
[12:15] residencyunlimited: in terms of space, again, this depends on the pre-defined conditions of the residency.
[12:15] FPguest: I understood there was no studio space there when I went , but
[12:16] FPguest: the space they showed me when Iwas there last summer differed from teh space I got.
[12:16] FPguest: Not that I’m bitter.
[12:17] residencyunlimited: 
was the difference in space drastic?.. I’m guessing you decided to go based on your past experience with the space and had deemed it possible to live & work in the same area?
[12:18] FPguest: It’s just that I couldn’t feel comfortable there, but then again there is no guarentees, and I guess I could “feel” uncomfortable in a dedicated studio too.
[12:18] residencyunlimited: Did you communicate this to the administrators of the program?
[12:19] FPguest: Not yet –I’m formulating a feedbcak letter.
[12:19] FPguest: so also one last question.
[12:19] residencyunlimited: sure
[12:20] FPguest: Is there any norm concerning visitors and/or conjugal Visits by spouses?
[12:20] FPguest: I know in overseas residencies there is more leeway with family, but many domestic residencies don’t allow visits.
[12:21] residencyunlimited: that’s a good one, and there is no norm really.. it depends on the program and their stance on visitors.. some encourage it, some absolutely deny it.
[12:21] residencyunlimited: I would say there are 2 reasons for discouraging visitors.
[12:21] FPguest: yes?
[12:23] residencyunlimited: the first is resources.. if the residency provides food, lodging and services.. having an additional person requires more work, something which again, is not planned ahead, becomes a conflict.
[12:23] FPguest: yes I thought of this they don’t want freeloaders.
[12:24] residencyunlimited: the second is more subjective, based on the notion that artists are not be distracted from there practice.
[12:24] residencyunlimited: their practice
[12:24] FPguest: I thought this too.
[12:25] residencyunlimited: but this approach to the subject is questionable, as there are artists that on the contrary, require interaction to pursue their work
[12:25] FPguest: So for a novice like me and others considering a residency, I guess the best course of action is to ask enough questions and
[12:25] residencyunlimited: absolutely
[12:25] FPguest: be aware of these issues we are discussing.
[12:26] FPguest: I feel like I make all the mistakes to learn.
[12:26] residencyunlimited: communication is key!
[12:26] residencyunlimited: mistakes are made for learning, thats for sure.
[12:27] FPguest: Are you going to keep this disussion on record for others?
[12:27] FPguest: I hope so.
[12:27] residencyunlimited: Yup!
[12:27] FPguest: Great.
[12:28] FPguest: That’s about it for me now.
[12:28] FPguest: Thanks.
[12:28] residencyunlimited: great! it was pleasure to discuss these issues with you.
[12:28] FPguest: 10-4
[12:29] residencyunlimited: Roger
