Artists-in-Residence

The Arrowmont Artists-in-Residence Program provides early career, self-directed artists time, space and support to develop new work and be an active part of the Arrowmont community. Each year, five artists are selected to participate in the 11-month program, which begins in mid-June and continues through late May of the following year. Started in 1991, the Arrowmont Artists-in-Residence program will celebrate 30 years in 2021.

Artists-in-Residence are given a monthly stipend, shared housing with private bedrooms and meals (during workshop sessions), and a private well-lit studio with climate control, a basic work table, shelving and sink. Residents provide instruction for Arrowmont’s celebrated children’s education program, ArtReach, and are offered paid teaching opportunities. Professional development is made available through funding and networking sources. Multiple exhibition opportunities are provided on- and off-campus. The program encourages early career artists who embrace community, are highly self-motivated and enjoy working in a team environment to apply.

Exhibitions

Three on-campus exhibitions are offered to Artists-in-Residence:

An introductory exhibition in the Geoffrey A. Wolpert Gallery at the start of the residency
A mid-year exhibit in the Geoffrey A. Wolpert Gallery in December/January
A group exhibition in Arrowmont’s Sandra J. Blain Gallery at the conclusion of the residency features selected work executed during the 11-month program.

Exhibitions opportunities off campus in regional venues, including the MTSU galleries and The Emporium Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, are also offered to Residents.

Craft Instruction

Since its inception, Residents have provided local Sevier County School children hands-on arts education through ArtReach. Residence work with Kelly Hider, youth education program manager, to teach ArtReach classes when National Workshops are not in session. Paid teaching opportunities are available for Arrowmont’s Community Classes for kids and adults, and other teaching opportunities may also be possible during the residency.

Professional Development

Arrowmont provides Residents a creative supportive community environment of 160 rotating visiting workshop artists/instructors and hundreds of students during their residency. Residents are encouraged to interact with and observe workshop artists by sitting in on lectures and demonstrations.

During the workshop season, Residents participate in evening programming. Each week, they have dedicated time to present a short artist talk with images of their work alongside visiting instructors to the school community. Residents also have the option of hosting weekly Open Studios for dialogue, networking and sales opportunities with students and instructors.

Residents have access for personal research to over 10,000 art and craft related books and periodicals in the Marian G. Heard Resource Center located on campus.

Residents are supported to attend a regional or national conferences related to their field, and may participate in festivals or conferences as Arrowmont representatives through their work with the department of institutional advancement.

Stipend

Residents are paid a modest monthly stipend in exchange for a minimum of 10 hours per week of work done for Arrowmont in a variety of career development areas including gallery installations, events, community partnerships, studios, public relations, marketing, etc.

Accommodations & Meals

Residents live on Arrowmont’s campus in the Pollard Residency House. Pollard House has five spacious, private bedrooms with private bathrooms, a shared kitchen and common living area and a shared computer with Internet access. All bedrooms are furnished, internet equipped and cable ready. Meals are provided in the Arrowmont dining room during workshop sessions.

Private Studio

Each Resident has his/her own private studio (12 x 18) located in the Resident Studio Complex, just a short walk from Pollard Residency House. The studios are spacious, bright and climate controlled. One work table, shelving and sink are provided in each studio. A large shared outdoor area provides additional working space which invites interaction. Each resident is responsible for their own personal studio equipment, tools and materials. In some cases, Arrowmont’s specialized studio equipment is available for use or rent on an individual basis.