Organization Profile:: China Residencies

  

Founded in 2013, China Residencies is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide an online directory of artist residencies in China and support for visiting artists. In August and October of 2013, China Residencies interviewed Red Gate Residency founder Brian Wallace, director Tang Zehui, and then-residency coordinator Nina. You can find the interviews here.
 
News from China Residencies
+May 2013 research trip including 6 cities and 17 programs in two week
+31 residency programs listed in our directory 
+16 published interviews with residency administrators and artists
+3 pop-up exhibitions throughout China of past artists work
+Press from Hyperallergic and Res Artis and Rate My Residency    
+Presentations at Residency Unlimited and Transcultural Exchange

Two last things we are super excited to announce: first, we got the very first grant we applied for, which will allow us to fully fund Australian artists on residency to 2nd and 3rd tier cities in China. And second, because of the work we did mapping artist residency programs in China, Crystal was elected to the board of directors of another nonprofit, Res Artis, a worldwide network of artist residencies. In this position, she will be able to advocate for residencies in China and push for mapping efforts to be extended across Asia. 
 
Red Gate Residency is a huge advocate for the mission behind China Residencies, and not just for its relevance and importance--we also have a particular fondness for the organization because it was founded by one of Red Gate Residency’s previous directors, Crystal Ruth Bell, along with co-founder Kira Simon-Kennedy. Bell and Simon-Kennedy met while working at Red Gate Residency.

For a little more background on Crystal: Crystal is the former director of Red Gate Residency where she served for two years. In 2011, Crystal initiated several meetings of China residency administrators across China to discuss challenges and opportunities for organizations and visiting artists. The resources being developed by her non-profit initiative China Residencies are a response to these needs. She is also an enthusiastic team member in NYC for DoSomething.org. Her own art practice explores cultural exchange through pop-up food art interventions.
 
China Residencies is an excellent resource for residencies already established in China and looking to network with other existing residencies, for people thinking to start a residency in China, and for artists looking to attend residencies in China. If you fall into any of those categories or simply have an interest in art and residencies in China, be sure to become a China Residencies member.  With the increasing number of residencies in China, China Residencies is an essential tool and resource for the future.