Research-Based Artist Residencies: Academic & Archival Resources in Africa
The Research Turn in Contemporary Art Practice
Contemporary art increasingly embraces research as creative methodology. Artists investigate histories, excavate archives, conduct fieldwork, and engage scholarly frameworks as integral dimensions of their practice. This research turn reflects broader recognition that artistic knowledge production complements rather than simply illustrates academic inquiry.
African contexts offer particularly rich terrain for research-based practice. Colonial archives contain contested histories that artistic investigation can illuminate differently than conventional scholarship. Post-independence documentation captures transformations that shaped contemporary realities. Oral histories preserve knowledge that written records overlook. Cultural institutions hold collections whose significance extends beyond their current visibility.
How artist residencies in Africa can transform your creative career establishes the broader framework for professional development. For research-oriented artists specifically, African residencies provide access to materials, contexts, and intellectual communities that support practice impossible to develop from distant locations.
The artists who most effectively integrate research into their practice understand that artistic research differs from academic research in methodology, output, and purpose—while potentially achieving equal rigor and significance. African residencies can support development of distinctly artistic approaches to inquiry.
Why Africa for Research-Based Practice
African contexts present unique research opportunities that draw artists seeking materials and perspectives unavailable elsewhere.
Colonial and Post-Colonial Archives
Africa’s colonial history generated extensive documentation now housed in archives across the continent and in former colonial powers:
National archives in African countries preserve administrative records, correspondence, photographs, maps, and documentation from colonial and post-independence periods. These materials offer perspectives on African history that European archives may present differently.
Institutional archives at universities, museums, churches, and organizations hold materials specific to their domains—educational records, collection histories, missionary documentation, organizational papers.
Personal and family archives sometimes accessible through community connections contain private correspondence, photographs, and documents that institutional archives lack.
Contested histories documented in these archives invite artistic approaches that can address silences, contradictions, and alternative readings that conventional historiography may overlook.
African Art Historical Resources
Artists researching African art histories find essential resources on the continent:
Museum collections at institutions like the National Museum of African Art precursors, national museums across African countries, and university collections provide access to objects and their documentation.
Artist archives preserving materials from significant African artists—correspondence, sketches, photographs, records—enable research into artistic practices and networks.
Gallery records documenting exhibition histories, sales, and critical reception offer insight into how African contemporary art developed.
Critical and journalistic archives of art writing, reviews, and cultural commentary provide context for understanding artistic production.
Living Knowledge and Oral Traditions
Research in African contexts extends beyond written documents:
Oral history traditions preserve knowledge that written archives don’t capture. Artists can access histories, stories, and perspectives through conversation with elders, practitioners, and community members.
Living practitioners of traditional arts hold knowledge embedded in practice rather than recorded in documents. Research through apprenticeship or collaboration accesses this embodied knowledge.
Community memory about historical events, cultural practices, and local histories provides research material that official archives may contradict or omit.
Contemporary witness to ongoing social, political, and cultural transformations enables research into present realities alongside historical inquiry.
Types of Research-Focused Residencies
African residencies supporting research vary in their resources, structures, and approaches. Understanding these variations helps you select programs aligned with your research needs.
University-Affiliated Residencies
Some residencies operate in partnership with or proximity to academic institutions:
Campus-based programs at African universities provide access to libraries, archives, faculty expertise, and academic communities.
Research center affiliations connect residencies to specialized institutes focusing on particular topics—African studies, art history, social sciences, environmental research.
Faculty engagement at affiliated institutions may include formal or informal mentorship, critique, or collaboration with scholars whose expertise relates to your research.
Student interaction enables exchange with emerging African scholars and practitioners.
University affiliation doesn’t guarantee research support—investigate specific resources and relationships rather than assuming institutional connection provides everything you need.
Archive and Museum Partnerships
Residencies partnered with archives or museums offer direct research access:
In-house residencies at archives or museums provide intimate access to collections and staff expertise.
