by Carole Epp | Mar 22, 2019 | emerging artist
Grant Program Mission
Established in 2019 and funded by an anonymous donor, Studio Potter’s Grants for Apprenticeships program supports emerging artists who want to become full-time studio potters and, conversely, mentor-potters who wish to take on an apprentice. This grant program honors the mission of Studio Potter and the legacy of its founder, Gerry Williams, by fostering individual careers in studio pottery, contributing to the life and future of ceramics, ensuring the continuity of a centuries-old tradition in non-academic education, and, most broadly, upholding humanitarian values.
Studio Apprenticeship Defined
Studio-based apprenticeship is a form of person-to-person training that places work above theory and emphasizes intimacy and immersion. In the West, people commonly associate the history of apprenticeship with craft and trade practices in Europe during the Middle Ages, but traditions of lineage-learning have endured for centuries around the world. Apprenticeship continues today as a means of passing down knowledge from generation to generation and as a way for aspiring artisans to build professional communities and prepare for careers as studio artists.
Why Apprenticeships?
Pedagogy in craft disciplines has changed dramatically in the last century because of technological advances and the rise of a modern education industry. In this context, apprenticeship offers an alternative to academic educational structures through one-on-one relationships in an established studio. Apprentices learn by participating in the daily lives of their mentor, learning their skills, and being exposed to their values. Operating at the intersection of folk culture and professional development, apprenticeships contribute to the preservation of intangible cultural heritage and the advancement of individuals.
Application Basics
The Grants for Apprenticeships program offers annual grants of up to $10,000 to support apprenticeships in studio pottery. Both apprentices and their mentor-potters may apply, one as applicant and the other as co-applicant; both parties must be legal residents of the United States and eighteen years or older. Apprentices cannot be enrolled in any institution of higher learning during their proposed apprenticeship period. The apprenticeship must occur in the United States. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. The application period opens April 1 and closes June 1 of every year, with notification of award by July 1 for apprenticeships beginning within one year of notification (before July 1 of the following year).
Full details and application forms can be found at https://studiopotter.org/apprenticeship-grants
by Carole Epp | Mar 21, 2019 | residency opportunity
Now accepting applications for residencies beginning July 1, 2019
Deadline to apply: April 15, 2019
Media requirements: Fiber, Clay, Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Wood
Length of Residency: 6 month residencies available
The Artist-in-Residence program supports emerging and mid-career artists to develop their artwork in a collaborative, community-based arts center. This residency is for self-directed artists that are interested in gaining experience in teaching and creating a new body of artwork. This residency, set in the heart of the Grand Arts District of St. Louis, has the advantage of an active, urban setting with exposure to a broad audience that connects to performing arts, literature, culinary, and visual arts. Craft Alliance encourages Artist-in-Residence to explore and develop their studio practice.
Emphasis on teaching:
Artists-In-Residents are encouraged to instruct in our studios and will be given multiple opportunities to teach in Craft Alliance educational programs and community engagement programs. Our Education Center offers adult evening, weekend, and daytime classes and workshops both local and national. Artists work closely with the Education Director to develop their teaching skills.
A resident artist who is passionate about developing and fostering community through art can take advantage of our community programs offered at Craft Alliance. An opportunity for artists to work with a regional school districts to develop, execute and install a collaborative student-authored permanent public artwork. The role of the artist is to instruct the students, facilitate an ongoing dialog and steer the work of art into its final exhibited presentation. Success of this project requires a teaching artist dedicated to engaging with students over a 3-month period on location at their school. This site-specific project will get permanently displayed on the school grounds. The artist will be working closely with our Director of Community Programs in all aspects of the project from budget, schedule, and execution.
In addition, the resident will have teaching opportunities in our Crafting-A-Future Program, a teen portfolio building program, and our ArtsSmart Program which Introduces St. Louis metro area students to contemporary craft media and studio practices through class trips to Craft Alliance education centers.
Craft Alliance provides:
· A free private studio space (180 square feet) valued at $3,390 for 6 months including parking.
· Each private studio comes with a 6 foot table, chair, shelving unit and air filter. Other equipment such as a potter’s wheel or metals work bench can be provided.
· Each studio opens onto a common area, and the artists will have access to fully equipped classroom studios for metals, clay, fiber, wood turning, and graphics, and
also nearby water/sink facilities.
· A professional development stipend of up to $500 to reimburse artists for outside conferences, entry fees, art fairs, etc.
· Artist may take classes free of charge in our Education centers.
· A wide variety of teaching opportunities are available through Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design’s Education Center and Community Outreach Programs.
· Artist receives a monthly stipend.
· During the residency, artists’ creative work is represented by Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design and may be considered for sales in the Delmar Gallery Shop.
· Group exhibition at the end of residency cycle presented in the Delmar Loop Gallery.
Artist obligations:
· Must be in the studio at least 20 hours per week, 15 of those hours must be during public hours.
· Resident must create one interaction that engages with the general public, which CA staff will help schedule and promote. Examples of a public engagement are a
lecture, a workshop, a pop-up installation, etc.
· Artist must donate one piece of art to CA’s fundraising gala, and if possible be present.
Residency start dates and length determined by program review panel.
Next call for applications will be Spring 2019 for residency cycle July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020.
Apply Now: craftalliance.org/artists-residence
