That's a good question...
...because they all are so different! The basic principles of what an artist residency is: a place that offers you space and time to create and think. It’s a place of production as well as reflection. They can be located in major cities or small towns. Some offer funding to residents: grants, stipends and even included meals. They can range in time from a couple days to a year.
Here is an infograph by Alicia Toldi illustrating all the questions stemming from "What Is An Artist Residency?"
“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.””