Independent Artists

About

Artists entering through our self-funded Independent Artist program typically have a clear and focused plan. This is an opportunity to create your own residency or shop rental. These residencies may be self-funded, or funded through a grant or scholarship. Artists can commute or stay in SAW housing.

Who should apply for this? An individual or group wishing to rent a space for their own program or project. A college or business who wishes to provide a residency scholarship. A group or collective who wishes to work on a shared project or individual projects and is funded through a grant or crowd funding. An artist wishing to learn a new discipline. An artist seeking space to lead a private a workshop. Artists who apply as a group can choose to share a space, or work in different spaces.

InDIVIDUALS

Visual artists working in any medium, as well as writers, choreographers, musicians, and performers, are invited to apply throughout the year on a rolling basis. Artists may propose to stay for any dates and duration available, however applicants are strongly encouraged to come for weeklong intervals. Please contact SAWs office prior to applying to discuss their residency proposal in detail, well in advance of your planned stay. 

In keeping with Salem Art Works’ mission to create a collaborative and open space for art making, each independent artist is encouraged to contribute to the communal life at SAW including doing an artist talk and presentation, participating in studio visits and critiques, and open studios. Artists who are working and staying onsite for more than one week may anticipate participating in a weekly cooking and cleaning schedule.

Groups

SAW also accommodates group residencies for independent artists who wish to come with friends or lead a group project or workshop. Visual artists working in any medium, as well as writers, choreographers, musicians, and performers, may apply on a rolling basis.

Groups may customize their residency choosing their dates, duration, number of participants, type of accommodations, meals, studio, facility access, instruction or technical support, transportation, materials, and documentation.

Group residency examples are: a director brings performers to develop and rehearse; a teacher brings a group of students for a weeklong intensive kiln building workshop; an artist collective makes individual or collaborative work to make a catalogue and exhibit; a sculptor brings assistants to create a piece in the park; a company plans a conference and meets daily with a team building workshop; a family books a custom workshop to make knives for a reunion.

All residents, whether individual or coming as a group are invited to give an artist talk, participate in studio critiques, and events. All artists must also help clean up after themselves at mealtimes and in shared work spaces. Residents who come as a group who are at SAW for more than a week must participate in our rotating cooking and cleaning schedule.

Apply

Summary

For Who:

  • Early-career, emerging, mid-career and established artists

  • You must be 21 years older

  • There is no limit to the number of times an artist or group may apply and participate

  • All of SAWs programs, activities, and services are provided equally without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Media/Genre: All media

When: April through October

Duration: 2 days or longer

Timeline

Applications Accepted: Rolling

Deadline: N/A

Notification: two to four weeks

Review Process

Residency applications are reviewed by staff as they are received.

Residency offers are made based on the nature and artistic merit of each applicant’s proposal, the quality of the artist’s work to date, and SAWs schedule.

Required Information

  1. Cover Letter describing your interest in SAW’s Independent Artist Program.

    Please discuss how you will contribute and benefit from being at SAW. Briefly describe your work and how you see it developing while you are at SAW. After reviewing SAW facilities and grounds, which of SAW facilities could you best utilize?

  2. Work Samples (12-15)

    Jpg, Written Documents - pdf, Video and Film Files - mp4 or .mov

  3. Title sheet

    Listing title, size, medium and date completed

  4. One letter of reference

  5. CV / Resume

Fees

Accommodations, Meals, and Studio

  • Tent Camping and Meals: $100 per night

    Artists must bring their own camping gear and will have access to public restrooms and showers. Wifi and laundry available onsite.

  • Arthouse and Meals: $120 per night

    Arthouses do not have plumbing, but do have access to electricity outlets. Artists are responsible for power cord and have access to public bathrooms and showers.

  • Indoor Room and Meals: $140 per night

    Indoor rooms provide linens and shared restrooms. Spaces are single or double occupancy, please specify preference.

Add Studio, Workshops, or Facilities Rental

  • Studio: $40 per day

  • Workshops: Varies

    Click here to view available weekend workshops. There is a broad range of disciplines available to try which range from 20 minutes to an all day intensive. If you have a group of 4-8 people, we can schedule a workshop for you.

  • Shops: Varies

    Artists can schedule time in any of our shops. While some shops provide you with open access 24-7, some studio availability varies. Click on our shops to learn more:
    Blacksmithing, Ceramics, Glass Blowing, Foundry, Screen Printing, Welding