2025 40 West Arts: Artist in Residence Program
Apply today to be one of our 2025 Artists in Residence!
Artist in Residence
2025 Artist in Residence Program
Summary: The Artist in Residence program is a partnership between 40 West Arts District, the West Colfax Community Association (WCCA), and the Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District (BID). The Artist in Residence serves all three organizations in this role, acting as a voice and advocate for the Lakewood West Colfax community, contributing creative programming, and upholding the district vision and mission during their term. Each Artist in Residence term is for the period of one year.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE OVERVIEW
The Artist in Residence program was born in 2014 out of a desire to offer opportunities for artists that also correspond to the 40 West Arts mission of bringing free, beginner-friendly arts workshops to an area underserved by other arts and culture organizations.
The Artist in Residence (AIR) receives a rent-free artist studio/gallery space for the period of one year (from the start date of their residency). In addition, 40 West Arts provides the artist with access to marketing, promotional and social media support and integration into the 40 West Arts community. In return, the Artist in Residence works in service to the West Colfax community by conducting youth and senior art classes or workshops in the community (virtually and in-person), submitting artwork to 40 West Gallery exhibitions, and maintaining an active presence at district events, including First Friday opening receptions. The Artist in Residence will conduct, at minimum, six programs, workshops, events, art installations or other creative offerings (as determined and approved by both the district and the Artist in Residence) during their term.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE DETAILS
· This Artist in Residency is open to any individual, aged 21 or older. Applicant may be a student and/or have full-time employment but must meet the responsibilities identified herein, estimated to require approximately 5 hours per month.
· Artist in Residence will have access to a rent-free studio/gallery space during their tenure. The space will be secure, fully lockable, and accessible 24-hours a day. Please note that usage and activities are subject to the approval of the district and cannot interfere with the operation of any district or partner organization events, workshops, etc. located in the same building.
· Artist in Residence will conduct youth, family-friendly and/or senior arts workshops in the community to average one course every other month, for a total of six courses during the AIR tenure. 40 West Arts staff will work with the AIR to develop workshop themes, logistics and approach. Artist in Residence will be provided materials for the program activities. In person workshops are highly preferred.
· Artist in Residence will submit artwork to at least four exhibitions at 40 West Gallery. All submission fees are waived during the residency.
· Artist in Residence will host open studio hours at most First Friday opening receptions.
· Artist in Residence may be asked to volunteer or assist with one additional project during the course of the residency, depending on requisite experience and skill set. For example, artists interested in murals may be asked to develop and paint a mural along the 40 West ArtLine. This is one example. We want to assist the AIR in furthering their artistic goals in support of Lakewood’s West Colfax community.
RULES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Artist in Residence understands that they are a representative of 40 West Arts District, the WCCA and the BID in this role.
Work commissioned by the district (not work done during your residency but work specifically commissioned for a particular project, workshop, etc. by the district) is intended to support and promote Lakewood’s West Colfax corridor, and thus fully subject to edits and approval by the district.
As a representative of the district, the Artist in Residence should conduct themselves in a manner befitting your role, whenever in the district or on official district business.
In exchange for district assigned and approved creative programming, the Artist in Residence is provided a free-of-charge studio space for one year (from the start date of their residency).
The studio space will be approximately 150-350 square feet and located within 10 miles of The HUB Building at 40 West Arts (6501 W. Colfax Avenue).
You are not guaranteed a minimum square footage studio space and you are not guaranteed a specific location. Your space is based on available inventory during the time of the residency.
If there are multiple Artist in Residences in a given year, you understand that each resident artist may have different locations, different studio sizes, different studio amenities, and other elements. There is no guarantee that your space will align exactly with other resident artists.
Market rental rates in this area are approximately $4 per square footage, per month. This means that you are receiving approximately $4,800 - $16,800 in in-kind contributions to you during your residency.
The district only provides the space free-of-charge. You are responsible for the following, including, but not limited to internet access, trash removal, cleaning, stocking bathroom products, etc. just as any artist would be if they rented a studio space. The district will certainly work with you to ensure that your experience is a positive one.
The Artist in Residence grants the district perpetual rights to use their name and images of and/or references to their work in the marketing and promotion of this role and the district, now and forever in the future.
This is a collaborative effort. Please provide feedback to the district on potential works, concepts, performances and other creative elements or programming that you would like to conduct during your tenure.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
· Submission Deadline: November 2nd, 2024 at midnight
· Send a single PDF document with all information requested to submissions@40westarts.org with the subject heading: 2025 AIR and please include:
o A letter of interest stating why you wish to be considered for the Artist in Residence position, what you’d bring to the position, and what you plan to work on during your Artist in Residence tenure
o Three examples of beginner, kid & family-friendly or senior workshops that you might teach during your tenure
o Your resume which should include your name, phone number, email address, website and/or social media links
o Your artist portfolio and/or examples of your work