NEWS: New Artist in Residents Program for Utah Artists

UMOCA Presents New Artist-In-Residence Program for Utah Artists
Salt Lake City –Over the last few years, UMOCA has undertaken several initiatives to better serve the Utah arts community, including opening a new Locals Only Gallery, organizing its first exhibition of Utah artists for an out-of-state venue (last year’s West of Center show in Los Angeles), and better integrating Utah and national artists in group exhibitions.
Now UMOCA will extend its support to Utah artists with a new Artist-in-Residence Program, the only long-term artist residency designed specifically to meet the needs of artists living in Utah. Utah artists will be selected primarily based on demonstrated artistic potential, commitment to working in a contemporary idiom, willingness to participate in a robust and intellectually-engaged community of artists, and readiness to devote the time necessary to advance their professional careers to the next level.

“We are excited to provide the artists with a program that supports their studio practice while developing their professional careers and through this support, fosters an engaging community of contemporary artists,” said Jared Steffensen, curator of education at UMOCA.

UMOCA residents will receive a wide variety of benefits from the museum, including up to two years of free studio space inside the museum itself. UMOCA will also provide residents with private meetings with national curators, critics, and other art world professionals who will be brought to UMOCA specifically to give residents opportunities for higher visibility inside and outside the state. In addition, UMOCA will support residents by offering workshops in professional development, monthly critiques, special access to visiting artists and lecturers, exhibition opportunities outside the museum, a week-long working vacation in rural Utah, and greater chances for community engagement.
“Our goal with the new residency program is to make it possible for Utah artists to pursue successful careers at the national level while maintaining their homes here in this state,” said Adam Price, executive director at UMOCA.
The UMOCA Artist-in-Residence Program will launch in the first quarter of 2013; applications are now being accepted. Interested artists can visit www.utahmoca.org for residency information, application requirements, and application deadline.