We’re pumped (excited, jazzed, amped, very happy) to announce the expansion of our artist in residence program. For the coming year (2023-2024) we’re including seven emerging artists.
The application is open now!!! Applications are due at midnight June 12. But what’s an emerging artist, and how will all of this work? We’re answering these burning questions and more below. Encourage someone you know to consider undertaking this adventure with us.
What’s an artist in residence?
For this program, an artist in residence is someone who aligns their creativity and creative process with our city goals. We’ll be working together and learning together for a year.
For this program, artists don’t apply with a project, but rather with their curiosity and their belief that together we can make a difference in the community around us.
What’s an emerging artist in residence?
There’s not always a clear path for community engagement. How do we each apply our skills and talents in the world around us? Well, the answer is different for each of us.
We believe that there are lots of untapped people and skills surrounding us. We have what we need right here to make our community a better place. We want to demonstrate this with artists who have not engaged in community projects yet, but who want to build that practice as part of their artistic work. Emerging doesn’t necessarily mean young, but our emerging artists can be as young as 18. A recent high school graduate pursuing the arts as part of their path, living in the community, and possibly taking classes at Virginia Western would be a great fit. So would an established artist who is comfortable with their studio practice but wants to try applying some of those lessons out in the community.
Is this just for visual artists? What if I can’t draw?
That’s a great question! The arts are a really broad category and we hope to have artists involved in the performing arts like dance and drama, literary arts like poets and creative writers, dramatic arts like directors and actors, musical artists such as composers and performers, and visual artist like painters, sculptors and graphic designers, culture bearers who engage in traditional arts to help preserve, communicate, and engage others with the arts, crafts, foods, and history of cultures are welcome as well.
It’s not what you produce, but the creative process you use to produce. That creative process can encourage the creativity in others and be applied to help our community meet its goals.
What if I don’t know how to do this?
By asking that question, you’ve opened the door to learning. We are learning everyday how to do this. We’ll have some discussions around relevant articles and speakers. We’ll connect with each other and learn from each other. But most of all we’ll learn by doing. We’ll get involved in City projects, neighborhood efforts, and the goals of some nonprofit partners, and by doing so we won’t say that we have the answers, but we are willing to explore the questions together.
What kind of projects will artists in residence take on?
While specific projects remain to be seen, we’re building on work that began in the Year of the Artist. Helping neighborhood teams prepare for next year’s Daisy Art Parade is one possibility. Another is helping community groups take advantage of art related opportunities, set goals, and meet those goals. Some artists will be helping new mural projects get going. Others will host networking and business education events. Some of the best projects, we’re sure we haven’t even begun to imagine yet. That’s what the artists will help us do!
I’ve got some experience as a community artist. Can I apply?
Please do apply! We are even asking our current artists in residence to apply again. No matter what your experience level is, we want to hear about your goals and how you see the program benefiting you. We want to know what you’re interested in this year.
How much does this gig pay?
This is not a full time job, but rather it provides a stipend to support a certain level of engagement and work. Consider it a side gig. It pays $7,500 for the year for returning artists in residence and $6,000 for emerging artists in residence. We’ll pay in four quarterly installments at the beginning of each quarter,
Can I put this on my resume?
Definitely. We think it’s really meaningful. If you are thinking of art school, exploring a career in arts, community development, or anything working with people, we think it will help.
What else do I have to do to qualify?
You will be considered part of our City team. In fact we’ll ask that you go through the volunteer process to be covered under City liability insurance. That includes a background check and drug screening. This does not include health insurance.
I want to learn more. Who can I talk to?
Feel free to reach out to Douglas Jackson with your questions at Douglas.jackson@roanokeva.gov or 540-853-5652. Also check out our current artists in residence. Feel free to ask them questions as well.
The Artist in Residence program is funded through the City’s Percent for Art program with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Good luck. Thanks for your interest!
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