ArtScape Artist-in-residence Programme

Established in 2017.

Programme guidelines

The Joggins Fossil Institute

The Joggins Fossil Institute is a not-for-profit charitable organization established to protect, promote and present the Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site (designation 2007).

Mission Statement — to be exemplary in fulfilling our responsibilities under the United Nations Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and National Heritage to protect, conserve, and present the outstanding value of the Joggins Fossil Cliffs through research, education, and tourism.

The purpose of the programme

The Joggins Fossil Institute is offering an artists’ residency programme to further the educational and outreach components of the centre and its mission.

The programme is open to visual artists, literary artists, and performing artists on a revolving basis in a 3-year cycle.

We are looking for proposals that engage with, complement, examine, and reflect the natural environment and surroundings (flora, fauna, weather, water, geology, paleontology, cultural history etc.) of the Joggins Fossil Cliffs and Centre.

The residency would benefit artists who, through artistic creation and expression, wish to explore the myriad relationships between the human experience and the natural world. It provides the opportunity for artists to personally encounter nature in a unique rural setting.

The residency programme provides visual artists, literary artists and performing artists with the time, financial support, and space to enable them to better focus on their work.

Eligibility

The residency is open to solo artists, national and international, visual, literary, and performing. For 2023 the residency is open to the literary arts only.

Visual arts

Consideration will be given to artists in all stages of their careers.

All disciplines will be considered, including but not limited to: painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, design, architecture, photography, installation, performance, video and film, filmmaking, new media, and audio.

Literary arts

Consideration will be given to artists in all stages of their careers.

All disciplines will be considered, including but not limited to: fiction, non-fiction, nature writing, biography, history, memoir, science writing, poetry, journalism, children’s/young adult, screenwriting, essays, literary criticism, creative non-fiction, blogging, scholarly writing, science writing, fantasy and speculative fiction.

Performing arts

Consideration will be given to artists in all stages of their careers.

All disciplines will be considered, including but not limited to: dance, composition, vocal, instrumental, puppetry, song writing, animation and theatre.

Eligible projects

Residencies are available for research, development and production of ongoing or new bodies of work.

The artist’s proposed projects should take into account the Joggins Fossil Institute’s resources. Projects that do not require access to specialized equipment are most suitable to the residency programme. Artists are responsible for acquiring any additional specialized equipment.

Duration

Each residency is 6 weeks in duration. These 6 weeks may be divided up throughout the year at the discretion of the artist.

Funding

Funding is approved after the selection of an artist and therefore is contingent on funds.

• Studio space, a private office, and cost of accommodation are provided by the Joggins Fossil Centre.
• The artist is responsible for securing their own accommodation.
• The residency pays living costs of $500 (only if the artist cannot live in their own home during the residency).
• The residency pays an honorarium and presentation fees.
• The residency pays travel costs to and from Joggins, Nova Scotia — up to $1500 — for air/land public transportation or vehicle mileage
• The artist is responsible for their local transportation.

Artist’s responsibilities

• Artists are expected to provide public access (either to individuals or groups) to their studio and/or office one day a week during the residency.
• Artists are expected to provide two public presentations (lectures, workshops, readings or performances) during their residency.
• Artists may undertake any other outreach programmes they wish after consultation with the Joggins Fossil Institute staff.

Submissions

The deadline for the 2023 Artist-in-Residence program is Sunday July 31, 2022.

Submissions must be made by email to development@jogginsfossilcliffs.net.

To submit to the Artist-in-Residence Programme please send:

1. an artist’s statement (maximum 500 words) describing your recent artistic activities and professional development, your work in general, its influences and direction;
2. a brief description of your project (maximum 500 words);
3. technical requirements and/or site specifications if applicable (maximum 1 page);
4. a plan and a working schedule;
5. a biography (maximum 1 page);
6. documentation of your work:
   • visual artists: up to 10 images or 5 minutes of audio/visual material — (JPEG or TIFF @ 300 dpi minimum)
   • writers: up to 25 pages of prose or 10 poems;
   • performers/composers: up to 10 minutes of audio/visual material
7. a current curriculum vitæ;
8. a letter of reference from a peer, mentor or professor (for emerging artists)

Please note

The residency programme is contingent upon funding. Applicants will be notified as soon possible if the residency is not be to offered in a particular year.

For further information contact:

Carlos Serratos (He/Him)
Manager, Outreach and Development
(902) 251-2727, extension 225 or outreach@jogginsfossilcliffs.net