Artist Residency 2026: What a Residency at Unit 13 Actually Offers Artists
Every year, more artists are looking for residencies that give them something rare: uninterrupted time and a proper space to work in. Unit 13, an independent creative studio in the heart of Rotterdam, is opening applications for its Artist in Residency Program 2026. Here's a closer look at what the program actually offers, and why a residency like this can make a real difference in a creative practice.
1. A No-Obligation Period to Experiment
Unlike many residencies with fixed outcomes or curatorial expectations, Unit 13's program is self-directed. There's no required exhibition, no mandatory deliverable, and no set brief to follow. Artists are free to use the time to experiment, test new directions, fail safely, or simply focus on a body of work without external pressure. For many creatives, this kind of open-ended time is harder to find than the space itself.
2. A Fully Equipped, Professional Studio
Residents get access to a 60 m² creative studio — a working desk with wifi, a communal kitchen and coffee space, and the surrounding infrastructure of a functioning photo and creative studio. Instead of setting up a temporary workspace or working from home, artists can walk into a space that's already equipped for focused, professional work.
3. Support and Exchange with Other Creatives
Unit 13 is artist-led, and that shapes how the residency works day to day. Residents are part of an ongoing community of local and international creatives, with informal support and exchange built into the studio culture — from casual feedback on work-in-progress to shared knowledge about tools, techniques, or the local art scene. It's a working environment, not an isolated one.
4. Access to a Local and International Network
Being based in Rotterdam gives residents a direct line into the city's creative scene. Combined with the mix of artists passing through the studio, the residency offers natural opportunities to build connections — with other practitioners, with the local art community, and in some cases with people who go on to become collaborators or contacts in future projects.
5. The Option to Host a Public Event
Residents can propose to use Unit 13's on-site 50 m² project space for a public event — a screening, small exhibition, or presentation of work developed during the residency. This isn't required, but for artists who want to test how their work lands with an audience, or simply share what they've been working on, the space is there to use.
6. Optional: A Collaborative Interview Production
Residents who are interested can take part in an optional collaboration: a short interview-style production about their practice and their time at Unit 13, produced together with the studio. Beyond documenting the residency itself, the resulting content is shared on Unit 13's channels, giving the artist's work additional visibility to a wider audience.
Practical Details
Residency periods: 1 month, 2/3 months, or 6 months
Fee: €499/month, including studio, utilities, and basic amenities
Funding: the program is not subsidized; Unit 13 can provide an official letter of invitation for artists applying to external funding
Eligibility: open to individual artists across disciplines (visual art, photography, design, multimedia, performance); due to fire regulations, the studio cannot host duos or overnight guests
Application deadline: before the end of every month
How to Apply
Applications are submitted via the online form, with one PDF (max. 25MB) containing an artist statement (max. 100 words), a portfolio (max. 10 works, links welcome), a residency proposal (max. 100 words), an optional visual supplement, a CV, and a preferred time slot.
Questions can be sent to info@unit-13.com. Updates on the program and future opportunities are shared via Instagram @unit13.studio and Unit 13's newsletter.
