Virtual residencies

Virtual residencies are becoming increasingly popular in today’s climate of multi-disciplinary projects, with their inherent technological challenges and complexities. In contrast to more traditional fellowships and residencies, a virtual residency can better accommodate the realities of contemporary networked practices. The work produced during a virtual residency is published, updated and offered up for comment on the web as a ‘work in progress’.

Virtual residencies commonly offer:
· a residency of at least 8 weeks duration;
· a resident’s fee;
· a pre-determined number of hours of technical support (45 hrs +);
· access to the host organisation’s equipment and resources;
· the opportunity to participate in group workshops; and
· a working space for the resident.

In return, the host organisation typically disseminates the resident’s project on its website, with a presentation following completion of the project. For remote participants, the presentation may take place online via streaming or a chat session. Virtual residencies generally incorporate a combination of 'real' visits and extended contact on line.

The Australia Council has recently introduced a Second Life Artist Residency (http://www.ozco.gov.au/grants/grants_new_media_arts/second_life_artist_residency/) which invites artists and writers to explore the possibilities of inter-disciplinary literary, music, art and digital visual media practices. The main objectives of the program are to provide opportunities for artists and writers to develop art that challenges and explores the aesthetic, social, political and cultural realities of Second Life; and encourage collaborations between artists and writers working across literature, music/sound art and digital visual media to develop high quality, experimental arts practices in Second Life.’