The Artist Studios program at the Museum of Arts and Design is currently accepting applications for one full-time MAD Artist Fellow and six Daily Residents for a six-month session spanning February 4, 2020 through August 2, 2020. All interested candidates must complete and submit this electronic application by Thursday, October 17, 2019, at 11:59 pm EST: https://madmuseum.submittable.com/submit

MAD Artist Studios Program Overview

Located on the sixth floor of the Museum and open daily to the public, the Artist Studios at MAD is a professional development program for contemporary artists and designers. The only artist residency of its kind, the program is designed to encourage visitors to interact with artists-in-residence as they expand their creative practice while working on site at MAD. Visitors are welcome to visit MAD’s Artist Studios Tuesday through Sunday between 10 am and 5 pm and Thursdays until 8 pm to view the works in progress and converse with the artists and designers.

Six artists and designers are chosen on a biannual basis for the six-month residency during which they receive studio space in the Museum one day a week and a stipend. While in residence, the artists and designers participate in a wide range of Museum education programs for all ages—from the Museum’s intergenerational Studio Sunday workshops to Thursday evening drop-in workshops in which artists-in-residence lead art and design activities inspired by their current work.

The MAD Artist Fellowship was introduced in 2016 to support the practice of emerging NYC-based artists from historically underrepresented communities. Also selected biannually, the MAD Artist Fellow receives a dedicated studio space, a $15,000 stipend, and a solo exhibition in the Museum’s Project Space, also located on the sixth floor.

The artists chosen for MAD’s Artist Studios program represent a wide range of creative practices within the fields of art, craft, and design. Established in 2008, the program has served as an important platform for more than 170 artists and designers to advance their careers and is widely recognized as an innovative model for Museum education. Alumni of the program have gone on to highly regarded careers, and after their time at MAD have proceeded to exhibit work at MAD and other major institutions, including the Queens Museum, Whitney Museum, Brooklyn Museum, and Studio Museum, among others.

Residency Benefits

MAD Artist Fellows and Daily Residents benefit from a stipend; access to studio space, featuring a variety of tools and equipment; professional development and studio visits with museum staff; public programming opportunities; interaction with Museum visitors on a weekly basis, generating exposure and reaching new audiences; continued engagement through the community of over 170 Artist Studios alumni; and access to MAD’s galleries, public programs, and exhibition openings.

Eligibility

There are no eligibility requirements for the six Daily Resident openings. All artists are encouraged to apply.

The MAD Artist Fellowship is designed to promote emerging artists from historically underrepresented communities. Candidates for the MAD Artist Fellowship must:
– Be residents of New York City
– Be thirty years old, or younger, at the start of their fellowship
– Identify racially and/or culturally with a historically underrepresented community
– Demonstrate the need for financial assistance to advance their artistic careers

Application Process

The Artist Studios program offers one full-time MAD Artist Fellowship and six daily residencies per six-month session (February—July, August—January). MAD is currently accepting applications for the full-time Fellowship and daily residencies for the February 4, 2020 through August 2, 2020 residency period.

All candidates interested in applying for the MAD Artist Fellowship must complete and submit an electronic application by Thursday, October 17, 2019, at 11:59 pm EST.

Selection Process

Selection is conducted by a committee of Museum staff and outside professionals in the fields of art, craft, and design. Successful candidates possess a mature body of work that reveals a mastery of techniques and processes within a developed conceptual framework. The Artist Studios are a vital component of the visitor experience at MAD, and successful applicants will display readiness to engage with and benefit from the “open studios” format unique to MAD’s Artist Studios program within their application materials.

The Selection Committee strongly suggests visiting the Artist Studios prior to applying in order to fully understand the studio space and public-facing nature of the program.

Notification Process

Initial notifications will be sent in November 2019 indicating whether applicants have advanced to the final stage of consideration. Finalists will be invited to the Museum of Arts and Design for an in-person interview with members of the Education Department. Final determinations and offers will be made in early January 2020.

Studio Facilities and Restrictions

The studios are located on the 6th floor of the Museum of Arts and Design, which is open to the public. The Daily Resident studio and the Fellow studio each measure roughly 200 square feet, and each studio is equipped with a large worktable, a sink, storage, and WiFi access. Residents and Fellows share access to a kiln, an enamel kiln, a flex shaft dremel, a drill press, a band saw, and a variety of smaller tools.

Please note the following prohibited tools and supplies:
– No open flames are permitted
– Hot work needs to be approved by the Director of Facilities
– No large saws or tools that are unsafe for the general public
– No toxic materials such as turpentine, some resins, lead-based paints, etc.

Additional Information

Visit our website for more information: https://madmuseum.org/content/artist-studios-application