Open Call: Freeman Artist Residency

Photo by Michael Freeman. Shipwreck & Cloud. 1985. Woodcut on paper

The UVA Studio Art Program invites applications to the inaugural Freeman Artist Residency, funded by the UVA College of Arts & Sciences Cornell Foundation and founded by Neal Rock, UVA Assistant Professor of Studio Art. The Freeman Artist Residency (FAR) is named after Welsh painter and educator Michael Freeman, who mentored Rock during his formative years in South Wales. FAR honors Freeman’s life-long dedication to educational equity and inclusion by giving the gift of time, space, and mentorship to artists at a formative stage of their careers. FAR seeks candidates from BIPOC and first-generation college graduate backgrounds. 

Who is Eligible?

  • Recent UVA graduates (2018, 2019, 2020) currently residing in Charlottesville or surrounding counties.
  • First-generation and BIPOC college graduates will be given priority.

 What is Provided?
Two artist residents are selected every year. Each awardee receives:

  • A 200 square foot studio & two-person FAR Exhibition at the newly founded Visible Records Gallery, in the Woolen Mills district of Charlottesville, Virginia. Studios & exhibition coordinator is Artist and former UVA Adjunct Photography Professor Morgan Ashcom.
  • A $1500 materials stipend
  • Ongoing mentorship provided by UVA Studio Arts faculty and visiting artists.

 Fellowship Dates and Responsibilities

September 1st, 2020 – August 15th, 2021. FAR recipients are required to identify, schedule, and undertake an outreach art project within one of the surrounding Charlottesville counties during their tenure. The residency concludes with a public two-person FAR Exhibition, date TBA. Fellows are responsible for all art materials, installation, de-installation, and promotion of the exhibition.

Application Guidelines

Letters of interest should include a current CV, five images of recent work (within two years) submitted as a PDF file with title, date, dimensions & materials of each work, and an artist statement (max 500 words) which should include how you fulfill FAR’s mission statement, your ideas for a community outreach art project, and your anticipated program of creative work. Deadline for submissions; August 1st, 2020. Letters of interest to be forwarded to Dan Hoogenboom, Studio Art Program, Department of Art, University of Virginia. Applications will be reviewed by UVA Studio Art faculty.