FOUNDING STATEMENT: The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, Inc. was conceived by Candia Atwater as a means of providing alternative forms of positive expression for the youth of St. Croix.  Atwater, a prosecutor for the Department of Justice handling matters in Family Court saw the need to have a special place for children, and the larger community to create art in all forms. Atwater believes in the power of art to focus our youth on alternative forms of expression. She continues working with children and families and recognized the absence of a quality arts program to help stem the tide of rising violence and apathy.  She is also a collector of art, and from 1994 through now, is responsible for the publication of ISLAND ART & SOUL, a calendar of Caribbean artists and their work.  In 2003, CMCArts was given a home for the arts, and a community center.

LOCATION: CMCArts offers a venue for artists to work or teach and learn about “Caribbean Color”. Located in a beautiful historic building on the Frederiksted waterfront on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, we are blessed with an average temperature of 85° coupled with crystal clear, cool waters and a quiet working environment near the beach. St. Croix is a Territory of the United States, therefore no visas are necessary for US Residents. We have public transportation, 2 K-marts, several pharmacies, a public library near the museum, supermarkets, local markets and corner groceries. We also have Wendy’s, McDonalds, pizza parlors, excellent restaurants and Frederiksted is blessed with a wonderful, long established Vegan Restaurant within walking distance of the Museum Center.  St. Croix is known for a multitude of excellent restaurants.

ELIGIBILITY:  Residencies are open to Graduate apprentices, Graduate students, as well as professional artists – both emerging and mid-career. Working spaces and available tools are simple and suited to painters, writers, some 3-D artists, and some crafts persons.  Persons in Museum studies, Curators & Art Educators will also find the facilities amenable. Residencies are for 1week to 2 months.

FUNDING:  CMCArts is not heavily endowed at this point and so we encourage artists to assume responsibility for as much of their own funding as possible.  Apply to your regional Arts council, approach private foundations and patrons as well as the National Endowments for the Arts. We will partially fund some projects through the two Virgin Islands agencies which are our regional branches of NEA & Humanities Council.  We typically pick up the slack and do what we can to offer in-kind services and occasional stipends and honoraria on an individual basis.  We will work with you – INQUIRE!

CATEGORIES OF RESIDENCIES:  All three Resident-types are requested to volunteer for community involvement activities from the (below listed) Programs list. The degree of commitment to the community varies, depending upon the Residency category. Teaching artists are required to teach free children’s classes, paying artists are asked to have certain open studio hours as their community involvement, contributing artists pay less, but give more services, which they may choose based on, but not limited to, the included list.  In addition, Project descriptions are part of each Resident’s application process, even if an artist’s ”project” is the intention to produce a new body of work – or simply R&R to gain the inspiration to do so in the future.

Teaching Artist: Teaching artists will be provided lodging, studio and a fully equipped kitchen upon arrival; and will be responsible for their own meals and transportation.  Teaching artists are required to teach school age children as part of the community contribution for a minimum of 8 hrs. per week. The artist is also responsible for one lecture or artist-talk per week during his or her Residency. No other community contribution is required, although an exhibition is desirable, especially for longer residencies. The artist may choose to earn money by teaching adult classes at a rate of no more than $25.00 per in-class-hour for up to 12 class-hours per week. Airfare may be provided, pending grant availability. Duration of Residency will be from 1 to 2 months.  On rare occasions, a stipend may be available for teaching artists, but may not exceed the amount available through grant funding.

Paying [Open Studio] Artist: Flexible residency: Artist will pay a moderate rate for an efficiency apartment for a 1 to 2 week residency; longer residencies will be further discounted for one person. Each additional occupant will increase the rate.   A one-bedroom apartment is also available for couples or small groups – inquire for rates. Artists will be responsible for their own meals and transportation. In keeping with our service orientation, we do request that artists maintain at least some open studio hours.  A non-refundable deposit of either $150 to 250.00 will be required, depending on the length of the proposed stay.

Contributing Artist: The Contributing Artist will rent living and studio space on a sliding scale basis (to be discussed with the artist) subject to grant availability. This Residency requires community involvement, the form of which the artist may choose from the provided list. The Contributing Artist will choose a minimum of two community projects from the Programs (below) list. This Residency is designed to create a fair, flexible balance between community involvement and individual artistic development.

WHAT WE PROVIDE:
Besides housing, basic necessities and basic equipment, CMCArts provides a free and open working environment in which the Resident may interact with community members, local artists and Art Educators. Graduate Apprentices may have the opportunity to speak with or be evaluated by Master teachers and professional artists.

Studio and special equipment:  We provide two artists’ studios. Studio Dimensions:  Approx. 13ftL x 11ftW x 8ftH.  Space for painting is available as well as a wheel for throwing and a kiln. A writing desk, a drawing table and artist’s easel are also available. Artists are welcome to paint within the gallery spaces overlooking the water provided they take careful pre-cautionary measures to protect the space and to keep areas clean.

HOW TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCY
Provide CMCA with a proposal: The format should be:

1. Cover Letter
2. Abstract of the teaching/community project or open-studio artist’s goal and how it fits within CMCArts’ mission.
3. Dates for consideration of residency. September and October are not available because of hurricane season.
4. Estimated budget including cost of transportation and supplies (Teaching artist and contributing artist only)
5. Resume/CV
6. Photos (CD with jpeg images) and description of scope of works, Web address
7. Bring or mail well in advance your own supplies, tools and equipment required for your work.
8. Please be advised that all proposals need to be submitted at least 6 months prior to your residency date.
   
9. Copies of funding applied for or awarded by your choice of regional and private funding agencies and foundations, when applicable        

Prospective artists in residence may find this link helpful in finding funding sources to help in crafting their proposals. http://www.nea.gov/partner/state/SAA_RAO_list.html

CONTACT US: Please email proposals to info@cmca.org, fax to (340)772-2612 or mail to P.O. Box 1371 Frederiksted, VI 00841.

PROGRAMS: Please describe your own ideas or choose two or more of the following as your community contributions:

• Exhibition
• A 3 hour workshop
• A donation of a piece of artwork, selected by the Museum from 3 pieces selected by the artist.
• Classes
• Artist Talk(s)
• Visit Island schools
• Lecture(s)

OPEN STUDIO HOURS: We would very much appreciate artists to allow the public into their studios to see their creative processes in action.   The amount of hours the studio is opened to visitors will be determined in advance on an individual basis, so hours can be posted. Teaching artists are not expected to keep their studios open, but those who wish to would be much appreciated.