Applications Are Open For New Work Development Artist Residency In Fall Semester
The Texas A&M College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts is seeking an artist for its New Work Development Artist Residency in the fall semester. Applications are due Jan. 16.
Dr. James R. Ball III, associate dean for industry and community engagement and director of the Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts, said the goal of the residency is provide artists an opportunity to develop original works.
Following the success of last year’s resident duo, slowdanger, Ball said it was evident there are two invaluable aspects this residency provides: “The time to focus and develop a work in its nascent stages, and the creative community we foster.”
“I hope the next artist finds similar value in being with our college for an extended period and laying the foundations for whatever art they have in mind,” he said. “We want them to carry their time with us forward as part of their practice wherever it takes them next.”
The residency will run Aug. 4 through Oct. 4. The artist — or group of artists — will be given a $10,000 stipend for living expenses and project materials, on-campus lodging, shared office space, access to college facilities, undergraduate and graduate student assistance and professional documentation of public presentations.
Ball said this residency also provides artists the opportunity to explore and reflect, conduct research and network. At the end of the program, the artist will publicly present their work.
Once the artist is selected by the Artists and Scholars in Residence Committee, Ball said there are numerous opportunities for engagement within the college among faculty, staff and students. Ball also emphasized the value in students being able to see artists at work.
“As always, what is most important for us is that our students have access to professional artists making work,” he said. “I want our students to see what that process looks like beyond the academic structures of semesters and exams. I want them to be inspired to take their own work into the world as they professionalize.”
During slowdanger’s residency, the duo developed “Story Ballet,” a contemporary recontextualization of “Symphonie Fantastique,” composed by Hector Berlioz in 1830. The artists also collaborated with students and faculty across the college and gave interdisciplinary presentations. The residency included performances at the Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival, presented by the Dance Science program, and Lorefest, an event created by faculty in the Performance and Visual Studies program.
The artists — taylor knight and anna thompson, who prefer the lowercase version of their names — said they had insightful collaborations and were excited to share their artistic background with students.
“We have been able to be this infiltrator in a way that also offers an entry point for students to see there are other possible ways of existing as an artist,” thompson said. “They were able to see professional artists who work solely in that space right now, which was exciting.”
Ball said he hopes the selected artist will feel that the work produced on campus would not have been possible elsewhere. There is a wide range of expertise in the college to explore, he said.
“I am excited for our next artist to reflect even more facets of what we do,” he said. “We have launched three new degrees this year in Music Performance, Theatre and a master’s degree in Dance. How will that add to what can happen in our residency?”
More details can be found on the New Work Development Artist Residency website.
Top photo: From left, slowdanger’s taylor knight and anna thompson brought guest performers Christian Warner of New York City, Theo Bliss of Pittsburgh and Maree Remalia of Tulsa to their final performance as artists in residence. Photo by Igor Kraguljac.
