The Boston Arts Academy, Boston’s only public high school for the visual and performing arts is seeking proposals for an artist residency for the academic year 2020-2021, to curate works in non-traditional exhibition spaces. The $14,000 residency takes place in the school’s temporary location at 11 Charles Street, and the artist will work with students in the Visual Arts and Design department at various grade levels to help transform school spaces. The year’s work would culminate in a final event in the spring. Artists will be required to enter into a contract with Boston Arts Academy for the upcoming academic year, agreeing to the terms in this RFP. No additional funds will be available for the Artist in Residence.
Residency Guidelines: Because space is restricted/limited, the artist in residence will be mobile throughout the building, working in onsite spaces as they are available, or offsite in the event of remote learning during the academic year. The residency will culminate in a final event (ie: exhibition or showing of work completed throughout the year). The Artist in Residence will meet with and work closely with the gallery director, department chair, and department to carry out their vision. Applicants should represent our student body: 42% African American, 38% Latinx, 11% White, 4% Asian, 4% Multirace, 1% Other. The work from the residency will result in artistic installations in the school’s “negative spaces” ( empty walls, corners, stairwells, ceilings, etc) and documentation of the work. The work from the residency will reflect a combination of student voice and artist’s vision. The work from the residency will incorporate process ideas from students. The work and process from the residency will be documented and shared.
Proposal format: The proposal (1-2 page narrative) should explain the project’s vision, process, student involvement, and culminating event. Visiting artists will be working with varying small groups of visual artists throughout the year, a department of about 100 students in grades 9-12. Proposals should address the following questions: How will this residency benefit the Visual Arts and Design students as well as the broader BAA community? How do you envision collaborating with students, faculty, and staff? What will your process look like? How will you structure your interactions with students? What is your vision for a culminating event? How do you plan to document and share the work?
All proposals must also include: Proposed schedule and calendar; Budget for $14,000; Artist(s) name(s) contact information (accepted artists will have to complete a CORI form); Visiting Artists should have a record of exhibition/performance. Please include links to artist’s websites or examples of artist’s work; Biography and CV if not included above.
Budget: Funding for this residency is set at $14,000. Funds may be used towards Honoraria; Travel; Materials for research, production, and final product; Funds for student involvement (workshops, events); and Reception.
Documentation: Documentation of the creative process and evolution of the product is an important part of a project. We encourage applicants to think strategically and creatively about how the values, activities, and pedagogical impact of the proposal may be most effectively made visible and disseminated to the BAA community and beyond. Sample outputs include: video clips, sound recordings, photographs, data visualizations, interviews, web pages, slide presentations, regular blogging or social media presence.
Grants are not final until all schedules, programs, and budgets are mutually agreed upon. Questions about the process can be sent to Kathleen Marsh
Deadline: September 8, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Image credit: Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Silk and metallic thread embroidery on silk satin, 12 1/2 × 12 3/4 in. (31.8 × 32.4 cm). From the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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