Partnership arrangements between residencies and nearby institutions may facilitate researcher access that general public doesn’t receive.
Curator and archivist engagement at partnered institutions can guide your research toward relevant materials and help you understand collection contexts.
Collection access may include materials not publicly displayed or catalogued, depending on partnership arrangements.
Independent Research Residencies
Some residencies support research without institutional partnership:
Research-friendly infrastructure including workspace, internet access, and practical support enables self-directed research.
Local knowledge from residency staff about archives, libraries, and resources in the area helps you identify research opportunities.
Flexible programming allowing you to structure time around research needs rather than production expectations.
Network connections to scholars, archivists, and researchers who might assist your work.
Field Research Residencies
Residencies supporting research beyond archives—in communities, environments, or sites:
Location-specific programs in areas of particular research interest provide access to places, communities, and phenomena you want to investigate.
Community research support through introductions, translation, and cultural guidance for research involving local populations.
Environmental research access for artists investigating ecological, geological, or geographical subjects.
Site-based investigation support for research focused on specific locations, structures, or landscapes.
Identifying Research Resources Before Arrival
Effective research residencies require preparation that identifies available resources and develops research strategies before arrival.
Archival Research Preparation
Before arriving for archival research:
Identify relevant archives through online catalogues, scholarly publications citing archival sources, and correspondence with archivists.
Research access procedures for archives you want to use. Some require advance permission, letters of introduction, or appointment scheduling.
Understand archive organization through finding aids, catalogues, and collection descriptions. Knowing how materials are organized enables efficient research.
Identify key collections most relevant to your research rather than arriving without specific targets.
Contact archivists before arrival to discuss your research interests. They can suggest relevant materials and explain access procedures.
Prepare research questions specific enough to guide investigation but flexible enough to accommodate discoveries.
Library Resource Identification
For library-dependent research:
Identify libraries with relevant holdings—university libraries, national libraries, specialized collections, research institute libraries.
Check catalogues online where available to understand holdings before arrival.
Understand access procedures for outside researchers at academic or specialized libraries.
Identify interlibrary loan possibilities if needed materials exist at other institutions.
Research digital resources that might be accessible remotely, reducing pressure on physical library time.
Academic Community Mapping
For research benefiting from scholarly engagement:
Identify relevant scholars working on topics related to your research through publications, conference programs, and departmental websites.
Research academic departments at nearby universities whose expertise aligns with your interests.
Identify research centers focusing on relevant topics that might welcome visiting artist researchers.
Look for conferences or seminars scheduled during your residency that might provide engagement opportunities.
Prepare introduction materials explaining your practice and research interests for scholarly audiences.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo Artist-In-Residency Program
curator@nationalgallerybyo.co.zw
FEF Culture Créatrice d'Avenir Dance Residency - Bangui
animation_afbangui@yahoo.fr
Opera Village Africa Artist-in-residence Programme
festspielhaus@schlingensief.com
Conducting Research During Residency
Research during residency requires different approaches than studio practice. Understanding research methodologies helps you use residency time effectively.
Archival Research Methods
Effective archival research follows certain practices:
Begin with orientation to archive organization, procedures, and available finding aids before diving into materials.
Work systematically through collections rather than jumping randomly. Systematic approach prevents missing important materials.
Document thoroughly everything you examine—call numbers, box numbers, folder titles, dates, descriptions. Reconstruction later is difficult without thorough documentation.
Photograph permitted materials where archives allow, creating digital records for later review.
Take detailed notes on content, context, and your responses to materials. Notes made during examination capture observations that memory later loses.
Track dead ends as well as productive leads. Knowing what didn’t work prevents repeated effort and documents your research process.
Build archivist relationships through respectful engagement. Archivists can suggest materials you might not find independently.
Allow for serendipity while maintaining systematic approach. Unexpected discoveries often prove most valuable.
