The Role of Artist Residency Programmes in Professional Development for Nigerian Visual Artists

Artist residency programmes provide structured time, space, and community for professional development, offering artists opportunities for focused creative production, peer exchange, and international exposure outside the demands of commercial practice. This study examines the role of artist residency programmes in the professional development of Nigerian visual artists, drawing on the experiences of artists who have participated in residencies both within Nigeria and abroad. Primary data are gathered from 45 artists through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews, complemented by case study analysis of three Nigerian residency programmes including the Yemisi Shyllon Museum residency in Lagos, the Ife Arte residency in Ile-Ife, and the Arthouse Foundation residency in Lagos. The study assesses the impact of residency participation on creative practice development, exhibition opportunities, professional networks, and commercial career trajectories. The theoretical framework draws on professional development theory, the social capital literature, and the creative career scholarship that has examined how institutional support structures shape artistic trajectories. The study examines whether residency opportunities are equitably distributed across Nigeria's geopolitical zones or concentrated in the South West, and what implications this geographic imbalance has for artists based in the North East and North Central zones. Recent literature on African artist residencies has identified funding sustainability and post-residency career support as critical gaps. Findings are expected to benefit residency programme directors, the National Council for Arts and Culture, and individual artists navigating professional development in Nigeria's creative sector. Keywords: artist residency, professional development, Nigerian artists, creative career, arts programming