Chateau Orquevaux

I applied to an international artist’s residency six months ago, forgot I applied, was accepted, awarded a grant, and left in a lot of shock.

In 2024, I was going through that feeling all artists do. The one where they lie down for bed, then the issue of what they will do next, or with their lives at all, hits them like a bus. So I did some digging, looking into opportunities, and the Artist’s and Writer’s Residency at Chateau Orquevaux in France popped up. I thought it was lofty and probably impossible. So, naturally, I applied.

After all, the application was free, so there was no harm in practicing my application skills.

I finished up that application in one night, and even completed the section that included a grant designed for emerging artists. I went to bed, and it all left my brain because I put no stock in anything I had just done.

Imagine my surprise in 2025 when I got an acceptance letter for the residency and the grant. Imagine my parents’ surprise, considering I had never even told them I applied.

After a series of events that come with every case of impostor syndrome, including but not limited to: feeling like I should be embarrassed, considering the possibility of a phishing scam, and thinking I was an accidental acceptance, there came a point where I realized that none of this was true. Trust me, I emailed the poor program coordinator so many times, and made a sheer number of internet searches I won’t divulge, only to confirm my concerns were unfounded.

Now, after everything, I’ve accepted that I was wanted. Yes, despite the low acceptance rate and high international draw, which I only know about because I looked it up four times. This will not only be an amazing adventure for me, but it has already been a great lesson in practicing my own self-confidence.

I am a good maker. I earned this myself, and nobody can take that away. Even without the prestigious residency, I am talented, but I have to say, it certainly does serve as a good reminder.