Each year, more than 80 artists from all over the United States apply to the Artist Residency Program at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC). The program supports emerging, mid-career, and established artists working in traditional craft media, including clay, fiber, glass, metal, mixed media, and wood. Each residency ranges between 3 and 12 months in length, and includes a monthly stipend and housing/materials allowance.
A jury of art experts evaluate 20 finalists, in which only five to eight applicants are selected to participate in the program. Juried selection is based on quality of creative work, ability to interact with the public, career direction, and program diversity.
The selected candidates get a studio space to focus on their creative work. In return, the center asks them to be open to the public for 24 hours each week. During public hours, visitors can go into their studios, watch them work, and ask them questions about their creative process. As part of their professional development, the group goes out to monthly enrichment meetings to different local arts organizations for behind-the-scenes tours, and the opportunity to connect with the Houston arts community. Additionally, resident artists’ creative work is represented by HCCC and is considered for display in the Asher Gallery. There is also a group exhibition at the end of each residency cycle.
Several alumni residents that arrived to Houston from other parts of the country have chosen to make the bayou city their home, and those who have left are vocal advocates of the program around the nation. Current resident artists include: Susan Budge, Julia Gabriel, Rene Lee Henry, Younha Jung, and Wen-Dan Lin. Click here to learn more.
Since 2001, 113 resident artists have been selected to participate in HCCC’s Artist Residency Program, some notable artists include Anila Quayyum Agha (winner of the 2014 Artprize of Public and Juried Grand Prize), Jaydan Moore (recipient of the 2015 American Craft Council Emerging Voices Award), Kamila Szczesna (honorable mention in the 10th International Ceramics Competition in Mino, Japan), Demitra Thomloudis (recipient of the 2014 Society of North American Goldsmiths Emerging Artist Award), among others.
The application deadline is March 1, 2016. For questions and to submit your application, please visit, https://crafthouston.org/artists/residents/apply-to-program/.
