The Online Residency for Parent Artists, developed by The Artist and the Others, is a pioneering programme that supports artists who are mothers, creating a dedicated space to sustain and develop their artistic practice alongside caregiving responsibilities. Through a combination of online mentoring, workshops, peer-to-peer exchange, and tailored guidance, the residency enables participants to explore their work, share experiences, and connect with a supportive international network.
The first edition started on September 2025 and will run till April 2026. The mentors for this edition are Joep Vossebeld, Mirthe Berentsen and Jelmer Wijnstroom.
The Artists selected for the first edition are Maartje Smits. Verena Blok and Rosalie Wammes ( fall edition 2025) & Ana and Carlos from Proyeto Cocuyo, Puck Verkade & LI Yuchen ( spring edition 2026)
The artist also have the chance to present the outcome of their research at Odapark, in Venray.
Through this collaboration, we aim to expand the visibility, recognition, and professional development opportunities for parent-artists, fostering long-term networks and sustainable practices that address the challenges of combining art-making with caregiving.
This project is produced by The Artist and the Others, and made possible thanks to the generous support of the @mondriaanfonds, @hetcultuurfonds, and @stichtingodapark.
We’re incredibly grateful to work with these partners who believe in the importance of accessibility, equity, and support for parent-artists.
Together, we’re building a more inclusive art world. 💛
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Why is there a need for this project ?
If we look at the The CPB Netherlands bureau for economic policy analysis (2021), they shows that mothers’ earnings are 46% lower compared to their pre-birth earnings trajectory, whereas fathers’ earnings are unaffected by child birth.
During the first years after the birth, fathers earn slightly less with a child than compared to they had not had one. But this reduction fades away seven years after the birth. Mothers, on the other hand, experience a strong penalty immediately after the birth (35% less earnings than in absence of child after 2 years), which amplifies over the years and reaches 46% after 7 years. Note that this longer run penalty also includes the effect of potential additional births occurring after the first one.
The gender pay gap in the Netherlands was 14.2% in 2020, which is worse than the EU average. As published by the United Nation on the 4.01.2025 on Instagram “ it´s 2025 and no country has yet achieved gender equality. At the current rate of progress, it could take another 300 years for women and girls to have the same right as men”
Artists, as we all know, are not part of the highly-paid job of our society, and the choice of becoming a mother, (mainly) as well as for the father, is impacting the choices in developing further or not their artistic career. This has also to do with the fact that art world is not very family friendly ( opening times, not very flexible exhibition build ups and build down timeframe, time of openings and public program), and it involves a lot of – unpaid -travelling ( as stated by publication Re/Framing the International, by the Flanders Institute of Art, 2018).
So, “Wouldn’t it be glorious if all of this were the stuff of the distant path? If artists didn´t feel pressured to choose between motherhood and a successful career? If the art world was no longer hung up on the carefree youth? If a woman in her late forties wasn´t seen as “ ´mumsy´ and unserious, exhibiting again after taking a break to raise children? If family was not considered a trap for women, because childcare was equally shared between partners? If mothers in the public eye were no longer judged for all they did and didn’t do? Alas, yet, this is far from the case.”
(From ‘How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and other parents)’ by Hettie Judah, 2022, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London)
Hettie Judah’s book was published in 2022. Since then very little has changed.
Artist residencies have become central for many artists who are looking to develop their careers, re-train or develop key connections to re-insert themselves in the art world. Artists in residencies are pivotal to artists to extend their connection and present their work to a new audience, next to create a supportive network of International artists, curators, and mentors that is pivotal for the development of the artist´´ artistic research.
Yet, for artists with care responsibilities, travelling with kids and keep investing into their career as before becoming parents it is difficult. As the art world is not yet parent-friendly. Especially when it comes to the artist-in-residency program.
The question we wanted to answer was: Is it possible to create more family-friendly Artist Residencies? How can we bring a positive change, and create a flexible environment, that artists with care facilities can still join, and will allow them to develop their career further.
As explained by Hettie Judah in her book ‘How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and other parents)’ (2022), the current situation for mother/parent artists is extremely challenging. In detail:
- Being a mother and going on a residency entails leaving the house and moving somewhere. This is difficult, or impossible, for many parents for a variety of reasons. To mention some factors to consider: child’s age and needs, schools, language barriers, economic situation, surrounding facilities and safety of working environments.
- In Europe there are not many children-friendly residency, and If we consider the so-called “Hidden costs” of a residency – transport, rent to pay in the city, studio rent to pay in the city etc, Kita, kindergarten, school, etc. – this fee provided is quite low, yet it is for parents with kids that are not yet in schools.
- Many parents would prefer not to move and have the possibility of participating in projects or programmes at a local and familiar level. This would enable them to benefit from the advantages of an artist residency without leaving their supportive network of friends, family, schools etc.
- Motherhood is a very lonely period in the life of women, and creating a supportive network is key for the well-being of the mothers and the kids too.
Therefore, we developed the idea of a AIR model which could provide the benefits of an ‘off-line’ artist residency, with the flexibility and advantages of an online programme.
