Now accepting applications for residencies beginning September 1, 2021
Application Deadline: July 5, 2021
Media Requirements: Fiber, Clay, Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Wood
Length of Residency: 11 month residencies available; granting 2 residencies
Craft Alliance is located in the Delmar Maker District of St. Louis, a burgeoning active urban setting with a thriving arts community. Our Artist-in-Residence program supports emerging and mid-career artists in developing their artwork within a collaborative, community-based arts center. This residency is designed for self-directed artists that are focused on their studio practice and interested in gaining experience in arts administration and teaching. Resident artists are expected to be self-motivated and capable of working independently yet cooperatively in a professional studio setting.
Qualifications:
Resident artists should have already earned a BA, BFA, or MFA degree, and have a focus in clay, metals, fiber or wood. Applicants must be a United States citizen.
Emphasis on teaching:
Artists in residence have the opportunity to instruct in our studios and teach in Craft Alliance community engagement programs. Our education center offers evening, weekend, and daytime classes and workshops Artists work closely with the Education Director to develop their teaching skills.
Working with the community:
Craft Alliance encourages and supports artists interested in creating community-based public art, entrepreneurial craft training, and art education for communities throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Our Community Programs provide ample opportunity for artists to partner with schools, local cohorts, organizations, and businesses to develop unique collaborative projects, designed and implemented through social engagement. Focusing on the creative process, community programming demonstrates that community-based craft is a transformative vehicle for social change by empowering participants, transforming environments, and contributing to collective healing and development.
Commitment to professional development
Work Study Program:
Residents are required to work with our administrative team 10 hours per week in the Work Study Program, which is designed to give artists experience and insight into arts administration operations. Duties range from customer service in the gallery shop, and assistance with marketing, development, exhibitions, and education. Each resident works closely with the Deputy Director to balance both studio time and work study hours.
Professional Development Fund:
A professional development stipend of up to $500 will be provided to reimburse artists for outside conferences, entry fees, art fairs, and the like. The stipend must be used during the length of the residency, and pre-approval of expenditures is required.
Craft Alliance provides:
• A shared studio with a 6 foot table, chair, shelving unit, sink and air filter. Other equipment such as a potter’s wheel or metals workbench can be provided;
• Fully equipped studios for metals, clay, fiber, digital, and wood when classes are not in session;
• Classes and workshops free of charge during each session;
• A wide variety of teaching opportunities in studio classes and community programs;
• A monthly materials stipend of $250;
• Opportunity to sell artists’ work in the Gallery Shop;
• A group exhibition at the end of the residency cycle (July) in the gallery.
Artist obligations:
• Be in residency studio at least 20 hours per week;
• Complete 10 work study hours every week;
• Participate in all monthly Third Fridays, district-wide open house events;
• Participate in our annual gala and donate one piece to our silent auction.
Jury selection is based on:
• Does this artist present work of high quality?
• Does this artist show the ability, or have experience with, interacting with the public?
• Will this residency support this artist in their career development?
Finalists will be asked to interview with us, either in person or on Skype. Accepted artists will be notified at the end of July or early August; the residency begins September 1, 2021.
Financial Support:
Each residency studio is offered to the Artists-in-Residence free of charge, and all associated utilities are absorbed by Craft Alliance. Artists are responsible for their own housing and living expenses. There is a $250 monthly materials stipend offered in the Craft Alliance residency program. Residents are compensated for teaching based on their previous experience.
To Apply Please Submit the Following:
Complete the application form online:
You will be required to provide:
1. $20 application fee
2. Letter of intent explaining why you seek this residency.
3. Current resume
4. Artist statement (maximum 1 page) about the nature of your work and a one paragraph biography.
5. Three letters of recommendation (the letters may be sent separately; link will be provided)
6. Images of 10 recent works completed within the last two years
• Images should be JPEGs approx. 2000 x 1500 pixels at 72 dpi (no larger than 3MB). RAW and other formats will not be accepted.
• Each image should be labeled: lastname_firstname_#.jpg (example: Smith.Jane_02.jpg)
• An image list with titles, media, dimensions (height x width x depth) and date completed.
For any additional questions or further details, please email stefanie.kirkland@craftalliance.org