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!