Thiele’s Shop Cafe and Young WineMaker residencies have run since 2017 as an extension of the approach that The PaintBox has taken with Artist Residencies, the approach is parallel. The business model is that of a sponsored hire agreement where we cover 80% of the equipment and venue hire in exchange for social media promotions.

It has been a joy to see so many young entrepreneurs take off with their businesses over the years, notably Tom Oswald of Homeboy fame and Ivy ‘n Co. These young entrepreneurs have brought a lot back to our core business at The PaintBox and the benefits of a residency to our business can be described in 5 main points:

Creating community engagement:
Members of our community have a chance to be inspired by the creative energy and offerings made by up and coming talent. Community is important to our business , whether that means a focus on the local community or a gathering of the global, a residency program has been a potent way to achieve this goal.

Spotlight up-and-coming talent:
Young players bring a verve and energy to our business that can not reasonably be expected of an employee. For businesses, bringing in new and fledgling players is one way to cultivate talent, support the arts, and align themselves with tomorrow's most widely recognised trends.

Formatting new experiences for our existing customers and visitors alike by keeping the space fresh and exciting

Contributing to a more diverse society of makers and doers:
Of course, diversity, equity, and inclusion are important levers for most  residency programs today. It's smart practice for businesses in general to have a published statement about their diversity pillar, stating the aims of their culture, recruitment practices, and accessibility efforts. There are a lot of facets to diversity, and many businesses strive to differentiate their efforts in this domain. One way to do so is with a well-executed residency program that cultivates a diverse array of talent.

Becoming PR-worthy!
The final benefit of residencies is more like a bonus. By instituting a residency program at your business you avail your institution of potential positive public relations and marketing opportunities. An opportunity to gain good PR is a given, but it has to be anchored in real  work. If you are thinking of sponsoring a residency, beware the trap of touting your  residency before it's proven itself. Put together a program that is truly authentic and valuable to the community. Good PR will follow naturally!