Room in the House Residency

PLEASE NOTE: In light of COVID-19, physical space (creative + administrative) at Karamu House is not available and all live performances and in-person experiences are delayed indefinitely.  ​Please consider this prior to submitting applications. 

With generous support from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Karamu House is offering 16 artist residencies in 2020 – eight (8) visual arts; eight (8) performing arts. Residencies will run April 2020 – December 2020. The goal of Room in the House is for artists to leave Karamu’s residency as more empowered, independent artists. To this end, Karamu will activate space (creative, administrative and showcase) and work with partners to provide professional development for artists looking to build their business.

Application for the fellowship is open to Cuyahoga County-based artists with demonstrated commitment to their visual arts or performance-based practice. Each selected Room in the House resident will receive a monetary stipend ($5,000).

SUBMISSION DEADLINES 

 
Submissions received through APR. 16, 2020 will ONLY be considered for JUN. 15, 2020 start. Deadline extended to MAY 15, 2020.
Submissions received through JUN. 18, 2020 will ONLY be considered for AUG. 17, 2020 start. 
Submissions received through AUG. 20, 2020 will ONLY be considered for OCT. 26, 2020 start.

CONSIDERATIONS

All residencies are for 8-weeks.

RESIDENCY DETAILS 

Visual Artists:

• Eight (8) visual artists will be served.
• Each resident visual artist will receive $5,000 from which they will be asked to secure their own supplies. Fifty-percent of the funds will be distributed at the beginning and end of the residency.
• Resident artists will have the opportunity to teach a masterclass at Karamu during their residency. Karamu will support marketing yet cannot guarantee participants.
• Karamu will work to identify partners to provide artist professional development workshops such as tax preparation, business and financial plan development, grant/proposal writing, marketing/media/PR.

Performing Artists:

• Eight (8) performing artists will be served.
• Each resident performing artist will receive $5,000 to support their residency. Fifty-percent of the funds will be distributed at the beginning and end of the residency.
• For the performance, residents will receive front of house support and professional technical support from Karamu’s production team. Residents will have to cover costs for additional rentals and needs outside of basic technical.
• Resident artists will have the opportunity to teach a masterclass at Karamu during their residency. Karamu will support marketing yet cannot guarantee participants.
• Karamu will work to identify partners to provide artist professional development workshops such as tax preparation, business and financial plan development, grant/proposal writing, marketing/media/PR.

SELECTION PROCESS + CRITERIA

There are deadlines for application submission aligned to each residency round: April 16, 2020 (deadline extended to May 15, 2020), June 18, 2020 and August 20, 2020. A selection committee comprised of members of Karamu’s lead staff, board of directors, and community artist/stakeholders will comprise the selection panel and make the residency decisions. Only completed applications will be reviewed. The chosen resident artists will demonstrate artistic rigor, ability and intent, as well as align to Karamu’s vision of honoring the African-American experience through culturally and socially relevant work.

Applying artists should submit a completed application with all support materials to: AShareef@karamuhouse.org. Please include ROOM IN THE HOUSE RESIDENCY in the subject line to ensure that applications are received. If not selected, artists are invited to reapply. Artists are only eligible for one (1) residency during the 2020 calendar year.

APPLICATION MATERIALS 

Submission of the following in narrative form constitutes a complete application:

1. Artistic Statement
2. Artistic resume or CV
3. Answers to the following questions:
   • Demographics: Name, Address, Cell Phone Number, Email Address
   • How does your artistic philosophy align to Karamu’s vision (see above Selection Process + Criteria section)?
   • What is the goal of your residency (what do you propose to do with this time)?
   • What is your artistic medium?
   • Can your residency be successfully completed without the use of any special equipment?
   • In light of COVID-19, physical space at Karamu House is not available and all live performances and in-person experiences are delayed indefinitely.
     
     • How will you move forward with your residency without physical space available at Karamu?
     • How can your residency be shared virtually?
     • How will you virtually engage with the community?
   • Describe how the residency stipend will support the actualization of your artistic product.
4. Link to an example of your art.
5. Any additional information or supplementary material the selection panel should have to support your application?

Note: Completed applications must be received via email at AShareef@karamuhouse.org by 5:30 PM on the deadline date. Applications received after this time will NOT be considered.