R.A.R.O. Bogotá

Colombia

Mediums Welcome

About This Residency

R.A.R.O. is an international residency program that proposes an alternative model based on a wide network of local studios and cultural venues, rather than a single workspace. Through this collaborative structure, more than 21 local artist studios and other interdependent cultural projects welcome residents and mentor their creative processes within the program's various formats. Founded in Buenos Aires in 2014, R.A.R.O. has hosted more than 450 artists from different parts of the world. Since 2024, the program also operates in Bogotá (Colombia), where it has received more than 100 artists, curators, and researchers. Throughout its history, the program has consolidated alliances with various institutions to promote scholarship programs and strengthen artistic creation, the exchange of knowledge, and co-learning through short and long-term residencies. The R.A.R.O. proposal invites participants to work alongside artists, curators, managers, and researchers in a dynamic of itinerancy, dialogue, and collaboration, where each space in the network functions as a node for learning and experimentation. In addition to studio work, the program includes complementary activities such as visits to museums and both public and private collections, artist talks, field trips, and artwork clinics, broadening and deepening the experience of each residency.

Experience & Atmosphere

R.A.R.O. Bogotá is an international residency program that proposes an alternative model based on a broad network of studios and cultural spaces, rather than a single workspace. Through this collaborative structure, more than 28 local artists' studios and other interdependent cultural projects host residents and accompany their creative processes across the program's various formats. The R.A.R.O. proposal invites participants to work alongside artists, curators, cultural managers, and researchers in a dynamic of itinerancy, dialogue, and collaboration, where each space within the network functions as a node for learning and experimentation. In addition to studio work, the program includes complementary activities such as visits to museums and both public and private collections, artist talks, field trips, and artwork critiques (critiques/clinics), broadening and deepening the experience of each residency. The central element of R.A.R.O. Residencies is the opportunity to create, collaborate, and share with diverse creators within their own workspaces. Our decentralized and itinerant nature allows residents, during a specific period, to work in two or more artists' studios in Bogotá. The program is open to any technique, project, or conceptual interest, which can mutate and transform with each workshop utilized, allowing for broad multidisciplinary exploration. Thanks to the network of local studios that makes up the project, each resident has the freedom to choose the spaces in which to develop their production and undertake collaborative processes. The selection of these locations depends on the technical needs of the artist, their current creative pursuits, and the availability of the participating spaces. During their stay, residents not only expand their practice but also have the opportunity to showcase their work and build close ties with local artists, curators, collectors, and researchers, connecting organically with the city's art circuit. Likewise, the program invites participants to explore Bogotá and its surroundings, experiencing the city through its cultural dynamics, activities, and events. Currently, the program features three distinct residency formats: Macro-Residency (Full Immersion) This is the core, comprehensive R.A.R.O. experience. Lasting approximately 6 weeks, it is designed for artists seeking an extended stay to fully integrate into the local contemporary art ecosystem. Residents work across multiple host studios, participate in all complementary activities (curatorial visits, museum tours, artist talks, and critiques), and engage deeply with the city's cultural scene. The program concludes with a final group exhibition featuring all residents participating in that session. Micro-Residency (Focused Technical Production) A shorter, highly targeted format intended for creators who have specific technical requirements, tight timelines, or concise project goals. Instead of broad exploration, this format prioritizes direct studio immersion and technical execution in specific ateliers within the network, maximizing output within a condensed timeframe. Micro-Residency – A Isla (Retreat & Introspection) Unlike the city-based formats, A Isla takes place in a quiet setting on the outskirts of the city. It focuses on collective living, shared meals, movement practices, project mentorship, and open discussion. It provides artists, workshop leaders, and curators with dedicated time and space for group support, active listening, and conceptual reflection away from the urban rush.

Mission & Goals

We are an organization dedicated to driving artistic creation, reflection, and exchange through itinerant residencies, curatorial mentorship, artwork critique, and cultural management consultancy for local and international artists. We foster project development through research, publishing, educational and exhibition activities, and the building of collaborative networks between cultural spaces, collectives, and institutions, creating an environment of continuous learning and community integration.