RMAR is an independent, community-driven directory of artist residencies worldwide — born out of a real need for transparency, and built by someone who learned the hard way that not all residencies are what they seem.
In 2013, I landed an artist residency in Berlin. I'd saved up a lot of money and was paying more than the going rate for the city at the time. What I got was a series of break-ins, hammers taken to the doors, and nights sleeping with a knife under my bed. I couldn't help but wonder: where was the transparency? Where was the accountability for the opportunities and listings that creatives rely on?
At that same time, I was spending hours every week researching residencies — scouring websites, cross-referencing deadlines, trying to piece together what programs were actually like from scattered forum posts and word of mouth. I wanted all of that in one place. That frustration became Rate My Artist Residency.
RMAR originally launched as ratemyartistresidency.com. In 2016, I got into NEW INC with Rivet, which I co-founded with Kira Simon-Kennedy and Sebastien Sanz de Santamaria. Through 2018, we built the platform with funding and grants from the Kate Spade & Company Foundation, Made in NY Media Center, and Residency Unlimited. Many of the ideas behind this platform — artist-owned data, portable profiles, transparency for both artists and programs — came out of that collaboration.
When Rivet launched in 2018, it grew to over 1,500 worldwide residencies and 21,000 users. It was built to last and eventually became dormant on our side — but the ideas never went away.
Now, in 2026, I'm rebooting RMAR from scratch. The catalyst? Discovering what AI tools can actually do. I'm exploring what one person with a clear vision and the right tools can build — and seeing where it goes.
Artists deserve to know what they're signing up for. Real reviews from real residents — no sponsored listings, no pay-to-play rankings.
We aim to list every legitimate residency worldwide — not just the famous ones. Small, regional, and emerging programs matter just as much.
Your portable profile travels with you across applications. Programs never own your data — the opposite of how most application platforms work.
The directory and reviews are free for everyone. Premium tools help power users save time, but the core information stays open.
Artist and co-founder of Rivet. Started RMAR in 2013 after firsthand experience with the lack of transparency in the residency world. Currently rebuilding the platform from the ground up.
AI pair programmer by Anthropic. Responsible for building and shipping the current version of the platform — every component, API route, and database migration.
RMAR wouldn't exist without the ideas and work that came out of Rivet (2016–2018), supported by the Kate Spade & Company Foundation, Made in NY Media Center, and Residency Unlimited. The team whose thinking shaped this platform:
Know a residency we're missing? Attended one recently? Every submission and review makes the directory better for everyone.
Questions or feedback? kn@studiostudios.net
RMAR is a project of Triple S Studios LLC.