Oral History and Interview Research
Research involving people requires specific approaches:
Ethical preparation including understanding consent requirements, developing appropriate protocols, and considering how you’ll use and credit contributions.
Interview preparation developing questions, understanding cultural protocols for conversation, and researching interviewees’ backgrounds.
Recording practices for capturing interviews—audio, video, or notes—with appropriate permissions.
Translation arrangements if needed for interviews in languages you don’t speak fluently.
Relationship building before formal interviews, developing trust and understanding.
Follow-up processes for sharing results, checking accuracy, and maintaining relationships.
Cultural sensitivity for international artists in African residencies provides broader guidance applicable to research involving people and communities.
Field Research Approaches
Research conducted in places rather than archives:
Site documentation through photography, video, drawing, mapping, and written description.
Environmental observation recording conditions, changes, and phenomena over time.
Material collection where appropriate and permitted—samples, objects, specimens.
Spatial analysis understanding how places are organized, used, and experienced.
Historical layering investigating how sites have changed over time through visible evidence and supplementary research.
Integrating Research and Practice
Research during residency shouldn’t remain separate from creative work:
Regular reflection on how research findings connect to your artistic concerns.
Experimental responses to research materials—sketches, studies, trials—that begin translating research into practice.
Documentation of connections between specific research findings and creative ideas they generate.
Balance between research and making ensuring neither dominates entirely.
Regional Research Resources
Different African regions offer distinct research resources reflecting their specific histories and institutional development.
South African Research Infrastructure
South Africa offers the continent’s most developed research infrastructure:
National Archives of South Africa in Pretoria holds extensive colonial and post-colonial documentation.
University libraries at institutions like University of Cape Town, Wits, and Stellenbosch provide significant research resources.
Specialized archives including the Mayibuye Archives (anti-apartheid materials), SAHA (South African History Archive), and numerous others address specific topics.
Museum collections at institutions across the country include both art and broader cultural materials.
Cape Town and Johannesburg residencies benefit from proximity to major research institutions.
West African Research Resources
West African countries offer significant research resources:
National archives in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and other countries preserve colonial and post-independence documentation.
University libraries at institutions like University of Lagos, University of Ghana, and Cheikh Anta Diop University hold research materials.
Art-specific resources including gallery archives, artist papers, and critical documentation exist across the region.
Research institutes focusing on African studies, history, and culture provide specialized resources.
Lagos, Accra, and Dakar provide access to regional research infrastructure.
East African Research Contexts
East African research resources include:
Kenya National Archives and national archives in other East African countries.
University resources at University of Nairobi, Makerere University, University of Dar es Salaam, and other institutions.
Cultural institutions preserving materials related to East African art, history, and culture.
Research centers focusing on regional studies and specific topics.
Nairobi and Kampala residencies connect to East African research infrastructure.
North African Research Resources
North African countries offer distinct research contexts:
Egyptian archives and libraries include extensive historical documentation and one of Africa’s oldest national libraries.
Moroccan institutions preserve materials reflecting the country’s unique historical position.
French colonial documentation relating to North Africa exists both in the region and in French archives.
Islamic manuscript traditions preserved in libraries and private collections across the region.
Cairo and Marrakech residencies access North African research resources.
Navigating Access and Permissions
Research access in African contexts may involve challenges that preparation can mitigate.
Institutional Access
Gaining access to archives, libraries, and collections:
Letters of introduction from your home institution, residency program, or sponsoring organization may be required or helpful for accessing research institutions.
Researcher credentials demonstrating your legitimate research purpose help establish access. Artist researchers sometimes face skepticism from institutions oriented toward academic researchers.
Advance permission requests submitted before arrival allow time for institutional review and approval.
Local contacts who can vouch for you or facilitate introductions may smooth access negotiations.
Patience with bureaucracy as institutional processes may move slower than you hope.
Navigating Archival Restrictions
Archives may restrict access to certain materials:
Sensitive materials relating to recent events, living individuals, or national security may be closed or require special permission.
