Photo: Florian Lantau

Res Artis is the largest network of artist residency centres and programmes operating internationally. Every other year its members gather to meet, to discuss issues of importance to the artist-in-residence sector.

Ronald Plasterk - Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science - performed the official opening on Thursday 9th of October. His speech was an inspiring start of the three day conference, which was attended by 120 delegates from artist-in-residence programmes from all over the world, and by representatives of governments, funds and organizations related to the artist-in-residence sector.

Photo: Florian Lantau

This eleventh gathering was hosted and organized by Trans Artists. The theme "Artists in Dialogue, Transforming Communities" linked the conference in a stimulating way to the mobility of artists and residency issues. The programme highlighted several exemplary projects developed by smaller grass roots organizations. Workshops focussed on important topics such as residency programmes creating safe havens for artists at risk, and the strategies of residential art centres to collaborate with corporations.