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Apply for the Richmond Artist Residency Program

We’re excited to announce, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the second iteration of the Richmond Artist Residency program!

About the Residency: The Richmond Art Residency (RAR) will support an emerging or mid-career artist to pursue their creative work while also engaging with the community in Richmond. Residency activities include a dedicated studio space for 8-months, and opportunities to teach, exhibit, take classes, and learn best practices for community-based arts programming. The selected RAR artist will receive a $8,000 stipend, plus competitive hourly rates for any teaching time. 

If accepted, studio access hours will be determined based on facility operation hours. We recommend that the artist be prepared to commit at least 10-20 hours a week to get the most out of the program.

Program Overview:

  • Artist Stipend: $8,000 (plus hourly pay for any teaching time)
  • Duration of Residency: Eight months (October 2024 – May 2025)
  • Discipline: Visual Art
  • Facilities Access
    • Dedicated Studio: Light-filled 250 square foot private studio equipped with a worktable, storage, chair and sink
    • Communal studios: Access to RAC’s shared visual arts studios and equipment, including the painting studio, ceramics studio, textiles studio, printmaking studio, metals studio (during pre-approved times)

Eligibility / Who Should Apply: The residency is open to emerging, mid-career and underrepresented Bay Area artists who work in all visual art disciplines. Bilingual English/Spanish or English/Mandarin applicants, as well as applicants with a connection to Richmond, are especially encouraged to apply. A key tenet of the residency is for the artist to learn best practices for engaging with the community as artists and/or teaching artists, so we encourage artists with experience or strong interest in learning best practices in arts education to apply!

Residency Activities:

  • PRIVATE STUDIO / PERSONAL CREATIVE PRACTICE: The RAR artist will have access to a light-filled 250 square foot private studio equipped with a worktable, storage, chair and sink. The artist will have their own key and can access the studio during daylight hours. They also have access to RAC’s shared/communal visual arts studios and equipment (during pre-approved times).
  • COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT / TEACHING ACTIVITIES: With support from RAC program staff (Education and Exhibitions) the RAR artist will develop a community engagement strategy to lead art-making opportunities with the community.
  • STUDIO SKILL BUILDING: The RAR artist is invited to take classes at RAC to develop new skills and multidisciplinary practice. Studio focuses are Jewelry & Metal Arts, Printmaking, Ceramics, Fiber Art, Glass Arts and Painting/Drawing/Mixed Media. The RAR artist will have access to technical equipment and support in each studio from training Teaching Artists.
  • EXHIBITION / PUBLIC PROGRAM (OPTIONAL): Within the first quarter (2 months) of the residency the artist can determine if they would like to work towards an exhibition or public presentation of their work at RAC. The exhibition may include recent work or work made during the residency. The RAR artist is encouraged to invite community collaborators to participate if appropriate.

Application Review Process: A selection committee of community professionals and Richmond Art Center staff will review all applications based on the criteria: Artistic Merit, Community Connection, and Potential (to benefit from the residency). Finalist candidates will be invited to participate in short zoom meetings to discuss the residency opportunity. Selected candidate will be determined by the end of June 2024.

Contact us at admin@richmondartcenter.org with questions!

About Richmond Art Center: Richmond Art Center’s mission is to be a catalyst in Richmond for learning and living through art. Richmond Art Center has been sharing art and creating with community since 1936. Our programs encompass art classes, exhibitions and events at our facility in downtown Richmond, as well as off-site activities that bring free art making experiences to district schools and community partners.

*The deadline to apply for this residency is Friday, May 24, 2024. Unfortunately a flyer was printed with an incorrect deadline on it, we apologize if this has caused confusion. May 24 is the correct deadline. – RAC Staff, 3/1/24

Top Image: The Richmond Artist Residency was launched in 2022 with Liberación Gráfica as artists-in-residence.

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Richmond, CA 94804-1600

 

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