That's a good question...
...because they all are so different! Basically, a residency is a place that offers you space and time to create and think. It can be a place of production as well as reflection. They can be located in major cities or small towns, or somewhere in between. Some offer funding to residents: grants, stipends and even included meals. They can range in time from a couple days to a year or more.
Alicia made an infograph illustrating what an artist residency can be:
“Residencies and even long term travel can be daunting. The way we occupy space in a situation that is alien, wrought with new stimuli and the unknown, sometimes feels anxious and overwhelming. As an artist as well as a human grappling with assimilation to a new place, it’s easy to find yourself reacting instead of thinking. Here, we find need for some form of grounding. A breath that allows us to look with clear eyes and see the vibrancy of our new reality.””