Open Call 2018 Bemis Center Artist-in-Residence Opportunities
Residency Session: September 19–November 16, 2018
Total Artists Selected: 9
Deadline: 11:59pm CST | December 15, 2017
Notifications to all applicants will be made via email by April 15, 2018.
Selected artists-in-residence enjoy generous sized, private live/work studios complete with kitchen and bathroom. Located in downtown Omaha’s historic Old Market, the Bemis Center’s 110,000 square foot facility accommodates a broad range of artistic activity. Artists-in-residence have 24-hour access to extensive installation and production spaces and the Okada Sculpture & Ceramics Facility, a 9,000 square foot industrial space used for large-scale sculpture fabrication. This independently driven atmosphere and communal environment encourage creative growth and experimentation to confront new challenges. This is a process-based residency; there is no expectation or promise of an exhibition in our first-floor galleries. Artists-in-residence receive a $750 monthly stipend to help with materials, supplies, and living expenses while in residency. An unrestricted $500 travel stipend is also provided.
History
Founded in 1981, by artists for artists, the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts provides a diversity of residency opportunities to work across conceptual, material, performative, and social practices. Bemis facilitates the development of material and intellectual interests and maintains an alumni program that further extends Bemis support. We offer artists-in-residence unmatched critical and technical guidance, access to assistants and interns, an established network of resources, and opportunities to engage in dialogue with Bemis Center communities.
Eligibility
Residency opportunities are open to national and international artists 21+ years of age, showing a strong professional working history. A variety of disciplines are accepted including, but not limited to, visual arts, media/new genre, performance, architecture, film/video, literature, interdisciplinary arts, music composition, and choreography.
Bemis alumni are allowed to re-apply for residency after three-year hiatus from the program. Alumni seeking residency must submit a complete application including recent work samples and current resume. Preference may be given to applicants who have not previously attended.
Students enrolled in an academic program during the time of the residency opportunity are not eligible to apply.
Small collaborative groups are eligible to apply. Please note, if selected, Bemis Center is only able to accommodate two members of a collaborative group to attend the residency and live on-site.
Bemis welcomes internationally based artists to apply. A working knowledge of English is helpful for international artists as an interpreter will not be provided.
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and disability. For special needs or questions about accessibility, please contact the Residency Program Manager.
Fees and Stipend
A $40USD non-refundable application fee is due at the time of application paid via credit card or by PayPal. Submission of applications is only accepted online through bemis.slideroom.com. Artists-in-residence receive a $750 monthly stipend and an additional $500 travel stipend. Bemis Center is not responsible for organizing artist’s travel to Omaha to attend the residency. Additional material supply stipends are not available.
Expectations and Opportunities
Artists are invited to participate in at least one opportunity for public presentation, such as our public Open House / Open Studios. Selected artists must attend a minimum of eight consecutive weeks to receive the award. Artists are not able to defer or reschedule if unable to attend the residency.
Application Review Process
SlideRoom will confirm receipt of your submitted application. Residency applications are reviewed each cycle by a rotating panel represented by arts professionals such as artists, curators, academics, and/or critics. The review process will take 10-12 weeks from the application deadline. Notifications to all applicants will be sent via email after the selection panel has made its final decision.
Apply online at bemis.slideroom.com.
Notifications to all applicants will be made via email on April 15, 2018.
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
- Your website
- Current phone number
- Current Email
- Current ZIP code
- Artistic Discipline
- Are you a collaborative?
- Date of birth
- During this open call residency, time is yours to use as your own. Although the Bemis Center does not request project completion, we ask that you please provide a brief description and statement about your creative and intellectual interests. If awarded, please tell us how you would like to use your time while at the Bemis Center. (500 words max)
- Based on your interests and residency goals previously mentioned, are there specific resources you may require while in residency necessary to your studio practice? (100 words)
- Current Resume: Please include a current resume. If you are a collaborative group, please include a combined resume reflecting previous work history and projects completed as a collaborative. List all collaborative members at the top of the resume. PDF format preferred.
- Provide two references: Please provide the name, email, phone number, and relationship for each of your references. Letters of recommendation are not required. References will be contacted by the Bemis Center during the review panel process.
Portfolio
- Images (up to 5MB each), Video (up to 250MB each), Audio (up to 30MB each), PDFs (up to 10MB each) and Models (Sketchfab)
- Please provide up to ten media samples of work completed within the past five years.
- Images should be sized no larger than 5MB each, .jpgs or .pdfs are preferred.
- Each time-based work sample should be up to five minutes in length or less.
- Text-based media samples should be submitted in .pdf format; 1500 words max or approximately one page in length, (i.e., one page is the equivalent of one media sample). Works-in-progress may be included; all samples must be submitted in English.
- Do not include external links to media samples or websites. Do not include multiple page .pdfs as one media sample. Do not include trailer video samples.
Open Call Survey
Please answer the following questions for research and statistical purposes.
- How did you hear about this Bemis Center Residency opportunity?
- Please check the option that is most applicable.
- What aspect of this residency opportunity inspired you to apply?
- Age
- Race
- Gender
- What is your country of origin?
- Please indicate your highest level of education.
- Would you use your time at Bemis to continue an existing project or create a new project[s]?
- Are you scheduled to attend other residencies next year?
- Please include the name of previous artist residencies attended.
Deadline: 11:59pm CST | December 15, 2017
Notifications to all applicants will be made via email on April 15, 2018.
For more information, contact Holly Kranker, Residency Program Manager, at 402.341.7130 x12 or hollyk@bemiscenter.org.