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Topic: The perfect residency program
Replies: 6   Pages: 1   Last Post: Jan 5, 2004 11:45 PM by: Colin Rusch

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Alison Gerber

Posts: 10
From: Minneapolis
Registered: Aug 17, 2001
The perfect residency program
Posted: Jun 11, 2003 9:48 PM
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The task: design a perfect residency.
What would the physical spaces be like?
Of available resources, what percentages would be dedicated to: administration; stipends; workshops; promotions; etc etc
What would the benefits be for the artists? For the community?
How / to what extent would the artists become involved in the community?
How long would artists be granted residencies? How many artists would be hosted at one time?
How would artists in residence be selected?


Guest
My Ideal Residency Program
Posted: Jun 12, 2003 12:53 PM
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Duration: 1 year (with the option of less should the artist prefer)

Housing: Free for duration of residency

Monthy stipend: 500.00 - 1000.00

Staff: Director who works on site during the week acting as facilitator:
- answering questions "where can i get x material" where is the grocery etc
- developing exchanges between artists in residency and local institutions
- educating public about artists/artwork
- building community cohesion (in residency)

Selection process: the director chooses a curator for each term. This will increase the likelyhood of successfull interaction between participants.

Participants: up to 12 participants. Any more than this and it is too large to contain the benefits of a community.*

Space: each space would have a ground level work area/gallery space . . the space would have large windows on both the front of the building and the back hallway. Each space has a large loft as personal space. Each space would have basic kitchen and bathroom.

Common area: the hallways behind each space would lead to a common room with library, computer with internet access and a seating area with television, dvd/vcr.

Recource/Guest Book: each participant would be invited to record their experience in a guest book which could note rare resources (inexpensive material store, good places to eat etc).

- - -

* see evolutionary psychology and optimal social group size.
reference: "Grooming Gossip and the Evolution of Language" by Robin Dunbar

Helena Keeffe

Posts: 6
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Jun 10, 2003
Re: The perfect residency program
Posted: Jun 14, 2003 8:14 PM
  Reply

I agree with the conditions Jo responded with and would add a few things:
1) I think connections to institutions and local art communities would be crucial. This could include teaching classes/workshops or giving lectures at local Universities/Art Colleges/Art Organizations. I think something beyond a one time lecture would be best in order to allow artist-in-residence to build relationships, maybe it's a lecture followed by studio visits with students, or lunch with local artists.
2) It would be great if there were some kind of progression in the program. Maybe you start out as a resident artists and then have the option to return as a guest lecturer sometime after your residency...maybe even as the guest curator/selection panelist
3) I would be interested in working with other artists who had a relational practice and would like the staff/administration to work with me to find institutions/sites that were a good fit for my work, in otherwords, someone to help me network and get involved in the local flow.

Alison Gerber

Posts: 10
From: Minneapolis
Registered: Aug 17, 2001
Re: The perfect residency program
Posted: Jun 21, 2003 1:57 PM
  Reply

My perfect residency program?

Application: twice-yearly deadlines. Applications should include documentation of work (slides or prints), CV, and a short statement about plans for the time spent at the residency.

Eligibility: Professional artists in any discipline. Artists should not be full-time art students. Local and international artists may apply.

Duration: Applicants could choose between six-month, nine-month, and one-year residencies. Longer-term residencies would allow artists to become part of the community here.

Housing/Studio: Free for the duration of the residency. Housing developed as a live/work space. No workshops would be maintained by the residency program.

Studios: As many artists require studios to work, the residency program would work out relationships with local colleges and universities. For example, an artist wishing to use a wood shop would serve as a visiting artist at an art school, giving a public lecture and consulting with graduate students.

Stipend: approx. $600/month, paid monthly.

Number of residents: 4-10 at a given time, depending on the design of the physical space.

Physical Space: one building. A storefront/gallery which artists in residence could use to show work in progress, use as a gallery, and curate exhibitions. Behind / above the storefront would be apartments for residents, each with their own bath and kitchen. Behind / above the apartments an office space for an administrator and a common space for residents with a computer with internet access, a copy machine, etc. The space should be designed to give artists their own space in which to work, but to allow for interaction in a comfortable space.

Staff: One 3/4 time - full-time administrator. This administrator should be familiar with the area and its resources- should be able to give advice on how to get around, who to speak with to meet specific needs, how to get work done efficiently and cheaply (where to get photos printed, etc). This administrator would also be in charge of daily life in the residency (fixing toilets) and would manage the gallery and common spaces.

Selection of applicants: Administrator would choose a curator who would choose artists at each deadline. Curators could be from in or out of town, depending on the needs of the residency.

Guestbook: A single guestbook would be placed in the common area and residents would be encouraged to write their feelings about the residency as well as practical findings. Any practical findings left in the book would be archived and organized, and would be added to the residency's website as a resource guide for any artist working in the city.

Community relations: Monthly events at the residency (perhaps coinciding with gallery openings) would open up the space to the public and encourage interaction between residents and the local community. Some artists may want to initiate programs in the galleries or work with the public and they should be supported by the administrator.

Guest
Hostel Projects
Posted: Dec 17, 2003 11:38 AM
  Reply

Alison has started an interesting model for international residency exchange that she is developing called Hostel:

http://www.hostelprojects.com

Ray Rolfe

Posts: 3,263
From: Northeast Minneapolis
Registered: Sep 5, 2001
Re: Hostel Projects
Posted: Dec 17, 2003 6:17 PM
  Reply

I love that project. She sent a few buttons over to the soap staff before she left. They were in the office for a while but I've yet to see someone wearing one.
As for my perfect residency program... having never been involved in one (beyond my current free parking spot ) I couldn't say I would know where to begain. I do know there would be a substantial amount of extreemly advanced technology. And a lot of house plants for optimal oxygen levels as is conductive to creative thought.
The details you all have layed out look pretty advanced allready. Anyone would be thrilled and blessed to participate in something like that.

Message was edited by: Ray Rolfe at Dec 23, 2003 6:27 PM


Colin Rusch

Posts: 1,435
Registered: Oct 16, 2002
Re: Hostel Projects
Posted: Jan 5, 2004 11:45 PM
  Reply

This project reminds me of The Field's GoTour site. http://www.gotour.org/. Both are interesting models for networking and generating developing relationships with like minded artists while taking care of practical needs. Keep us posted on how things are developing Alison.

Colin

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