Kiwi Curated
When Hotel Becomes Art Studio
by Monika MarkovinovicNow more than ever, the world needs artists. They use their creative spirit to uplift and inspire us to find beauty around every corner. That’s why hotels are now inviting musicians, writers, painters and craftsmen to check in and get creative. These are the trendiest stays around the globe with artists-in-residence programs.
When Hotel Becomes Art Studio
Located beachside on Miami’s iconic Ocean Drive, The Betsy is a beloved gathering place for arts and culture with a curated arts program ranging from poetry readings to nightly live jazz. For visiting writers, there’s The Writer’s Room, a working studio to develop stories to share through the hotel’s community programs. Paying homage to writing rooms that existed in pre-war hotels, the room is home to a desk donated to The Betsy by the Hyam Plutzik Centennial Committee to commemorate the poet’s sojourn as a soldier in Florida during the 1940s on his way to war. A three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist before his death in 1962, Hyam Plutzik is the father of The Betsy Hotel owner, Jonathan Plutzik.
VIEW HOTELWhen Hotel Becomes Art Studio
On the rugged Atlantic coast, Fogo Island has long supported artistic exploration. Fogo Island Arts’ artist-in-residence program invites selected artists to the island to do research and present their work in exhibitions at the Fogo Island Gallery located within Fogo Island Inn. Artists engaged in a residency work out of one of four contemporary artists studios designed by architect Todd Saunders. Situated at various locations on the island, but not far from the hotel, each of the studios are distinct in design, anchored into the landscape by steel legs. Here, artists can work without distractions as the studios are completely off the grid.
VIEW HOTELWhen Hotel Becomes Art Studio
For centuries, travelers have been calling the small fishing village of Trancoso “paradise on earth.” This, of course, makes it the perfect place to create art. In honor of the area’s creative spirit, UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa created the Artist in Casa program. Creators from around the world stay at the pastel-colored hideaway while creating works inspired by the community. In UXUA’s small shop, Casa des Arts, guests can find work donated by each visiting artist. Recent artists have included Italian designer Mauro Zolin, who crafted the “Bahian Boom Box,” a Bose speaker hidden within a tree trunk.
VIEW HOTELWhen Hotel Becomes Art Studio
For decades, Conservatorium Hotel has attracted people with big imaginations. In the cultural heart of Amsterdam, this landmark heritage hotel plays host to Art Months, building long-term collaborations with local artists for its residence suites. The atmosphere of these suites is that of an Amsterdam apartment, with a balcony overlooking the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam’s world-renowned contemporary art museum. Recent collaborations include suites featuring work by Dutch talents like Jasper Krabbé and photographer Marie Cécile Thijs.
VIEW HOTELWhen Hotel Becomes Art Studio
Art, design and music are front and center at Hotel El Ganzo, a sanctuary for lovers of uniqueness in all its forms. Artists from around the globe are invited to the golden sands of Los Cabos to participate in the hotel’s artist-in-resident program, offering a week’s stay in exchange for their creative imprints in their room and across the property’s public spaces. That means Hotel El Ganzo is in a state of constant transformation, redefining itself with every new guest artist. It’s like vacationing in a mini art gallery.
VIEW HOTELWhen Hotel Becomes Art Studio
There’s something magical about this part of the world: maybe it’s the snow-covered pine trees, imposing mountain ranges or magnificent art. At the foot of Alberta’s majestic Rocky Mountains, Fairmont Banff Springs welcomes artists to immerse themselves in local culture with their artist-in-residence program with Mountain Galleries. Artists can work on their craft in a room with a view, overlooking the Bow River Valley and the Sanson Range. As for hotel guests, they can book half-day “experiences” with the artists and mingle with them at a cocktail-hour art demonstration. If artists seek other mountains, the program is also offered at Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
VIEW HOTELWhen Hotel Becomes Art Studio
When creating art, being close to nature is lovely but being directly in it is even lovelier. Jicaro Island Lodge, a part of The Cayuga Collection, has committed to economic sustainability with their artist-in-residence program, “Storyteller in Residence.” Creatives from a wide range of digital disciplines can work at this respite on a private island on Lake Nicaragua which offers storytellers a unique opportunity to connect their work with communities at the forefront of the sustainability movement. In order to help capture those important stories, residents are given a dedicated host and behind-the-scenes access to operations, staff, wildlife and local community projects.
VIEW HOTELWhen Hotel Becomes Art Studio
Located in Canada’s largest city, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto has witnessed a number of celebrities walk through their doors and many of them have been blown away by the work of the hotel’s artist-in-residence, Jacqueline Poirier. From Morgan Freeman to Al Pacino, the artist known as the “Crazy Plate Lady” hand-paints and customizes plates to be showcased at the property’s restaurant, TOCA. “Now this is my kind of dish!” George Clooney once said.
VIEW HOTELWhen Hotel Becomes Art Studio
Twice a month, Hotel Eden welcomes fashion illustrator Andrea Ferolla to capture the heart and soul of its boutique hotel, which has been standing since 1889, through his sketches. The hotel’s first artist-in-residence, the creative director and professor at the IED European Institute of Design creates a series of thoughtful observational drawings capturing the unique narrative of life at the hotel. From the warm gestures of hotel staff to the many stories that unfold as guests come and go from the Eternal City, Ferolla’s sketches are a warm display of la dolce vita.
