What is a artist residency agreement?
Residencies give artists and writers something rare: time and space to make work, often with a stipend, housing and a supportive community. For the host, a residency brings new work and public programs. Most problems come from expectations nobody wrote down: how many talks and workshops the resident must give, whether the host gets a work or a cut of sales, what happens to the housing if the resident leaves early, and who insures the work in the studio.
This template sets the dates, workspace and whether housing is provided, a stipend with a payment schedule, and optional travel and materials budgets, while making clear the resident is not an employee. It records what the resident plans to work on while preserving their creative freedom, the public events they agree to, and who owns the works: the resident alone, the resident with one gifted work, or the resident with a commission on sales the host arranges. A promotional licence and credit line, a code of conduct with a contact for concerns, housing provided as part of the program rather than a tenancy, insurance, visa support and fair early departure terms complete it.
- Best for
- Galleries, foundations, schools, libraries, festivals and community arts organisations
- Signed by
- The host organisation and the resident artist or writer
- Ownership options
- Resident owns all, resident gives one work, or host earns commission on sales it arranges
- Length
- About 3 pages, initialled on every page
When to use a artist residency agreement
- A coastal arts centre hosting three painters for an autumn residency with housing
- A university hosting a writer in residence who gives a public reading and workshops
- A museum offering a studio-only residency with a materials budget
- A festival inviting an international artist, with visa invitation support
- A rural foundation running a self-funded residency with no stipend
What you fill in
22 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: host, resident artist.
1 The parties
- Date of this agreement*
- Host organisation (legal name)*
- Host address
- Residency program name*
- Resident (artist's legal name)*
- Resident's home address
- Discipline*
2 Dates and space
- Residency starts*
- Residency ends*
- Studio or workspace*
- Housing* is provided by the Host · is not provided
- Housing details
3 Money
- Currency*
- Stipend (total)
- How the stipend is paid
- Travel allowance (optional)
- Materials budget (optional)
4 Work and events
- What the resident is expected to work on*
- Public events and community engagement
- Works created during the residency* belong to the Resident · belong to the Resident, who will give the Host one agreed work · belong to the Resident, with a commission to the Host on sales it arranges
- Host's commission on sales it arranges (%)
- Governing law*
5 Who signs
- Host signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The person signing for the gallery, school, foundation or organisation hosting the residency.
- Resident artist signature and date, initials on every page · The artist or writer taking part in the residency, signing personally.
What the artist residency agreement covers
- The residency
- Studio and housing
- Stipend and allowances
- Public events
- Works created
- Conduct
- Insurance, health and immigration
- Early departure
- General
Using the artist residency agreement, step by step
1 Name the residency and the resident
Enter the host, the program name, the resident and their discipline.
2 Describe the dates and space
Set the start and end dates, describe the studio and any shared facilities, and choose whether housing is provided.
3 Set money and expectations
Add any stipend, travel allowance and materials budget. Describe what the resident plans to work on and the public events they will take part in.
4 Decide ownership and sign
Choose who owns the works and any commission on sales, set the governing law and send for signature. Both parties initial each page.
Tips before you send it
- Keep public commitments proportionate. A residency full of talks and workshops leaves little time for the work it is meant to support.
- Send your code of conduct, house rules and safety instructions before the residency starts, so the resident can raise questions early.
- Whether a stipend is taxable, and whether the arrangement could be seen as employment, depends on local law. Take advice if you are unsure.
- If the resident needs a visa, check the right type early. Some visas restrict paid activity, including stipends and sales.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Artist residency agreement: frequently asked questions
Who owns the art made during a residency?
Under this template, the resident always keeps copyright. You choose whether the works belong to the resident outright, whether the host receives one agreed work, or whether the host earns a commission on sales it arranges.
Can the host use images of the work?
Yes, under a non-exclusive licence to document and promote the residency and the host's program, with credit. Not for product advertising or merchandise without the resident's consent.
What if the resident has to leave early?
The resident can leave for any reason. The stipend is paid in proportion to the days completed, and the housing must be vacated within 7 days. If illness or an emergency is the reason, the parties will discuss rescheduling.
Is the resident an employee?
No. The agreement says the stipend supports the resident's own practice and the resident is responsible for tax on it. Local law decides in the end, so take advice if the residency looks like a job.