Artists in Residency

CMC Arts Residency Program Guidelines

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, as well as the larger island community to create and appreciate art in all forms. So she initiated a quality arts program to help stem the tide of rising violence and apathy by focusing our youth. 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 center for the community and a home for the arts.

LOCATION:

CMCArts offers a venue for artists to work, teach, exhibit and learn about “Caribbean Color”.

Beautiful, waterfront, historic building in small, seaside town of Frederiksted on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
average temperature of 85°
quiet working environment near the beach
no visas are necessary for US Residents.
2 newly renovated apartments with studios
public transportation to shopping centers
public library near the museum
local markets, shops and corner groceries
good restaurants, including a wonderful Vegan café nearby

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 & Historians will also find the facilities amenable.
Residencies are for 2 weeks 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.. Prospective artists may find this link resourceful for funding sources and for crafting their proposals. http://www.nea.gov/partner/state/SAA_RAO_list.html

CATEGORIES OF RESIDENCIES: Paying artists are asked to volunteer minimal open studio hours, and pay workspace & housing rental (as noted on the APPLICATION FORM.) Teaching/Contributing artists pay less, and give some services, which they may choose based on, but not limited to, the Programs list below.

Paying [Artist’s Retreat] Artist: Flexible residency: Artist will pay a moderate rate for an efficiency apartment. 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. 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/Contributing Artist: The Artist will rent living and studio space on a sliding scale basis (to be discussed with the artist.) This Residency is designed to create a fair, flexible balance between required community involvement and individual artistic development. The Teaching/Contributing Artist will choose a minimum of two community projects per week from the Programs list below.

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

Exhibition [negotiable]
donation of a piece of artwork,
1 free, 4 hr. children’s class/week,
1 Artist Talk/week
1 visit to island schools/week
1 lecture/week
1, 3 hr. paid adult workshop/week

WHAT WE PROVIDE:

housing,
free studio,
exhibit space & basic equipment,
beautiful free and open working environment
interaction with community members, local artists and Art Educators.
Promotions & refreshments for events

Studio and special equipment: 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.

Residency Cost
Description – Artists can choose between a 1-bedroom and an efficiency courtyard apartment. Both apartments include a separate studio, are newly renovated and located on the second floor of the Museum Center. Waterfront gallery/workspace is available at times.
Minimum Residency: 2 weeks Maximum length of stay: 2 months.

Please check the type of residency you are interested in.

Artist Retreat
Artist uses space as a sabbatical; contribution of artwork and time to either the Museum or community is voluntary. Exhibition is negotiable, depending upon nature & scope of work.

RATES per person
$100.00 for Efficiency ___ $150.00 for One bedroom ___

Contributing Artist Residency – (teaching and exhibition discounts are closed out until October ’09) You may apply for Fall of ’09 & later, or to a waiting list for the 08-09 season.
Reduced-priced housing and workspace fees are still available if artist makes non-teaching contributions to our community. See program list for specifics.

HOW TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCY
STEP ONE: Fill out the APPLICATION FORM. Submit one copy online and print one to include with your packet.
STEP TWO: Provide CMCA with a proposal: The format should be:

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

OPEN STUDIO HOURS: We appreciate artists who allow the public into their studios to see their creative processes in action. Open hours will be determined in advance on an individual basis, so they can be posted. Teaching artists are not expected to keep their studios open, but could!