VIEW HOTELWhen Hotel Becomes Art Studio
A place of history and romance, a visit to Sofitel Legend The Grand is a must for artists. The artist-in-residence program welcomes creators to stay for a week to work completely free, independent and undisturbed on a piece. The artists can also work anywhere within the hotel allowing them to observe, listen and maybe even interact with guests. Following the program, each artist’s work is displayed in a beautiful coffee-table book, with the originals exhibited at the end of the year in the hotel.
VIEW HOTELLocated beachside on Miami’s iconic Ocean Drive, The Betsy is a beloved gathering place for arts and culture with a curated arts program ranging from poetry readings to nightly live jazz. For visiting writers, there’s The Writer’s Room, a working studio to develop stories to share through the hotel’s community programs. Paying homage to writing rooms that existed in pre-war hotels, the room is home to a desk donated to The Betsy by the Hyam Plutzik Centennial Committee to commemorate the poet’s sojourn as a soldier in Florida during the 1940s on his way to war. A three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist before his death in 1962, Hyam Plutzik is the father of The Betsy Hotel owner, Jonathan Plutzik.
VIEW HOTELOn the rugged Atlantic coast, Fogo Island has long supported artistic exploration. Fogo Island Arts’ artist-in-residence program invites selected artists to the island to do research and present their work in exhibitions at the Fogo Island Gallery located within Fogo Island Inn. Artists engaged in a residency work out of one of four contemporary artists studios designed by architect Todd Saunders. Situated at various locations on the island, but not far from the hotel, each of the studios are distinct in design, anchored into the landscape by steel legs. Here, artists can work without distractions as the studios are completely off the grid.
VIEW HOTELFor centuries, travelers have been calling the small fishing village of Trancoso “paradise on earth.” This, of course, makes it the perfect place to create art. In honor of the area’s creative spirit, UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa created the Artist in Casa program. Creators from around the world stay at the pastel-colored hideaway while creating works inspired by the community. In UXUA’s small shop, Casa des Arts, guests can find work donated by each visiting artist. Recent artists have included Italian designer Mauro Zolin, who crafted the “Bahian Boom Box,” a Bose speaker hidden within a tree trunk.
VIEW HOTELFor decades, Conservatorium Hotel has attracted people with big imaginations. In the cultural heart of Amsterdam, this landmark heritage hotel plays host to Art Months, building long-term collaborations with local artists for its residence suites. The atmosphere of these suites is that of an Amsterdam apartment, with a balcony overlooking the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam’s world-renowned contemporary art museum. Recent collaborations include suites featuring work by Dutch talents like Jasper Krabbé and photographer Marie Cécile Thijs.
VIEW HOTELArt, design and music are front and center at Hotel El Ganzo, a sanctuary for lovers of uniqueness in all its forms. Artists from around the globe are invited to the golden sands of Los Cabos to participate in the hotel’s artist-in-resident program, offering a week’s stay in exchange for their creative imprints in their room and across the property’s public spaces. That means Hotel El Ganzo is in a state of constant transformation, redefining itself with every new guest artist. It’s like vacationing in a mini art gallery.
VIEW HOTELThere’s something magical about this part of the world: maybe it’s the snow-covered pine trees, imposing mountain ranges or magnificent art. At the foot of Alberta’s majestic Rocky Mountains, Fairmont Banff Springs welcomes artists to immerse themselves in local culture with their artist-in-residence program with Mountain Galleries. Artists can work on their craft in a room with a view, overlooking the Bow River Valley and the Sanson Range. As for hotel guests, they can book half-day “experiences” with the artists and mingle with them at a cocktail-hour art demonstration. If artists seek other mountains, the program is also offered at Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
VIEW HOTELWhen creating art, being close to nature is lovely but being directly in it is even lovelier. Jicaro Island Lodge, a part of The Cayuga Collection, has committed to economic sustainability with their artist-in-residence program, “Storyteller in Residence.” Creatives from a wide range of digital disciplines can work at this respite on a private island on Lake Nicaragua which offers storytellers a unique opportunity to connect their work with communities at the forefront of the sustainability movement. In order to help capture those important stories, residents are given a dedicated host and behind-the-scenes access to operations, staff, wildlife and local community projects.
VIEW HOTELLocated in Canada’s largest city, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto has witnessed a number of celebrities walk through their doors and many of them have been blown away by the work of the hotel’s artist-in-residence, Jacqueline Poirier. From Morgan Freeman to Al Pacino, the artist known as the “Crazy Plate Lady” hand-paints and customizes plates to be showcased at the property’s restaurant, TOCA. “Now this is my kind of dish!” George Clooney once said.
VIEW HOTELTwice a month, Hotel Eden welcomes fashion illustrator Andrea Ferolla to capture the heart and soul of its boutique hotel, which has been standing since 1889, through his sketches. The hotel’s first artist-in-residence, the creative director and professor at the IED European Institute of Design creates a series of thoughtful observational drawings capturing the unique narrative of life at the hotel. From the warm gestures of hotel staff to the many stories that unfold as guests come and go from the Eternal City, Ferolla’s sketches are a warm display of la dolce vita.
VIEW HOTELA place of history and romance, a visit to Sofitel Legend The Grand is a must for artists. The artist-in-residence program welcomes creators to stay for a week to work completely free, independent and undisturbed on a piece. The artists can also work anywhere within the hotel allowing them to observe, listen and maybe even interact with guests. Following the program, each artist’s work is displayed in a beautiful coffee-table book, with the originals exhibited at the end of the year in the hotel.
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