The residency directory
artists actually trust

RMAR is an independent, community-driven directory of artist residencies worldwide. We're building what we wish had existed when we were applying — a place with real reviews, real information, and no agenda.

Why we built this

Applying to artist residencies is hard. The programs themselves rarely tell you what it's actually like to be there — the food, the community, whether the studios are really as nice as the photos, whether emerging artists get as much out of it as established ones.

Word-of-mouth helps, but only if you know the right people. We wanted to democratize that insider knowledge — make it searchable, filterable, and available to every artist, regardless of where they went to school or who they know.

RMAR launched in 2025 with a handful of listings and a simple review form. Today we're growing into the most comprehensive independent residency database in the world.

What we stand for

Honest reviews, from real artists

Every review comes from a human who actually attended. We don't sell placements, accept advertising from residencies, or let programs edit their listings.

Comprehensive, not curated

We aim to list every legitimate residency worldwide — not just the famous ones. Small, regional, and emerging programs matter just as much.

Built by artists, for artists

Our team are practicing artists who've applied to dozens of residencies and know exactly what information actually matters when you're deciding where to apply.

No paywalls for basic access

Browsing the directory is always free. Pro members unlock the full review archive, advanced filters, and application tools — but the core data is open.

The team

M
Maya Chen
Co-founder · Visual Artist

Former Yaddo and MacDowell fellow. Frustrated by the lack of honest residency info, she started RMAR.

D
Daniel Osei
Co-founder · Writer

Attended 11 residencies across 6 countries. Obsessed with helping other writers find the right fit.

P
Priya Mehta
Engineering · Product

Software engineer and ceramicist. Built the platform from scratch and maintains every line of code.

Get involved

Know a residency we're missing? Attended one recently? Every submission and review makes the directory better for everyone.

Questions or feedback? hello@rmar.art