The Value of Artist Residencies

This reflection comes a few weeks after the conference Ripopolare, Rigenerare, Risiedere. The role of artistic residencies: a conference that lasted two days, 9-10 November, at the Spazio Pertini of the Lucanian municipality of Latronico (PZ) and was promoted not only by the municipal administration itself, but also by the Association of Italian artistic residencies STARE, and the Cultural Association Vincenzo De Luca-APS.

This event was an important opportunity to discuss the social, political, as well as artistic, value of artist residencies in inland and rural areas: what role do these structures play in the dynamics of enhancing fragile territories and in the relations between art, community and economic-social development?

Although art residencies were initially conceived as spaces for reflection and research for artists, their impact goes far beyond cultural production: they are also moments during which the community re-appropriates physical and symbolic spaces, generating new forms of social cohesion and reactivation of territories.

Art residencies are therefore not only a moment of experimentation and research, but also contribute to the creation of links between local communities and artists, transforming and enriching the entire social and economic system.

Art, despite its expressive autonomy, can be a powerful tool to stimulate civic participation. In this sense, the concept of ‘residing’ is not limited to a mere physical presence, but becomes a metaphor for an active residence, committed to connecting individuals and communities, promoting an idea of ‘dwelling’ that transcends mere permanence.

It is necessary, however, to emphasise that, despite the fact that artistic residencies are recognised as a powerful tool for fostering encounters between artistic research and the territory, they alone cannot fulfil the regenerative action of territories, which is too often associated with a mere urban make-up job. Although the term ‘regeneration’ is, in fact, now abused, and not only in political proclamations, the true meaning of this word, when applied to artistic residencies, is rooted in an action of awareness and education to ‘beauty’, a process that stems from the communities themselves, in the awareness that culture and art can stimulate a new vision of the territory. True regeneration action cannot but start from an awareness-raising action of the communities, finding its true strength in cultural and educational action.

True territorial regeneration is the fruit of a shared commitment, which goes beyond the logic of the event and invests in people’s ability to rediscover and revitalise their territory.

The value of beauty, in this context, is not only an aesthetic value, but an educational principle that solicits new forms of relationship with space and with others. Art has the power to transform not only the physical landscape, but also a community’s perception of itself and its future. In this way, art residencies take shape as fundamental actors in the creation of an active, aware citizenship capable of imagining and realising a more open and dynamic future.

‘To be’ and ‘residence’ are two wonderful terms: they presuppose an action of state in place, of appropriation, of physical occupation of a space, because, as Benjamin argued, the inhabitant is the one who leaves a trace of his passage and experience. Here, then, is STARE.