2019 Application Workshop
MidwestArtistProjectServicesCo-Founders:BrigidFlynn&LizDeichmann
Providingartistconsultations,professionaldevelopmenteducation,andfiscalsponsorshipforartistprojectssince2012.
One-on-oneconsultationsonprojectorganizationandmanagement,marketing,fundraising,evaluation…andapplicationreviews!Scheduleyourconsultationbyvisitingmidwestarts.org
FiscalSponsorshipProgram:Allowsindividualartistprojectstoreceivegrantsandtax-deductibledonations,andprovidesbookkeepingandprojectmanagementassistance
ApplicationsOpenNow;Deadline:May28
Applyonlineatmidwestarts.orgUpcomingFiscalSponsorshipWorkshops:Saturday,March30 Wednesday,April1012:00-1:00pm 6:00-7:00pmUrbArts(2600N14thSt) IntersectArtsCenter
(3636TexasAvenue)
What We’ll Cover Today:
• PurposeofProgram• ApplicantQualifications• ReviewProcess:Whathappensafteryouhit“Send”
• SelectionCriteria:Whatarepanelistslookingfor?
• ApplicationComponents&WorkSamples
Purpose of GRB Exhibition & Award
• GreatRiversBiennialisacollaborativeexhibitionprogrampresentedbyCAMandGatewayFoundation.
• Thisinitiativeidentifiestalentedemergingandmid-careerartistsworkinginthegreaterSt.Louismetroarea,providesthemwithfinancialassistance,andelevatestheirprofileacrosstheMidwestandnationalartscommunities.
• Winnerswillreceiveagrantof$20,000andwillbefeaturedintheGreatRiversBiennial2020exhibitionatCAM
• Thisinitiativeidentifiestalentedemergingandmid-careerartistsworkinginthegreaterSt.Louismetroarea,providesthemwithfinancialassistance,andelevatestheirprofileacrosstheMidwestandnationalartscommunities.
Whatdoyoumeanby“emerging”?
Anyonecanapply!• Emerging≠“young”;• “mid-career”meansawiderange
Why should you apply?
• Becauseyoutakeyourartcareerseriously…andsodowe.
• Opportunities(anddeadlines)canbepromptstorealizeideas
• Getyourworkinfrontofnationalcurators–evenifyouaren’tselected
• OneoftheverybestopportunitiesavailableforSt.Louisartists
• Applicationmaterialscanberecycled!callforentry.org,submittable.com,etc.
“The Contemporary Art Museum of St. Louis brings in outside curators to select just three emerging or mid-career resident artists who have sent in applications and images of their work, and those who are picked each are permitted to fill one-third of the museum with their work. Each artist also receives an award of $20,000, supplied by the locally-based Gateway Foundation. The aim of this exhibition series is to celebrate and commemorate artists in St. Louis….Not long after Juan William Chavez was included in the 2008 CAM biennial, he was selected to be part of an international group exhibition at the Van Abbemuseum in the Netherlands, and in 2012 he was a recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship. ‘The CAM biennial has had a huge impact on my career and life,’ Chavez, who continues to live in St. Louis, said.”
http://observer.com/2017/03/most-important-art-biennials-whitney/
Application Timeline ApplicationdeadlineApril26,2019,midnightTensemi-finalistschosenJune2019StudiovisitsJune2019WinnersannouncedJuly2019ExhibitiononviewMay8–August16,2020
Eligibility Artistsworkingin: Drawing,filmandvideo,installation,mixed
media,painting,photography,printmaking, sculpture.
Residency: Applicantmustcurrentlyresideinthemetroarea,
includingSt.LouisCityandthecountiesofSt.Louis, Jefferson,andSt.CharlesinMissouriorSt.Clairand MadisoninIllinois.
ArtistmusthavelivedintheSt.Louisareaforat leastoneyearpriortotheapplicationdeadline. ArtistmustcontinuetoresideintheSt.Louismetro areaduringthedesignatedplanning,production, andexhibitionperiod(March2019–August2020).
April2018
August2020
Eligibility PastAwardees: Artistmaynothavepreviouslyreceived
aGreatRiversBiennialaward.Students: Artistmaybeadegree-seekinggraduatestudent.
Allotherstudentsareineligible.StudioVisit: Artistmustbeavailableforstudiovisitswiththe
jurorsJune20–21,2019,9:00am–7:00pm. Thejurorswillchoosetensemi-finalistswhowill receivethesevisits.Visitsmustbein-person,not byphoneorvideo. Alternativespacesmaybearrangedifartistdoes nothaveastudio.
Review Process • AftertheApril28deadlinehaspassed,applicationsarereviewedfor
eligibilityandcompleteness.Incompleteapplicationswillnotbejudged.
• Between150-200applicationsanticipated.
• Jurorswillreviewworksamplesandexhibitionproposals.CAMstaffisNOTapartofthisprocess.
• Worksamplesandapplicationmaterialsarereviewedandratedelectronically.
• Jurorswillselecttensemi-finalistsforstudiovisits.
• Jurorsconveneagainfollowingstudiovisitstoselectwinners.CAMstaffworkscloselywithartiststodevelopexhibitionplans.
