Apply to the Residency

 

**Applications for the Public Art Residency are on hold due to COVID-19. Please keep in touch with us to be among the first to know when the application opens.

**Las aplicaciones de residencia de arte público están en espera debido a COVID-19. Manténgase en contacto con nosotros para enterarse primero cuando se abra la aplicación o lea sobre el Diario digital.

 
 
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What is this residency?

Engaging Collections will award North Carolina-based artists an average of $4,000 each to produce an initiative in partnership with a library, archive, or special collection (local history association, small local museum, unprocessed local archive, etc.). The Artists in Residence (AiRs) will produce free, accessible, creative public programming to amplify stories omitted by the dominant historical narrative. 

AiRs will collaborate with the regional archive, library, or special collection of their choice to locate and amplify an untold North Carolina legacy which will inspire and their art initiative.

Artists will be facilitated by Engaging Collections through mentorship, digital collections research assistance, programming support, and other aspects of their initiatives.

Please keep in touch if you would like to be informed of future opportunities.

 

Who is encouraged to apply?

Artists based in North Carolina who …

  • Identify as emerging or early-career

  • Experience geographic or socio-economic barriers 

  • Are without traditional points of entry such as gallery representation

  • Are LGBTQIA2S+, BIPOC, Queer, Non-binary, or identify as part of a historically underrepresented, marginalized or oppressed community

 

How much does the application cost? / How do I apply?

The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is free, and requests the following:
+ Artist bio, including name and pronouns (<150 words)
+ a way for us to see your work - website, Instagram, or a .pdf with images and descriptions of recent work
+ Letter of Intent briefly describing the idea for the initiative, the collaborative partner (library, archive, or special collection) and how you plan to work together. (<400 words)
+ Letter of Support from Collaborative Partner (library, archive, or special collection) (<400 words)
[we are happy to provide guidance or help with the process of building capacity with your intended Collaborative Partner and developing this Letter of Support - email us!]

Finalists from the RFQ will each be compensated to complete a full proposal, which will include a more detailed plan for the public artwork, programming, and a speculative “value-based” budget.

 

Is housing included?

Housing is not included.

Engaging Collections Residency is intended to build community where the AiRs already are. We use the term “residency” to emphasize that the artist is invited to conduct research, facilitate programming, and encourage community engagement by the host institution or organization for the duration of the program cycle.

We also use the term “residency” because residencies have become a standard expectation of status for emerging artists, and we want to contribute to the ongoing professional development of emerging artists by using terminology which fits the industry standard.

For more information about residencies, please see our FAQ.