2024 Artist Residency
The Grand Center for Arts & Culture (GCAC) is a nonprofit community hub for arts and cultural experiences housed in the former Grand Hotel building. We provide the community with an art gallery, space for music practice, private artist studio spaces, an arts education area, and live performance spaces. Our mission is “to enrich community life through arts and cultural education and experiences; and support local artists by offering them opportunities to develop and demonstrate their artistry.”
GCAC is pleased to announce our artist residency program for calendar year 2024. We are inviting guest artists to apply for a residency with the opportunity to use our Cellar Press printmaking studios — letterpress, printmaking, and book arts — to create works of art or as an integral part of their artistic practice. Residencies last two – three weeks, and while artists are not required to live in New Ulm, they are expected to spend a significant amount of time in the studios gaining skills and producing work.
Applications are open August 18 – September 29, 2023.
BENEFITS
The Grand will host up to five artists for an individual two – three-week residency, between January 1 and December 31 2024. Benefits include:
- Materials Stipend
- Grand Membership: a $100 value
Includes all-hours access to GCAC’s letterpress studio (Cellar Press)
- Free lodging at The Grand Apartment (food not included)
- Stipend of $300 per week paid to individual artists
- Storage space for supplies and consumables
- Participation in the Artist Residency Gallery Show November 22 – December 20 2024
- Profiles in GCAC print and online communications
EXPECTATIONS
Artists-in-residence are expected to:
- Be early – mid-career artists and current residents of Minnesota.
- Have some technical skills in the medium they pursue (GCAC staff will introduce artists to the specifics of Cellar Press equipment and available materials, and artists will complete a virtual equipment training).
- Immerse themselves in a new or continuing body of work.
- Work independently in the GCAC Cellar Press studio.
- Lead a public (virtual and/or in-person) artist talk and/or works demonstration or other agreed upon community component. Examples include public demonstrations, and teaching a class on printing, printmaking, or book arts.
- Provide The Grand with at least two works produced during the residency for The Grand’s exclusive use.
- Maintain a safe and clean working area.
- Complete an exit interview upon the completion of the residency.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be actively engaged in an artistic practice with an interest in book arts, letterpress, papermaking, printmaking, etc. Artists are expected to spend significant time in the studios gaining skills, produce works (either as a part of exploration[s], limited series, or a cohesive body of work), and have a willingness to demonstrate their practice through informal and/or formal presentation.
Applicants must submit the following:
- Artist resume(3 page maximum).
- Artist statement or bio(approx. 300 words maximum).
- Project proposal(approx. 500 words maximum). Applicants are required to submit a realistic proposal that demonstrates their vision and how they will utilize GCAC studios and equipment.
- Community component proposal. Applicants are required to describe their ideas for a community outreach component of their proposal which meets the expectations outlined above.
- Eight – ten image samples. Applicants are required to submit no more than ten (10) image samples. The maximum file size is 10MB.
- 2024 Availability.
APPLICATION DEADLINE/Details
All materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 29, 2023
Artists will be contacted no later than November 1, 2023.
The earliest residency may begin in January (residency dates to be negotiated with artists).
GCAC STUDIOS AND EQUIPMENT
The Cellar Press and artist studios at The Grand are well equipped with state-of-the-art vintage and new press and other letterpress tools, including: an SP-15 Vandercook press (non-motorized), a Vandercook 215 (motorized inking), a Vandercook 1 proof press, Showcard and Linoscribe Presses, several small Platen presses, a 1938 Kluge, and a Takach 24’ by 36’ etching press. We also have a large collection of vintage metal and wood type as well as printing ink for use in the studio.
SELECTION PROCESS
Applications are reviewed, via blind evaluation, by a jury of GCAC staff and area artist professionals. Applicants are evaluated and selected based on the quality of the materials submitted, with the most weight given to the project proposal and work samples. Artists with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences are strongly encouraged to apply. We encourage artists that are BIPOC and LGBTQ+ to apply, as well as artists with disabilities. All artists will be notified no later than November 1, 2023.