For over 80 years, the Art & History Museums of Maitland (A&H) has provided artists with the space and freedom to break from expectation and embrace the spirit of exploration.
Today, A&H offers two distinctive artist residency programs: the Artist in Residence Program and the Studio Residency Program, each continuing the site’s long-standing commitment to creative research and innovation.
Artist in Residence Program>
Studio Residency Program>
Many thanks to our Residency Selection Committee.
Program History
The tradition of artist residencies at A&H traces back to 1937, when artist and architect Jules André Smith founded the Research Studio. Smith, a passionate advocate for modern art during a time when traditional styles still dominated American tastes, envisioned a retreat where artists could pursue experimental work without fear of criticism. His vision took flight after a chance meeting with philanthropist Mary Louise Curtis Bok. Sharing a mutual love for modern movements and a dismay over the region's reluctance to embrace the future, Smith and Bok conspired to establish a "Research Gallery" dedicated to progressive, experimental artworks.
Their collaboration quickly evolved beyond a gallery into a full-fledged artist residency. Each winter, Smith invited a select group of four artists to the Research Studio with the guiding principle that they should "discard as far as possible the conscious influence of other artists or paintings" and instead devote themselves entirely to artistic exploration.
The Research Studio operated from 1937 until Smith's death in 1959. Over 65 artists lived and worked at the site during that time, including notable figures such as Milton Avery, Ralston Crawford, Elizabeth Sparhawk Jones, Consuelo Kanaga, and Teng Chui. Today, the Maitland Art Center carries forward Smith and Bok's visionary legacy through its Artist in Residence and Studio Residency Programs.