Abstract
In this paper, I explore progressive formats of artist residencies that foreground sustainability as a core principle. Drawing on my seven years of experience curating the artist-in-residence program at MeetFactory, Prague—one of the largest studio programs in the Central and Eastern European region—I examine the nuances of cultural mobility and its implications for sustainable artistic production, both on an individual and institutional level. The paper focuses on several residency formats developed within Creative Europe–funded projects, including Sustainable Studio Practice, Food Studio, and Emergency Residencies. These initiatives offer alternative models that address environmental responsibility, resource-consciousness, and the evolving needs of artists in a rapidly changing world. Furthermore, I reflect on the role of artist residencies during times of geopolitical crisis, particularly in response to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Drawing on experiences and testimonies from Ukrainian and European cultural actors, I ask whether sustainability—both ecological and institutional—can be maintained under extreme circumstances such as war. The study opens critical questions: Can the notion of sustainability survive within cultural mobility during crisis? How might the concept and structure of sustainable residencies be further developed to support artistic practices in a world increasingly defined by instability?
Presenters
Piotr SikoraStudent, PhD Candidate, University of the National Education Commission, Krakow, Malopolskie, Poland
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Artist Residencies, Cultural Mobility, Sustainability, Crisis Response, Institutional Practice