Condition restrictions may limit access to fragile materials.
Cataloguing limitations mean some materials may exist but not be findable through standard searches.
Staff capacity affects what assistance archives can provide.
Working around restrictions respectfully—understanding why restrictions exist while exploring legitimate alternatives.
Copyright and Reproduction Rights
Using archival and library materials in your work involves rights considerations:
Copyright status of materials you want to reproduce or reference.
Reproduction permissions required for publishing or exhibiting archival images or documents.
Citation and attribution requirements for materials you reference.
Fair use considerations that may apply to artistic use of archival materials.
Institutional policies on researcher use of materials.
Consult with archivists about reproduction rights and seek legal guidance for complex situations.
Research Ethics
Research involving people or sensitive materials requires ethical consideration:
Human subjects considerations for research involving interviews, oral history, or community engagement.
Sensitive historical materials addressing violence, trauma, or contested events deserve thoughtful handling.
Community consent for research affecting or representing specific communities.
Benefit sharing when research draws on community knowledge or cultural materials.
Representation responsibility for how you present research subjects and findings.
Research Resource Types
Understanding the range of resources available for research-based practice in Africa
Archives
Colonial and post-colonial records, institutional papers, photographic collections, and historical documentation.
- National archives
- University special collections
- Institutional records
- Artist and gallery archives
Libraries
Published materials, rare books, periodicals, and scholarly resources supporting contextual research.
- University libraries
- National libraries
- Research institute libraries
- Museum libraries
Oral Sources
Living memory, community knowledge, practitioner expertise, and contemporary witness.
- Elder interviews
- Practitioner knowledge
- Community memory
- Scholar consultations
Field Research
Site investigation, environmental observation, material collection, and place-based inquiry.
- Historical sites
- Landscape investigation
- Urban environments
- Cultural spaces
Research-to-Practice Workflow
1
Prepare
Identify resources, develop questions
2
Investigate
Conduct systematic research
3
Process
Analyze and reflect on findings
4
Translate
Transform into creative work
5
Document
Record process and outputs
Key insight: Effective research residencies require significant preparation before arrival. Identifying resources, securing access permissions, and developing research questions in advance maximizes productive time during residency.
Integrating Research into Creative Practice
Research produces raw material that creative practice transforms. Understanding this integration helps research serve artistic purposes.
From Research to Artwork
Research findings don’t automatically become art:
Interpretation and transformation convert research materials into artistic expression. Raw documents or data rarely work as art without creative intervention.
Selection and emphasis determine which research findings merit artistic attention and how prominently they feature.
Formal translation develops visual, material, or experiential languages for communicating research-derived content.
Audience consideration shapes how research-based work communicates to viewers who haven’t conducted the research themselves.
Balance between documentation and transformation determines whether work reads as research presentation or artistic interpretation.
Research-Based Practice Models
Artists integrate research into practice through various approaches:
Archive-based work that responds to, presents, or transforms archival materials.
Documentary practice that investigates and presents findings through artistic means.
Counter-narrative work that challenges or supplements official historical accounts.
Memory work addressing how histories are remembered, forgotten, or contested.
Site-specific investigation responding to particular places through research-informed intervention.
Collaborative research with scholars, communities, or other artists.
Documenting Your Research Process
Document your research alongside documenting your art:
Research journals recording what you investigated, what you found, and how you responded.
Source documentation enabling future reference to materials you examined.
Process notes tracking how research informed creative decisions.
Methodological reflection on your research approaches and their effectiveness.
This documentation supports artist statements, grant applications, and scholarly engagement with your work.
Presenting Research-Based Work
Research-based work often benefits from contextual information:
Supporting materials providing research context for viewers—texts, documentation, supplementary information.
Artist statements explaining research dimensions of the work.
Public programming including talks, discussions, or presentations that share research processes.
Publication of research findings alongside or separate from artistic output.
Consider how much context different audiences need and how to provide it without overwhelming the work itself.
