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John S. and Lona B. Edwards Artist-in-Residence Program
About the Residency
The John S. and Lona B. Edwards Artists-in-Residence Program (AiR) program is a collaboration between the Cal Poly Humboldt College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science and the Department of Art + Film. Visual artists whose studio practice aligns with the interdisciplinary and/or community-based aspects of the university’s purpose and vision are invited to apply for the Edwards AiR program. The four-week residency occurs during the spring semester and provides an opportunity for an emerging or mid-career artist to develop new work while engaging with the campus and local community. Residencies may be offered to well-established artists by invitation as well.
During the four-week residency, artists are provided:
- A comfortable, furnished apartment within walking distance of the campus, the Arcata Community Forest, and downtown Arcata
- A private studio space or work area with 24-hour access
- An honorarium of $2500.
The residency program is open to artists working in a variety of media areas including, but not limited to: ceramics, small metals/jewelry, photography (darkroom + digital), digital media, experimental filmmaking, printmaking, painting, drawing, illustration, and sculpture. Artists are responsible for their own transportation, art supplies, and meals during the residency. Residents will automatically be considered for a funded exhibition within 2 years of the completion of their residency (shipping/travel included) at one of the two on-campus galleries (Reese Bullen and the Goudi’ni Native American Arts Gallery) or at the Morris Graves Museum of Art in Eureka, CA.
Expectations
Artists will be required to give a public lecture (45 minutes plus Q&A) at the beginning of their residency. Additionally, artists are required to engage with students 2-3 hours per week through studio visits, demonstrations, workshops, exploratory walks, or other forms of interaction tailored to the artist’s medium, interest, or experience. Cal Poly Humboldt requests permission to publish images of artwork created while in residence in news and promotional materials related to the arts program at the university.
How to Apply
Applications for the Spring 2024 residency are due by December 3, 2023. Required submission materials include:
- 20 images of work completed in the last five years
- One-page summary of the proposed project during the residency (including studio requirements)
- 2-page resume
- Names/contacts of 3 professional references
- Brief outline of ideas for weekly student engagement activities
- Applicants should indicate in their proposal the four-week period they wish to perform their residency between February - April.
About Cal Poly Humboldt
Founded in 1913, Cal Poly Humboldt is one of the premier public institutions in the Western United States; it is a rural and residential campus of approximately 6,000 students. The main campus is located in Arcata, California, in the northwestern part of the state along the coast, and is situated among redwood trees in an area that offers unmatched scenic beauty, moderate climate, and opportunities for outdoor activities.
To learn more about the Cal Poly Humboldt Department of Art + Film, please see: https://artfilm.humboldt.edu/
Program Eligibility
Successful candidates are professionals whose CV/resume reflects exhibitions and other professional activities on a regional, national, or international level.
Successful applicants will also display a readiness to engage with the public and work in an open studio environment.
At the time of application, all artist-in-residence applicants:
- Must be at least twenty-one years old
- Must be a US citizen or legal resident of the US with a valid SSN or EIN
- Cannot be enrolled in a full-time degree-granting program or its equivalent.