The Rockefeller Brothers Fund will award its inaugural Parent Artist Residency at Pocantico to Marie B Gauthiez.
Artists need space, time, and support to pursue their vision, and residencies are among the greatest opportunities for artistic growth. Unfortunately, residency programs are often out of reach for parents because so few can accommodate young children and families, and parent artists can rarely leave their families for extended periods.
By Sarah Edkins
Published On June 26, 2025
The RBF designed its Parent Artist Residency program to meet the specific needs of working artists who are also parents. Selected artists receive three weeks of accommodation in a newly renovated private house at The Pocantico Center, exclusive use of a 900-square-foot studio space, and a $2,000 stipend to cover travel, groceries, and materials. The program also offers free enrollment at the nearby Tarrytown Arts Camp for up to three children for the full duration of the residency.
“The modern challenges to working parents are well-documented, but little has been done to address their distinct impact on independent artists,” said Elly Weisenberg Kelly, manager of public programs and residencies at Pocantico. “Through their artistic work, artists with children contribute to greater understanding of the human experience. At this turbulent moment, all of us in the arts need to join together to build networks and fill the gaps in support.”
Marie B Gauthiez’s large-scale multi-media work addresses the architecture of memory and identity. During her residency at Pocantico, she will engage with and respond to the estate’s historic homes, gardens, and collections, linking her own social narratives to the experiences of women within its historical landscapes. Gauthiez and her family will be in residence at Pocantico July 6—27, 2025.
“The prospect of having my family with me is an immense gift,” said Gauthiez. “I take great pride in exposing my curious and empathetic children to the realities of a creative life.”
The Parent Artist Residency at Pocantico was developed in partnership with the Hudson-based Interlude Artist Residency, which offers fully funded residencies throughout the year for artists who are parents. Interlude also works with alumni and others in the arts world to promote equitable residency practices.