New City Arts Initiative announces that applications for its 2019-2020 exhibit season and its Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 artist residences are now open. Visual artists and curators living in the Charlottesville area are invited to apply for a exhibit at the organization’s downtown art space, Welcome Gallery. Charlottesville-area artists of all disciplines can apply for the residency program which includes full, free access to the downtown studio space. Applications for exhibits can be found online here; applications for the residency can be found here. All applications must be submitted by May 2, 2019.

“Charlottesville has a wealth of gifted artists and creatives who consistently name the need for dedicated local exhibit space as well as affordable studio space in our area. During last year’s application period, we received a record 75 proposals.” (Maureen Brondyke, Executive Director of New City Arts Initiative)

At Welcome Gallery, New City Arts presents monthly exhibits featuring Charlottesville-area artists and curators. Benefits to exhibiting artists include installation of their work (in most cases), an opening reception hosted by New City Arts, and a low 25% commission (compared to the standard gallery commission of 35%-50%). Additionally, artists are given opportunities to connect with the community by attending and giving a short talk during the First Friday opening reception and by leading an event such as a workshop, drawing session, or potluck during their exhibition period. Past opening receptions and artist-led events can be found here.

The five-month-long Artist-in-Residence program is open to artists of all disciplines (visual artists, writers, musicians, dancers, and filmmakers). Artists are required to live in the Charlottesville area during the residency program. Some past New City Arts resident artists include Lowland Hum, Eze Amos, and, most recently, Karina A. Monroy. A full list of past Artists-in-Residence can be found here.

During their residency, artists are invited to use the New City Arts private studio, located adjacent to the Welcome Gallery and the organization’s office on the historic Downtown Mall. The space offers perks like high-speed fiber internet provided by Ting, a multi-function printer, and a shared kitchen and bathroom.

New City Arts encourages artists to take an active and public role in the organization by spending a minimum of 15 hours a week in the studio and attending First Fridays events, which serve as an “open studio” for artists to share their work with the community. Each resident artist benefits from meaningful connections with the Charlottesville arts community; visual artists are
given a month-long exhibit at Welcome Gallery and artists of other disciplines are given support for a special performance or program. Additionally, artists are invited to lead one small event. Previous Artists-in-Residence have hosted drawing workshops, community sings, and a zine-making session.

About New City Arts Initiative: New City Arts Initiative (est. 2009) is a collaborative community that supports artists and facilitates cultural participation in Charlottesville, Virginia. New City Arts has exhibited the work of more than 229 local artists at Welcome Gallery and the WVTF and Radio IQ Studio Gallery, granted more than $23,899 to local artists through Charlottesville SOUP grants, and provided studio space for 16 local artists. Welcome Gallery, located at 114 3rd Street N.E., has weekly open hours and monthly exhibited openings.