Academic Engagement and Scholarly Context
Research-based practice can engage academic discourse, creating dialogue between artistic and scholarly inquiry.
Engaging with Scholars
Academic engagement can enrich research-based practice:
Consultation with experts whose scholarly knowledge informs your research.
Feedback from academics on your research findings and interpretations.
Collaboration with scholars on projects bridging artistic and academic approaches.
Conference participation presenting your work in academic contexts.
Publication in scholarly venues for research outputs with academic significance.
Positioning Artistic Research
Understanding how artistic research relates to academic research:
Distinct methodologies characterize artistic versus academic research, though both can be rigorous.
Different outputs emerge from artistic and academic research processes.
Complementary perspectives enable artistic research to address questions academic research cannot, and vice versa.
Legitimacy questions sometimes arise when artistic research engages academic domains—be prepared to articulate what artistic approaches offer.
Hybrid possibilities combining artistic and academic methods for integrated projects.
Contributing to Knowledge
Research-based practice can contribute to broader knowledge:
New perspectives on topics academic research addresses differently.
Public engagement making research accessible to non-academic audiences.
Creative interpretation offering understanding through artistic rather than scholarly means.
Archival activation bringing attention to overlooked materials.
Counter-narratives challenging dominant historical accounts.
Practical Considerations for Research Residencies
Research residencies involve practical considerations beyond typical residency preparation.
Time Allocation
Research residencies require time management:
Research time for archive visits, library work, interviews, and site investigation.
Processing time for reflecting on research findings and developing connections to practice.
Making time for creative work responding to research.
Writing time for documentation, notes, and any text-based outputs.
Balance considerations preventing research from consuming all available time, or vice versa.
Research often takes longer than anticipated—build flexibility into your planning.
Equipment and Materials
Research requires specific equipment:
Documentation tools including cameras, audio recorders, notebooks, and digital storage.
Computer resources for organizing, analyzing, and storing research materials.
Reference materials you might need during research—previous scholarship, contextual sources.
Creative materials for work responding to research.
Backup systems protecting research materials from loss.
Costs and Budgeting
Research residencies may involve costs beyond typical residency expenses:
Archive and library fees for access, reproduction, or copying services.
Translation costs for working with materials in unfamiliar languages.
Travel within your residency area to reach archives, libraries, or research sites.
Research assistance if you need help with aspects of research.
Permissions and rights fees for reproducing materials.
Self-funded artist residencies and budgeting addresses financial planning; add research-specific costs to your budgeting.
Language Considerations
Research in African contexts involves language complexities:
Archival languages including colonial languages (English, French, Portuguese, German) and African languages depending on document origins.
Translation needs for materials in languages you don’t read.
Interview languages for oral history or community research.
Academic contexts which may operate in particular languages.
Language and communication at African artist residencies addresses language considerations more broadly.
Post-Residency Research Continuation
Research begun during residency often continues afterward. Planning for this continuation enhances residency value.
Organizing Research Materials
Before leaving, organize materials for future access:
Digital organization with clear file naming, folder structures, and backup copies.
Physical materials properly stored and transported.
Documentation enabling you to locate and understand materials later.
Citation information for everything you might need to reference.
Contact information for archivists, scholars, and others you might need to reach.
Remote Research Possibilities
Some research can continue remotely:
Digitized materials accessible online from major archives.
Interlibrary loan for books and articles.
Email correspondence with contacts made during residency.
Database access through institutional affiliations.
Follow-up requests to archives for additional materials.
Return Research Visits
Significant research projects may require return visits:
Follow-up questions emerging from initial research.
Additional materials identified through analysis of initial findings.
Verification of interpretations or findings.
Continued relationships with research contacts.
Plan initial residency knowing that return may be necessary, and build relationships accordingly.
Scholarly Outputs
Research conducted during residency may support scholarly publication:
Academic articles presenting research findings.
Catalogue essays contextualizing your artistic work.