JurorsJoséCarlosDiazistheChiefCuratoratTheAndyWarholMuseumandwasa2018fellowattheCenterforCuratorialLeadership(CCL).ChristopherY.LewistheNancyandFredPosesCuratorattheWhitneyMuseumofAmericanArt.LewoverseestheemergingartistprogramattheMuseumandwasco-curatorofthe2017WhitneyBiennial.AmandaRoss-Hohasexhibitedwidelyinmuseumsandgalleriesworldwide.HerworkisinthepermanentcollectionsoftheMuseumofContemporaryArt,LosAngeles;HenryArtGallery,Seattle;LosAngelesCountyMuseumofArt;andOrangeCountyMuseumofArt.
WhataretheGRBJurorslookingfor?
2018 Great Rivers Biennial Winners
AddoleyDzegede
2018 Great Rivers Biennial Winners
JacobStanley
2018 Great Rivers Biennial Winners
SarahPaulsen
Selection Criteria: What Are They Looking For?
• Workthatiscontributingtocontemporaryart;engagedinalargerartworldconversation;showsanawarenessofwhatishappeningincontemporaryartonaglobalscale
• Workthatshowsanintellectualapproach;thatisthoughtful;workthathasaconceptualroot;thathasacontextualmeaning
• Clearsenseofvision;anartistic“signature”
• OverallProfessionalismofApplication• Highquality,thoughtfullycuratedworksamples• Clear,concise,andintentionalwritinginartiststatement
andexhibitionproposal
• ExhibitionproposalthatisspecifictoCAMandtheGRB
What’s Happening in Contemporary Art?
• National:WhitneyBiennial,ProspectNewOrleans
• Local:CAMSTL,FloodPlain,Monaco,Luminary,SLAMCurrents,etc.,etc….
• Global:VeniceBiennale,Documenta
• Print&Online:Artforum,ArtinAmerica,Hyperallergic,Colossal,literallythousandsmore…
Application Components ArtistStatementDescribeyourartisticpracticein500words.Pleasepaycarefulattentiontomaterials,methodology,andintent.ProposalSubmitanexhibitionproposalthatoutlineswhatyouintendtocreateandexhibitinthe2020GreatRiversBiennialexhibition.500wordsmax.WorkSamplesUpload5imagesand/orvideo/soundfiles.Compositeimageswillnotbereviewed.ImageCreditsorShortDescriptionsIfapplicable,writeabriefcreditlineorshortdescriptionforeachimage,video,orsoundfileuploaded.ArtistCV/Resume
Application Requirement #1: • ArtistStatement
What is an Artist Statement? • Yourartiststatementisabriefdescriptionofyourworkthatprovidesthereaderwithinformationaboutyoursources,ideas,process,andinspiration.
• 2-3paragraphs(500wordsmax)
• Informsthevieweraboutthework,butdoesn’tneedtoexplainthework.• Use“artspeak”sparingly
• Supportsthework,butdoesn’tneedtoreplicatethework
• Considerupdatingyourartiststatementeverytimeyoucompleteanew,singularbodyofwork
Questions to start the writing process:
• Wheredoesthiscurrentbodyofworkfitinwithyouroveralldevelopmentasanartist?
• Whatmightviewerswanttoknowaboutyourworkthattheycan’tgetjustfromlooking?
• Wheredoesyourinspirationcomefrom?Aparticularpartofyourbackground,identity,orbiography?Somethinghistorical,orfrompopcultural?Orfromnature?
• Whataboutyourprocess,eithercreativeorconstructive,mightyourviewerfindinteresting?
• Whatmightbemeaningfulaboutthematerialsthatyouworkwith?
• Aneffectivestatementreachesoutandwelcomespeopletoyourart,nomatterhowlittleorhowmuchtheyknowaboutarttobeginwith;itneverexcludes.
• Give too little, not too much.
• Make"I"statementsratherthan"you"statements.Talkaboutwhatyourartdoesforyou,notwhatit'ssupposedtodototheviewers.
More Artist Statement Tips
• Useactivewords:explore,analyze,question,test,search,subvert,challenge,devise,discover,balance,connect,experiment,juxtapose,orconstruct.
• Stillneedhelpgettingstarted/gettingoutofyourhead?Scheduleastudiovisit!
Iamaclassicallytrainedvisualartistandprintmaker,andforthelast13yearsIhavebeenexploringtherelationshipbetweenpeopleandtheirbuiltenvironment.Myfirstinterventionsintheurbanlandscapetooktheformofwheat-pastingportraitstothewallsofcitiesaroundtheworld.Morerecently,Ihavebeenworkingcollaborativelythroughmynon-profitorganization,theHeliotropeFoundation.FocusingoncommunityrevitalizationinBraddock,Pennsylvania,NewOrleans,Louisiana,andHaiti,theseprojectssupportartists’place-basedinterventionsthatexplorehowcreativitycanpositivelyimpactcommunitiesintimesofcrisisandchange.
