In-Residence: Domestic Space Preservation and Contemporary Art in the Hudson Valley

The Hudson Valley has a long history of attracting artists. Today, this has manifested in a high concentration of artist residency programs that not only draw creatives from neighboring metropolises, but from an international pool. In this paper I will explore a selection of such residencies, specifically programs which inhabit historical sites. I will probe how they can respond to critiques of another iteration of a historically preserved domestic space linked to the arts: Historic House Museums. Looking at twelve institutions across three categories, I will examine the potential for Historic House Museums to engage with contemporary arts and artist residencies to reflect their property’s history. I will integrate the critiques of texts such as The Anarchist’s Guide to Historic House Museums into an analysis of how artist residencies make use of their campus, centering the question of how contemporary arts can activate the static setting of a historic space. And, in turn, how memory of a place can become incorporated into artists’ practices within these live/work opportunities. Through first building a strong historical background that delves into the centuries of creative, communal programs in the Hudson Valley, this paper will explore the essential value of an artist residency, not only to an artistic practice, but to continue the artistic heritage of the Hudson Valley region.