Call for VisArts Studio Fellowship 2020 – 2021

VisArts invites applications and proposals from local, national, and international artists for a six month Studio Fellowship at VisArts at Rockville. The Studio Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for a dynamic individual artist or collaborative artist team to create a new body of work, evolve an existing body of work, or develop a project in a stimulating, supportive environment. Studio space is provided free of charge. Artists receive a $500.00 per month stipend. The Studio Fellowship offers the gift of time and space to two artists and/or collaborative artist teams each year to experiment and realize new work. The VisArts Studio Fellows will present their work in solo exhibitions at the end of their respective fellowships.

Admission to the VisArts Studio Fellowship is highly selective, based on a review of applications by panels of artists and art professionals. Panelists include painters, sculptors, film and video artists, photographers, installation artists, inter-disciplinary artists, and independent curators. The admission panel is rotated regularly.

VisArts is an independent non-profit art center located in the heart of Rockville Town Square, a thriving gathering place for the local community. VisArts presents exhibitions of contemporary emerging and established artists in four galleries, an Emerging Curator Program, a Studio Artist Program, and an Art Education Program making it an active and important presence in the greater metropolitan arts community. Rockville offers easy access to public transit to Washington, D.C. via the Red Line Metro, an excellent bus system, bike trails, and parking.
The VisArts Studio Fellowship does not provide housing for artists. Please contact VisArts directly for resources regarding housing during the residency period.
Terms of Residency:

•  Qualified applicants are professional individual artists or collaborative artist teams over the   age of 18; the program is not designed for program is not designed for undergraduate students or commercial artists.
• Artists working in all media are welcome to apply, but VisArts cannot support the use of hazardous materials that require specific ventilation requirements.
• The studio may be used only for art-making activities.
• The VisArts Studio Fellow will be provided with a 169 square foot studio, free of charge, for a period of six months. Each studio is equipped with a sink, Wi-Fi connection and abundant natural light. Studio access is 24/7 except during special VisArts events (advance notice will be given). The artist must provide his/her own studio furniture.
• The VisArts Studio Fellow is responsible for maintaining the studio in a safe and reasonably tidy manner, and will not make alterations to the space without permission.  The artist must leave the studio in the state in which it was found and remove all belongings at the end of the fellowship.
• The VisArts Studio Fellow is responsible for acquisition, insurance, and care of his/her materials and equipment. Artists who wish to have kilns and other equipment that create additional electrical use must obtain permission for each piece of equipment that they wish to use in their studios.

The VisArts Studio Fellow will participate in the following:

• Work in the studio at VisArts for a minimum of 28 hours/week.
• VisArts Studio Fellows are expected to participate in the VisArts Studio Artist Program that meets monthly to share food, ideas, community, and professional development.
• Welcome the public during exhibition opening receptions or at scheduled Open Studio events.
• Attend artist talks and gallery opening receptions.
• Present an artist talk, workshop, screening, and/or other mutually agreed upon public event that engages the VisArts and greater Rockville communities and resources.
• Present a solo exhibition of work at VisArts.

Application and Selection Process
Required materials include:
Application Materials:

• Images:  Submit 10 images of work produced during the last four years. Work samples can be a combination of high resolution jpgs and time-based media (*up to 10 minutes total). *For collaborative teams, 10 images of collaborative work are required as well as a statement of the collaborative nature of the work. *Two minutes of video, film, sound or performance documentation = one work.  Artists may choose to include links to Vimeo or You Tube public accounts for time-based work samples.
• Image Requirements: You may submit up to 10 images. They must be in .jpg, .tiff, .png, or .gif file format. Minimum image resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Maximum file size 5MB per image. Files must be labeled in the following way: first name last name-title of artwork-1.ext, first name last name-title of artwork-2.ext, etc. The file number corresponds with the number on the list of works. (Ex. John Doe-Untitled-1.jpg)
• List of Works Form- Numbered list of artworks with the following information: artist name, title of artwork, year, dimensions, a description of artwork is optional.
• Resume/CV
• Artist Bio (200 word max.)- Third-person paragraph highlighting your professional achievements.
• Artist Statement (100 words max.)
• References- Provide contact information for two references who can address your work as an artist.
• Fellowship Proposal: 
  • Describe your goals for the fellowship, and how you might engage with the community or use community resources. You may include a drawing or representative images to help describe your specific proposal. (250 words max.)

   

• Please indicate preferred residency dates (first and second choice):

                        _____ June 5 – December 2, 2020
_____ December 4, 2020 – June 2, 2021

• $15 application fee

All applications will be reviewed by a panel of artists and arts professionals.
About VisArts
VisArts is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to transform individuals and communities through the visual arts. Our vision is a vibrant, diverse community enriched and connected by the visual arts.
Founded in 1987 as a grassroots organization serving local artists and located in the heart of Rockville, Maryland, VisArts has come a long way since our founding 30 years ago – from a staff of two to twelve; from a 12,000-square-foot garage space to a 25,000-square-foot hub of community engagement; and from welcoming 2,500 visitors per year to now more than 30,000 visitors annually.
We provide children, teens, and adults with opportunities to express their ideas, develop their talents, connect with others, and enrich their lives. Our strength is our ability to bring individuals together through a shared creative experience, fostering exposure to new perspectives, respect for each other, and a more connected community.
Submission: https://visarts.submittable.com/submit/153622/call-for-visarts-studio-fellowship-2020-2021