Monhegan for Art Teachers

Two week residency opportunity

Applications are being accepted for the Monhegan Artists’ Residency for Maine artists. In addition to two five-week residencies on Monhegan Island for Maine-based visual artists, the program offers a two-week residency for a Maine art teacher. The residency program provides living quarters, studio space, and a $150 per week stipend. The two 5-week residencies run in late spring and early fall.

Nathaniel Meyer, Wreck of the Venus, 2013, oil on canvas, 36″ x 24″

Four years ago, recognizing the need to support artists who teach in Maine schools, the Monhegan Artists’ Residency Corporation (MARC) expanded its offerings by adding the 2-week residency in mid-summer to accommodate artists tied to a school-year schedule. This is a unique opportunity for art teachers, providing time and space for them to reflect on, experiment, or develop their art while living in an artistically historic and beautiful location. Quality of art work is the primary criterion for selection. Artists-teachers compete on equal footing with other applicants. There is no requirement to produce a body of work or to relate the experience to classroom teaching.

The three past artist-teacher recipients are: Nathaniel Meyer (2015), who teaches at Lewiston High School (http://nathaniel-meyer.com/home.html); printmaker Scott Minzy (2014), art instructor at Erskine Academy in South China, Maine (http://www.scottminzy.com/); and Melinda Campbell (2013), retired from teaching but still active as an artist.

The application deadline for all three residencies is March 15, 2016. This year applications for the residency program are being accepted on-line only. For guidelines, a history of the program, and a list of past residents, visit monheganartistsresidency.org. Applicants will be notified by April 15th of the jury’s decision.

The residency program is aimed at visual artists working in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, or the digital arts. An important goal of the program is to enhance the careers of serious artists who have yet to gain wide recognition. The jury of art professionals this year includes MARC board member and artist Sissy Buck, Polly Saltonstall, editor of Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors and noted collector of contemporary Maine art, and artist Duncan Hewitt, whose retrospective exhibition is currently on view at the Portland Museum of Art.

Founded in 1989, MARC is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by donors, art galleries, corporate sponsors, and major foundation grants. For more information please contact Susan Danly at susandanly@gmail.com or 233.0896.art