SampleArtistStatement: SWOON
ApplicationRequirement#2:• Submitanexhibitionproposalthatoutlineswhatyouintend
tocreateandexhibitintheGreatRiversBiennialexhibition.500wordsmax.
Exhibition Proposal: Concept
“Maketheworkthatyouwouldbemakingin10years”
YourexhibitionproposalisEXTREMELYimportant.Considerincluding:
• Basicdescriptionoftheproject(“elevatorspeech”)
• Whatwilltheviewerexperiencebelike?
• HowistheprojectspecifictoCAM/GreatRiversBiennial?
• Howdoesitcontributetotheglobalcontemporaryartconversation?
• Describehowtheprojectwouldspurthecreationofnewwork;takeyourworktothenextlevel?
Exhibition Proposal: Concept
• Focusmoreonsellingyourvisionthanonadetailedexplanation
Ifspaceallows…
• Whatwouldtheprojecttimelinebe?• ProjectBudget(verybasic,butreflectiveofawardamount)
Exhibition Proposal: Concept
Exhibition Proposal: Writing Prompts
• “Ifincludedinthe2020GreatRiversBiennial,Iwill….”
• Whatareyouinterestedinasanartist?Whatareyouexcitedaboutpursuing?
• Wheredoesthisprojectfitwithinthecontextofyourcareer?
• Howdoesyourworkorthisprojectrelatetothecontemporaryartworld,otherartists,yourbackground/interests/environment,etc?
• Doesyourprojectfittheambitionindicatedbythe$20,000award?(Notover,notdrasticallyunder?)DoesyourprojectfittheCAMgalleryspace?
• Youmayincludearenderingofyourproposedprojectaspartofyourworksamples
• Selectedartistswillberesponsibleforallproduction(supplies,materials,framing,work,shipping,gettingworktomuseum,etc.,etc.).
• CAMinstallationcrew(registrar,arthandlers,etc.)willworkcloselywiththemtoinstallinspace.
• Wallswillalreadybeconstructedandreadyforinstall.
Exhibition Proposal: Logistics
Uploads:
• ArtistCVorResume• 5WorkSampleImages
Your Artist Resume/CV/Bio:
• Doesnothavetobelong!• Isnotthebasisofyourgettingthis,oranyotheraward.• Shouldprovidecontextfor“whereyouare”in
yourartcareer.
• Shouldnotbetoolong(nomorethanthreepages)andshouldincludeart-careerorotherrelevantinfoonly
• Name/ContactInfo• Education(completeddegreesorprograms)• Exhibitions
• TitleofShow,Venue,City,State(Dates?)• SoloExhibitions,followedbyGroup
• Awards/Grants/Residencies• Bibliography• Collections• PublicCommissions,Festivals,Screenings,Performances• OtherProfessionalActivities(freelance,teaching,curating,
writing,etc.) • http://www.collegeart.org/guidelines/resume
Your Artist Resume/CV/Bio:
UploadingWorkSamples:
• Upload5images(jpg)orvideo/soundfiles(mp3,mp4,wav,mov,mpg).
• Imagesshouldbe300dpiand5incheswide.
• Labeleachimagewithanumberandyourlastandfirstname.Example:"1_SMITH_JOHN"
• Selectworksthatarenomorethanfiveyearsold,ifpossible.
• “DepthoverBreadth”:selectworksthatshowyourbesttalentsinonearea(medium,field,subject)
• “ClarityofVision”:curateyourworksamplestocreateacohesiveidentityforyourselfasanartisttothepanelists.
CuratingYourWorkSamples:
Basic Work Sample Tips: • QUALITYofworksamplesisoftheutmostimportance!
• High-resolutionimageisessential.Borrowacameraorfindaphotographerifnecessary.
• Placetheartworkonaneutralbackground(white,black,orgrey)witheven
lighting—noglaresordarkspots• Takeseveralimagestocapturethecorrectcolorintensityandblack/white
contract• Filltheframeascompletelyaspossiblewithoutcroppingedges• Removedistractingelementsfromtheframe,unlesstheyareapartofan
installation
Basic Work Sample Tips:
Forinstallations,performances,orinteractiveworks:• Makesureyourworksampleimagecapturesthedepthoffield
neededtounderstandthework;• Youmayneedtousemorethanoneworksampleimagetoshow
differentangles,oradetailimage.• Iftheworkisinteractive,includeanimageofviewerparticipation.• Forperformances,youmaywishtoincludeabriefdescriptionof
theperformance,andcontextualizethemomentweareseeing.
After the Announcement is Made
• Ifyoureceiveanaward:
• ArtistswillenterintoaprofessionalcontractwithCAM
• Artistswillbeassignedtoagallery(A,B,orC)byorganizingcuratorbasedontheirproposalandotherprojectsintheexhibition.
• Artistsmustmakethemselvesavailableforfollow-upstudiovisitswithcurator,PR,marketing,interviews,images,andrelateddetails.
• Artistsmightbeaskedtoengageinpublicprogramming,educationworkshops,tours,privateevents,paneldiscussions,artisttalks,etc.
• $20,000awardistaxableincome!Workwithaprofessionalregardingitemizingexpenses.
GOOD LUCK!