About the Arts Center Residency
Throughout the pandemic, LMCC has continued to serve, support, and connect artists. More than ever, we believe that the creativity of artists and cultural organizations does not subside in the current moment and we are committed to these acts of care and stewardship. LMCC will rise to meet the immediate needs of the artist community we serve, with intention and responsibility toward our shared futures.
At the heels of a successful launch of a COVID-19 response program in 2020, LMCC will now turn our focus to the principal themes of equity and sustainability. Concurrent to Governors Island’s ambitious plans for addressing climate change and environmental issues in the long-term, LMCC is proud to join the effort in demonstrating the stake that artists must have in the timely issues.
This Open Call will provide short-term, project-based residencies to artists and creative practitioners whose work is concerned with the broader themes of equity and sustainability. These are thematic anchors which applicants may either choose to address explicitly or elaborate on how their practice and/or projects are relevant.
The residency will take place in the open plan studios at the Arts Center at Governors Island in two sessions:
Session One: May 4 – August 20, 2021
Session Two: August 30 – December 17, 2021
Residency participants will be provided the following basic amenities:
- Access to free, temporary, daytime work space in LMCC’s Arts Center for 3 months
- Basic work tables and chairs
- Basic overhead lighting
- Electricity
- Wi-Fi
- Heat & A/C
In addition, all residency participants will be offered:
- Regular and robust virtual communication, group sharing, peer critique opportunities facilitated by LMCC
- Opportunities to share work in-person with the public during LMCC’s 2021 Public Season, scheduled for June – October 2021 at scheduled open studios moments
- Access to LMCC’s hands-on publicity and marketing efforts via its website, e-blasts, social media channels
Please note:
- There is NO stipend offered as part of the opportunity
- Studios facilities do not offer access to medium- or technique-specific amenities such as a woodshop, print or media lab, or a large rehearsal space
- Artists must provide their own supplies and tools; restrictions apply
- Participants will be required to observe mandatory health and safety guidelines in light of the COVID-19 public health pandemic – including but not limited to filling out a daily health screening questionnaire, employing masks or facial coverings indoors at all times, and practicing safe social distancing on-site.
To be eligible, applicants must be:
- A practicing artist and/or creative practitioner able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to their work, career, and a public audience;
- Able to express alignment with the theme of ‘equity’ and ‘sustainability’ through their proposed projects and/or ongoing practice (definitions enclosed in the application form);
- Must not have been supported by an LMCC residency program in the last six (6) months;
- Must not be scheduled to participate in another residency during the residency time frame offered;
- Artists who work independently or as a small collective (no more than 3);
- 21 years of age or older;
February 2, 2021, 10:00 AM EST – Application go live (on Submittable)
February 28, 2021, 11:59 PM EST – Application Deadline
March 2021 – Selection Juries
April 16, 2021 – All applicants notified of decisions
Residencies will take place in two sessions, as outlined above, from May through December 2021
LMCC will commit to review each application with the following selection criteria in mind.
- Alignment with LMCC’s values:
- Centering equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Driven by curiosity: we believe experimenting, questioning, learning, and understanding are essential to creative development.
- Collaborative: we seek to invest in artists who are interested in building relationships, and by extension, in our robust artist network.
- Openness: we are excited by artists and projects who share LMCC’s embrace of radical generosity and care.
- Clear intentions and goals in proposed project(s) and ideas
- A purposeful relationship to the Arts Center and Governors Island
- Willingness to engage in a community-oriented setting, of fellow artists and the larger public (when applicable)
Application Deadline: February 28, 2021 at 11:59PM EST.
No late applications will be accepted. Virtual interviews will be scheduled for finalists. All applicants will be notified by mid-April 2021. Please do not call or email about results.
Questions? Please contact info@lmcc.net with the subject heading, “RE: Arts Center Residency”
Please note that LMCC Staff are presently working remotely and email is presently the preferred method of receiving inquiries.
Arts Center Residency 2021: Session Two
Governors Island Residency Initiative in Response to COVID-19
LMCC's Arts Center is dedicated to serving artists in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Governors Island Residency Initiative, LMCC provided free, temporary residency and work space at LMCC's Arts Center to eligible artists and small arts groups based throughout the five boroughs.
LMCC’s Arts Center Residency program is supported, in part, by Cowles Charitable Trust, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Jacques and Natasha Gelman Trust, The Willem de Kooning Foundation, May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc., The Norman & Bettina Roberts Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Teiger Foundation, Tiger Baron Foundation and YoungArts.
The Arts Center Residency is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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