Trusted by cultural organisations running residencies worldwide:
Portfolios presented the way artists intended
Artists spend weeks preparing portfolios. Then email attachments compress their images and cap their video at 25MB. On Zealous, artists upload images with lossless compression, video up to 4GB, audio, and documents. Your selection panel sees the work as it was meant to be seen.
Panel members in five countries, one selection process
Your selection panel shouldn‘t need to be in the same room, or even the same time zone.
Each panel member logs in when it suits them, reviews on any device, and picks up exactly where they left off. Real-time progress tracking shows you who‘s finished and who needs a nudge.
Learn more about how to structure your selection rounds across distributed panels.
We were able to deal efficiently with a much higher number of submissions than anticipated. We will use Zealous again and would certainly recommend them to other organisations.
Jane Hackett, Project Director
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Anonymous first-round review to reduce bias
Residency programmes committed to equity need more than good intentions. They need process design that supports those goals.
Toggle anonymous mode and artist names, bios, and personal details are hidden automatically during initial review. Your panel evaluates the work, not the CV. Turn it off for later rounds when context matters.
Read our guide on automating without losing the human touch in your selection process.
We’ve had around 5,000 users submit through Zealous and very rarely hear about any problems or complaints.
Matt Freidson, Deputy Director
Creative Future
Spring cycle, autumn cycle. One subscription for both
Many residencies run multiple cycles a year, sometimes with different themes, different panels, and different deadlines. Rebuilding your application process from scratch each time is painful and error-prone.
Clone your previous programme in a few clicks. Update the brief, swap in new panel members, and launch. Every plan includes unlimited programmes, so you can run as many cycles as you need.
See how to plan your programme timeline in our lifecycle planning guide.
Fair, auditable, and defensible selections
When artists invest time in applications, they deserve a process they can trust. Criteria-based evaluation with configurable score ranges means every panel member assesses on the same terms. Full score histories, comments, and round-by-round records give you an audit trail if anyone asks how decisions were made.
Artists applying from different backgrounds and geographies deserve the same consideration. Anonymous review hides names and bios so your panel responds to the portfolio, not the CV. Scoring records across every round give you a clear account of how selections were made.
Your data is protected throughout. See our security overview for details.
Zealous has been a dream. It has all the features we need (and some we didn’t know we needed!). We received our highest number of submissions too, an increase of 22%!
Laura Evans, Communications & Audience Development Manager
UK New Artists
Evaluation modes built for how residency panels actually work
Choose the right approach for each stage of your selection process, from initial screening to final decisions.
It’s been a pleasure to work with Zealous. The system is easy to use and intuitive for participants, judges and administrators. The dashboard allowed me to quickly manage the entire process.
Paola Lucente, Director
Procreate Project
Less admin, more studio visits
You didn‘t start running a residency programme to spend your days chasing email attachments and merging spreadsheets. Here‘s how Zealous gives you that time back, so you can focus on supporting artists.
Why organisations move their residency selection to Zealous
Run your next residency with less friction
Join 500+ organisations already managing their programmes on Zealous.
- Cancel anytime. Monthly billing, no lock-ins, no guilt trips.
- 20 free applications to test everything before committing.
- Launch in under an hour with ready-made residency templates.
Your full residency programme lifecycle
Before launch
- Set up your branded programme page with logo and residency details
- Build application forms with portfolio upload fields and proposal prompts
- Clone a previous edition and update the brief for the new cycle
- Invite selection panel members and assign them to review rounds
- Create bespoke trackable links for outreach across different channels
Entries open
- Artists upload portfolios with images, video, audio, and documents
- Auto-save lets applicants return and continue across devices
- Monitor submission numbers in real time on your dashboard
- Issue late-comer links for invited artists who need extra time
Judging rounds
- Run anonymous first-round review with artist identities hidden
- Panel members score on criteria-based rubrics at their own pace
- Track reviewer progress and send automated reminders to stragglers
- Move longlisted artists into a shortlist round with new criteria
- Panel members comment on applications and compare work in separate tabs
Results and legacy
- Control when and which round results are published
- Send branded notification emails to selected and waitlisted artists
- Export all scores, comments, and application data for reporting
- Publish a gallery of selected residents from submission content automatically
- Archive the edition and start setting up the next cycle
Frequently Asked Questions
What is artist residency management software?
It‘s a platform that handles the full lifecycle of your residency programme: collecting applications with rich media portfolios, running structured selection rounds with your panel, and communicating results. Instead of juggling email, file-sharing services, and spreadsheets, everything lives in one place. See how it works in a quick two-minute tour.
Can artists upload high-resolution images and large video files?
Yes. Images are stored with lossless compression, so what the artist uploads is exactly what your panel sees. Video files up to 4GB are supported, along with audio, documents, and embedded content from Vimeo, YouTube, and SoundCloud. There‘s no limit on the number of files per application.
How does anonymous review work for residency applications?
When you enable anonymous mode for a round, artist names, bios, and any identifying details are hidden automatically from your selection panel. Panel members see only the portfolio and proposal. You can turn anonymity off in later rounds when context about the artist‘s practice becomes relevant.
Can panel members in different countries review at different times?
Absolutely. Panel members log in whenever suits them, from any device. Auto-resume drops them back at the exact application they last viewed. You track everyone‘s progress on your dashboard and can send automated reminders to anyone who hasn‘t finished.
How do we set up evaluation criteria for our selection panel?
You define your own criteria and set a score range for each. For example, artistic merit out of 20, project feasibility out of 10, engagement with context out of 15. Every panel member scores against the same criteria, so evaluations are consistent and comparable. Read more about managing your submissions and selection process.
Can we run multiple selection rounds with different reviewers?
Yes. Set up as many rounds as you need, from initial screening through to shortlist and final interview stage. Each round can have its own panel members, its own criteria, and its own timeline. Artists progress through rounds based on your selections.
We run two or three residency cycles a year. How does that work?
Clone your previous programme in a few clicks, update the brief and deadlines, and launch. Every Zealous plan includes unlimited programmes, so spring, autumn, and thematic open calls all sit under one subscription. Past editions stay archived, building your programme‘s public history.
How quickly can we launch our first open call?
Most organisations go live within 48 hours. Sign-up takes two minutes, and you can start from a template or build your own form. Your first 20 applications are free on paid plans, so you can test the full workflow before your call goes public.
What does Zealous cost for a residency programme?
Pricing is based on submission volume, not the number of programmes you run. Plans bill monthly with no annual lock-in, and there‘s a 33% discount if you choose annual billing (as of April 2026). No setup fees, no onboarding costs. See pricing for full details.
How quickly can we get help if something goes wrong?
Unlimited support is included on every plan at no extra cost. Live chat is available during UK business hours, and the team offers a free pre-launch review of your programme before you go live. Most questions are resolved the same day.
Can we manage waitlists when selected artists decline a place?
Yes. Your scored and ranked shortlist stays intact after results go out. If a selected artist declines, you can offer the place to the next artist on your list and notify them directly through the platform. Staged result announcements let you control exactly when and what you publish.
