» City of Roanoke Artists in Residence

THIS CALL CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY, MARCH 31

To demonstrate the role of creativity, innovation and arts-based citizen engagement in addressing tough community challenges and improving the lives of residents, the Roanoke Arts Commission (RAC) seeks ten (10) City of Roanoke Artists in Residence to engage in a year-long effort of inquiry, community learning, project development and implementation.

This effort is part of the Roanoke’s YEAR of the ARTIST (YOTA!), and is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Roanoke. 

Interested artists are encouraged to take part in the Roanoke Artists Network, a learning community forming through the Year of the Artist to support and grow community arts efforts as a component of individual arts practices. Register for the network and watch past meetings here.

Artists are not required to be residents of the City of Roanoke; however, as indicated through written responses, selected artists will have demonstrated strong professional and civic ties to the city, and artists who live in neighborhoods engaged in the projects will have an advantage for those positions. Artists must be 18 years of age or older.

Selected artists will receive a $500 monthly stipend for a period of one year to participate as a member of the artist in residence cohort. Artists will have access to a minimum of $3,000 in project implementation funds and will be expected to develop and implement a project after a period of inquiry and exploration.

Submissions via online interest form are due by MIDNIGHT, Thursday March 31.

APPLICATION TIMELINE 

March 10                       Opportunities announced
March 31, Midnight      Applications Due
April 1                             Application packets out to panels
April 4 – 8                       Artist interviews with selection panels
Apr. 15                            Artist notification pending City approval

ARTIST SELECTION

Artists will be selected by a panel of qualified volunteers who will assess 

• artistic excellence and merit, 
• community-mindedness, 
• potential to engage with a sense of inquiry,
• willingness to participate in and contribute to a learning community,
• a demonstrated ability to work in a team,
• potential to deliver a quality product.  

As selected artists will represent the creative energies and valuable potential civic contributions of ALL residents, the RAC is committed to engaging a range of artists, diverse in every way. 

We expect that artists will be notified by April 15. It is anticipated that the cohort’s work will begin in mid-June, with assigned reading and individual preparation prior. Interested artists are encouraged to participate in ongoing YOTA training and educational sessions sponsored by the Roanoke Arts Commission.

Learn more about this project and other YEAR OF THE ARTIST activities at www.roanokearts.org/YOTA.  

If you have trouble with this form, contact douglas.jackson@roanokeva.gov or 540-853-5652.

PROJECT TIMELINE

While each residency will have it’s own particular timeline, our rough goal for the process is as follows:

June – August 22            Cohort training launch and listening period
August-Sep                      Artist-led stakeholder meetings & project development
September                      Project approval
October ’22- May ’23       Project Implementation
June                                Network Report, Feedback and Next Steps (Internal)
June                                Community Report and video out