Application Deadline: September 15, 2023, 11:59 p.m. EST
Residency Period: October 1, 2023 - March 1, 2024
Exhibition Period: March 1 - 15, 2024

The Stormwater Collaborative Residency will provide an opportunity for up to 3 undergraduate student artists, an art historian, an art educator, and a graphic designer to share a studio space for over 5 months. Selected students will develop their practice in cooperation with each other over the course of the residency, culminating in a collaborative exhibition in March.

The art historian will act as curator and decide upon a theme in conversation with the selected artists. The art historian will also draft the wall text for the exhibition. An art educator will plan 3 public workshops in collaboration with the resident artists. The graphic designer will create promotional materials and exhibition signage.

This program emphasizes a strong collaborative element by placing artists and scholars in close proximity and supporting them in the development of a shared creative vision. It will cater to students seeking a meaningful opportunity to expand their practice, build their professional network, and gain valuable beyond the classroom experience.

Eligibility

All currently enrolled undergraduate SVAD students are eligible to apply. Students may apply individually or as groups.

All media taught in SVAD are considered appropriate for the Stormwater Collaborative Residency Program: drawing, painting, ceramics, jewelry, photography, printmaking, bookmaking, graphic design and illustration, filmmaking, digital/new media, performance, and 3D/sculpture. Keep in mind that the qualities of the studio space may limit the kind of work that can be produced on-site. Selected resident(s) wishing to work in ceramics will need to use McMaster facilities for wheel throwing, sculpting, and firing; the studio does not have special ventilation to accommodate the use of toxic chemicals indoors.   

Support 

The selected students will receive a $300 scholarship and a modest supplies budget to fund their creative projects, exhibition, and related programming.   

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted electronically to Bailey Peterson at bawatts@email.sc.edu.

Submit the following items together in one PDF, no larger than 9 MB: 

1. Name & Contact information, Major and Expected Graduation Date, Area of Concentration/Medium for each artist
2. Statement of Purpose (500 words maximum) 
   1.  All applicants should indicate what they hope to accomplish and learn if they and/or their team are awarded the Stormwater Collaborative Residency. 
3. Name and contact information of faculty mentor 
   1. The faculty mentor should be a member of the SVAD faculty. If selected, the faculty mentor will be contacted during the review process. Letters of reccommendation are not required.
4. Work Samples
   1. Artist and designer applicants: Submit 4 images per individual artist if this is a group application (up to 5MB each) and/or a link to your video sample (on Vimeo, You Tube, or other cloud-based application). Each time-based work sample should be two minutes in length or less. You may also include external links to media samples or websites.
   2. Art History applicants: Submit 1 sample of written work. This should be a paper completed for an art history course that best demonstrates your abilities as an art historian.
   3. Art Education applicants: Submit 1 sample lesson plan. This should be a written assignment completed for an art education course.

The SCR committee comprised of SVAD faculty will select qualified candidates based on the following criteria: 

• Caliber of work
• Potential for personal/artistic growth 
• History of/interest in collaboration 
• Eagerness to creatively engage in the Stormwater artist community 
• Ability to maintain project commitments 

Expectations

 The selected student artists and student art historian will be expected to:  

• Maintain camaraderie and a willingness to engage in positive critique 
• Meet with your faculty mentor to check in, assure positive experiences and progress toward meaningful outcomes 
• Maintain an open-door policy at the studio during Stormwater hours; be willing to meet with the public who come by and discuss your project in progress 

• Plan and host open studio nights and a reception for the exhibition in coordination with the SVAD Coordinator of Communications and Programs (Bailey Peterson) and Stormwater Faculty Liaison/SCR Chair (Kathleen Robbins) 

FAQs

Expand allWhen will the selected residents be announced?

The selected student artists and student art historian will be announced by September 22nd on the Stormwater Collaborative Residency webpage. Selected residents will also be notified of acceptance via their USC email address.  

How do I submit a team application?

To apply as a team, please submit the name/contact information, major and expected graduate date, area of concentration/medium for each artist, and required work samples for all students applying together in one PDF (4 images and/or videos for each artist applying; 1 sample of written work for the art historian applicant; 1 sample lesson plan for the art education applicant). All students applying should also list the name and contact information for their desired faculty mentor. Only one statement of purpose is required for team applications.