Artist residencies, in whatever form they take, are invaluable to an artist’s growth. But there are barriers to doing residencies—primarily the time commitment and cost. In this episode, I talk with Shannon Amidon, an artist who has created a residency especially for artists who might be parents or caretakers and can’t commit to a month or more that some residencies require. In my research on artist residencies, I have discovered how helpful it is when the residency involves some kind of travel, during which you are slowly transitioning away from your daily life and toward a different mental and emotional space that opens up your creativity. The longer the travel, the better. Another plus is that the residency environment contrasts with your familiar surroundings. Shannon’s residency is The Verdancy Project and while it’s easy driving distance from Portland, Oregon, it’s far enough out that you step into a new world. It’s especially for artists who want to be close to nature. As you will hear, it provides an experience distinctly different from the one most artists are used to. We discuss: How The Verdancy Project is set up What the facilities are like What she looks for in her artists Some of the mistakes artists make on their applications How she learned the nuts and bolts of managing an artist residency Shannon also reveals how she manages to run the residency while maintaining the commitment to her studio practice. To read more, see images, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/amidon-residency Connect with Shannon and see more of her art: https://shannonamidon.com Get more info about The Verdancy Project: https://verdancyproject.com Related: The Traveling Artist: Residencies with Amy Clay (#149) https://artbizsuccess.com/amy-clay-residencies/ Sponsored by The Art Biz Accelerator * a coaching group to support and remind you that you’re part of a global artist community. https://artbizsuccess.com/accelerator