The new year often arrives carrying a quiet expectation that we become someone new, set bold intentions, transform everything at once. But renewal doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s enough to pause, take stock, and allow small shifts to unfold naturally. This season can be less about reinvention and more about gentle realignment—keeping what still fits, releasing what doesn’t, and trusting that growth can happen without urgency.
Set on 600 forested acres in north Georgia, the Hambidge Center offers a self-directed, solitude-centered residency with private studios, small interdisciplinary cohorts, and communal vegetarian dinners—honoring time, nature, and creative process. Visit the website for more information. Deadlines are rolling.
The Factory on Willow is a historic 1904 Manchester mill reimagined as a vibrant mixed-use hub for artists, residents, entrepreneurs, and innovators, blending studios, housing, events, and creative community. Visit the website to learn about artist in residency opportunities. Deadlines are rolling.
South Arts’ Artist Creative Practice Grant offers up to $3,000 to support artists’ professional development and career milestones, expanding equitable access to growth opportunities across the region. Learn more at the website. Deadlines are rolling.
At its core, Praxis Center believes progress is built through consistency, care, and time. We support steady, sustainable growth by meeting people where they are and encouraging thoughtful development without pressure to overhaul everything at once. Renewal here is gradual, grounded, and lasting.
Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis Center for Aesthetics and is currently faculty at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. He has written seven books for artists, including Making it in the Art World. His seventh book, The Problems in the Art World: An Artist’s A-Z Action Guide, is available now.
Photo credit: Factory on Willow