Book projects emerging from extensive research.
Conference presentations sharing research with scholarly communities.
Consider what scholarly outputs might emerge from your research and plan documentation accordingly.
Ethical Considerations in Research-Based Practice
Research in African contexts involves ethical dimensions requiring thoughtful attention.
Decolonizing Research Approaches
Research in formerly colonized contexts invites reflection on research methodologies themselves:
Colonial research legacies shaped how African subjects have been studied and represented. Awareness of these legacies informs more ethical contemporary practice.
Power dynamics between international researchers and African subjects deserve acknowledgment and navigation.
Local knowledge validation recognizes that communities possess knowledge deserving respect alongside archival or academic sources.
Collaborative methodologies that involve African partners in research design and execution rather than treating them only as subjects or sources.
Benefit distribution ensuring research outcomes benefit African communities and institutions, not just external researchers.
Representing African Histories
How you present research findings carries ethical weight:
Accuracy and nuance in representing complex historical realities.
Multiple perspectives acknowledging contested interpretations.
Community voice including African perspectives rather than only external interpretation.
Avoiding stereotypes that reduce complex realities to simple narratives.
Contextual sensitivity understanding how certain representations may affect communities.
Archival Ethics
Working with archives involves specific ethical considerations:
Sensitive materials involving personal information, traumatic events, or ongoing conflicts deserve careful handling.
Privacy concerns for individuals documented in archives, particularly recent materials.
Institutional relationships respecting archive staff and procedures.
Contribution back to archives through sharing findings, corrections, or supplementary materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need academic credentials to access African archives and research institutions? Requirements vary by institution. Many archives welcome independent researchers including artists, though some may prefer or require academic affiliation. Letters of introduction from your residency program, home institution, or recognized scholars can help establish legitimacy. Be prepared to explain your research purposes clearly and demonstrate serious intent.
How do I find materials in uncatalogued or poorly catalogued archives? Work closely with archivists who know collections better than any catalogue can convey. Explain your research interests broadly so they can suggest relevant materials. Allow time for exploration beyond targeted searching. Accept that some materials may be unfindable without comprehensive cataloguing, and document what you can access.
What if my research reveals information that communities might find sensitive or painful? Handle such discoveries with care. Consider consulting with community members or relevant scholars before incorporating sensitive materials into public work. Recognize that some findings may be better addressed through scholarship than art, or may require significant contextual framing. Your responsibility to accuracy doesn’t override responsibility to affected communities.
How do I balance research with studio production during residency? Establish clear time allocation before residency begins, recognizing that research often expands beyond expectations. Consider whether your primary purpose is research (with creative response developing later) or immediate artistic production (with research supporting it). Build in flexibility while protecting time for both activities. Some artists separate research and production into different residency phases.
Can I conduct research if I don’t speak local languages? Yes, though language limitations affect what research is possible. Focus on materials in languages you read, work with translators for interviews or untranslated documents, and accept that some research avenues will be closed to you. Language learning before or during residency expands your research possibilities.
How do I handle copyright for archival materials I want to incorporate in my work? Research copyright status of materials you want to use. Many older materials may be in public domain; more recent materials likely have copyright protection. Seek reproduction permissions from archives and copyright holders. Consider how fair use provisions might apply to artistic transformation of archival materials. Consult legal expertise for complex situations.
What if I can’t finish my research during residency? Plan from the beginning for research that may extend beyond residency. Document thoroughly so you can continue remotely or during return visits. Build relationships that enable ongoing access. Accept that significant research projects often span multiple trips or years. Your residency may initiate rather than complete your research engagement.
How do I present research-based work to audiences unfamiliar with my research topic? Develop contextual materials—texts, talks, supplementary documentation—that provide necessary background without overwhelming the work. Consider what minimum context viewers need versus what enriches but isn’t essential. Test presentations with audiences unfamiliar with your topic to gauge comprehension. Accept that some nuance may not survive translation for general audiences.