40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program

Deadline: April 17, 2009 (RECEIVE)

40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program
Philadelphia, PA
Residency: August 15, 2009 – August 15, 2010


The program is intended mainly for emerging artists who live in neighborhoods west of the Schuylkill River. All applications are due by April 17, 2009, and residents will be selected by an advisory board comprised of artists, former AIR residents, educators, and community organizations.

The mission of the 40th Street Artist-in-Residence program is:

• To address the need for artist studio space in West Philadelphia by offering studios rent-free, on a rotating basis, primarily to those artists who reside in/are affiliated with Philadelphia neighborhoods west of the Schuylkill River.

• To assist in the career growth and provide exhibition opportunities for new and emerging artists and those whose work has not been recognized in mainstream venues.

• To enrich the area around 40th Street by placing artists in the neighborhood who share their creative talents with members of the local community.

If accepted to the program, you will be granted a studio space at our site at either 4007 or 4013 Chestnut Street for a period of one year, beginning on August 15, 2009 and ending August 15, 2010. You will be encouraged to use that time to develop your own creative work. In exchange, you will be asked to share your talents with the community through a minimum of 80 hours of outreach work over the course of the year. Examples of this might include creating a public installation or holding a workshop or class in the community. Support will be provided to help you develop this project effectively. In addition, the artists in residence will have opportunities to work together to plan group exhibitions both of their own work and of their outreach work. Monthly meetings (or more when necessary during planning processes) will help facilitate this work as well as create opportunities for artists to share ideas and create a true community.

Please note that our sites are not live-in facilities. The studios are available at all times, but the buildings are shared; you must be considerate of other tenants. The space can accommodate a variety of creative activities, including painting, sculpture, installation art, photography, and performance art. Collaborative as well as individual efforts are welcome. Ceilings are high (approximately 12 feet in some areas); rooms range from 100-400 square feet. Some areas have ample natural light, while others have none at all (making them ideal as darkrooms). The studios are not furnished with easels, tables, photographic equipment, etc.; artists are expected to bring their own. The buildings also have small yards in the rear that may be used for assembling larger works, or as a place to exhibit sculpture. The space has ventilation, running water, and 120- volt AC outlets. However, the facility will not accommodate highly toxic chemicals, welding, or very high-powered electrical equipment. Note also that within the space, there is open access to the different work areas; we count on resident artists to show respect for others’ property and privacy.

Overall, the 40th Street Artist-in-Residence program strives to create a community of artists who share their talents with each other and with the surrounding community.

To apply, please complete and submit the attached application by April 17, 2009 to mailto:40thSIR.program@gmail.com. Feel free to email 40th.AIR.app@gmail.com with any questions about the program or application process.

Detailed Program Description

Application Form

Website: 40streetair.blogspot.com