RFP Opens: Oct 3, 2024

RFP Closes: Nov 3, 2024

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Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) invites New York City-based visual artists to apply for its Artist Residency and Training Seminar Series (ARTWorks), a six-month Fellowship that focuses on career sustainability. While all New York City-based visual artists may apply, priority will be given to Queens-based BIIPOC artists.

During ARTWorks, six artists will regard their practice as a small business, identify entrepreneurial and professional goals, and generate a long-term plan to accomplish them. In doing so, ARTWorks Fellows receive the practical knowledge to navigate the aesthetic and socioeconomic complexities and substructures of the New York art world. Through fiscal and technical support, Fellows will learn the business of art as they expand their professional network. 

Fellows will engage in regular meetings with the rest of the cohort, coordinated by Program Manager Lisa D. Wade. Fellows will also be required to participate in at least six events in a Seminar Series that will explore topics chosen by the Project Manager in consultation with the Fellows. Seminar speakers may include:

· established and emerging artists from Queens, New York City, and the United States at large,

· curators, conservators, exhibition designers, and researchers,

· MBAs, MFAs, CPAs, managers, and agents,

· gallerists, collectors, academics, and appraisers,

· journalists, editors, and critics,

· observers, supporters, and influencers in NYC’s contemporary visual art scene

Past Seminar topics have included: 

· artist copyright & contracts,

· building relationships with collectors,

· establishing one’s artistic legacy,

· working with commercial galleries,

· career insights,

· writing about art,

· grantwriting,

· wellness and artmaking,

· using social media and other marketing tools to promote one’s work,

· taxes and accounting for artists,

· art handling basics, and more! 

Fellows will also engage periodically with an established career artist, who will serve as Artist Mentor to the group. During the program, the ARTWorks Artist Mentor and Project Manager will both act as contact points and resources. Their roles, in part, are to ensure that the Fellowship serves the needs and meets the interests of each artist. Occasions for peer-to-peer, group, and/or one-on-one guidance and feedback are provided.

Members of the 2025 ARTWorks cohort will have the opportunity to interact with previous ARTWorks Fellows for occasional guidance and support. After their own Fellowship is completed, the 2025 cohort would be welcome to mentor future cohorts as well.

Each Fellow in the ARTWorks program receives $5,000, paid out over the course of the program. Fellows are also eligible for free studio space at JCAL, comprised of about 550 square feet, on an as-available basis. (Applicants should be aware that this studio space will be shared with other JCAL programs.) One 7’ x 4’ studio closet will be allotted to Fellows for storing projects and materials if needed. Working through the Project Manager, Fellows may also take one free class at JCAL on a space-available basis.

At the conclusion of ARTWorks, Fellows participate in a two-month public group exhibition (with catalogue) in JCAL’s Miller and Community galleries.

Program Timeline:

· Applications due midnight Sunday, November 3, 2024

· Selected artists notified via email on Friday, November 15, 2024.

· Contract and supporting materials due midnight Friday, November 29, 2024

· Announcement of Fellows made public on Friday, December 6, 2024. 

· ARTWorks 2025 begins Wednesday, December 11, 2024. 

· ARTWorks 2025 ends Friday, June 13, 2025

Program Eligibility:

Top priority will be given to Queens-based artists of underrepresented communities. Artists with multidisciplinary practices are welcome to apply, with the understanding that ARTWorks focuses on visual artists who work in traditional forms. Applicants must also:

· reside in New York City (preferably Queens) or Long Island,

· identify as BIIPOC (Black, Immigrant, Indigenous, People of Color),

· demonstrate clarity of concept in their work and strong evidence of craft,

· possess a deep commitment to social practice in their work,

· not have received major exposure via exhibitions, grants, or other residencies,

· not be enrolled full- or part-time in any college degree or certificate program.

· past ARTWorks Fellows are ineligible.

Selection Criteria:

Artists will be evaluated on the strength of their submission (see Application Requirements). Strong preference will be given to Queens-based artists and to those artists who demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, those issues relevant to underrepresented communities of Queens and the greater New York City area.

Fellows will be selected by a jury that will evaluate all submissions without obvious identifiers. As a cultural institution, JCAL is committed to serving those of all races, colors, religions, languages, gender identities, sexual orientations, national origins, ages, disabilities, socioeconomic statuses, marital statuses, and all other differences. Demographic information will be collected internally by JCAL to determine program eligibility and for grant reporting purposes only. 

Application Requirements

To apply, all of the following must be submitted online to https://jcal.submittable.com/submit.

· Work samples: six images (.jpg, .pdf, .png, .tiff only) OR two videos 3-5 minutes in length (.mp4, .mov, .wmv, Quicktime only). No password-protected files will be reviewed.

· One-page description of work samples, including title, date, dimensions, and medium (for images) or title, date, duration, B&W/color, and silent or sound (for videos).

· One artist statement of no more than 300 words.

· One professional reference of no more than 300 words.

· CV with all relevant contact information.

· One paragraph summarizing your expectations of ARTWorks.

All submitted materials, including work samples, must be original to and the sole property of the applicant, or the application will be disqualified. Applications will not be considered complete and will not be reviewed without all required materials submitted.

Major support for ARTWorks is provided by the Jerome Foundation, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, and the Howard Gilman Foundation. JCAL is especially grateful for support from City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, City Council Member Nantasha Williams, and the Office of the Mayor through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. JCAL also acknowledges season support for visual arts from Con Edison.

Key of Life

Submissions Open: September 24, 2024

Submissions Close: October 23, 2024

Exhibition Dates: January 17, 2025 – February 28, 2025

There is a certain rhythm that many of us feel; a groove that makes life worthwhile. What elements in the world add value and purpose to help you move? This exhibit will demonstrate the various artistic expressions of "keys" in one's life. What is your Key of Life?

For our annual JCAL Open Call exhibition, Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning is seeking submissions of original artwork by Queens-based visual artists. All visual media is encouraged.  

Eligibility:

· Solo artists only; no collectives or collaborations will be considered;

· Artist is a current resident of Queens or one of the five boroughs of New York City;

· Artist has not exhibited at JCAL, either solo or in a group exhibition, since January 1, 2020;

· Artist is at least 13 years old.

· JCAL welcomes artists of all races, colors, religions, languages, gender identities, sexual orientations, national origins, ages, disabilities, and socioeconomic and marital statuses. Those who identify as part of underrepresented communities are especially welcome and encouraged to apply. 

Application Requirements:

Only one application per artist will be accepted. A completed application must contain elements detailed below. Maximum file size is 100MB per file.

Artist Statement

- Tell us about yourself and how your work relates to the Open Call theme, Key of Life. (300 words max)

Works for Consideration

- Up to 5 original artworks, submitted as hi-res files;

- All label information: title, year, medium, dimensions, and price, submitted as a .PDF or Word document;

- Any special considerations or installation requirements, submitted as a .PDF or Word document. 

Artist CV (optional)

- Please include a CV, artist website, or link to any online platform showcasing your work.
 

This exhibition is open to all artists over the age of 13. Participating artists under 18 must have written consent from a parent or legal guardian. All artists will be compensated with a stipend of $250 and will have the opportunity to sell their work over the course of the exhibition. 

Deadline to submit is October 23, 2024 at 11:59PM. Works submitted after this date will not be accepted. Applicants may submit new or pre-existing work. All submissions will be reviewed based on the quality and completeness of the accompanying application. You may be contacted with follow-up questions regarding the nature of the work and intended manner of exhibition. Artists are responsible for transporting and collecting all artwork to and from the institution. JCAL reserves the right to not exhibit artwork that does not meet display criteria or does not align with the institution’s mission.