M.A.R.
Manifest Artist Residency Award 2024/25
Deadline for Application EXTENDED to April 1, 2024
Notification of Selection: late May 2024
Artist Residency commences: by July 1, 2024
Artists are invited to submit complete applications to the Manifest Artist Residency program (MAR) located in the vibrant historic urban neighborhood of East Walnut Hills in Cincinnati, Ohio near the Ohio River, Eden Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum, numerous Universities, and within three miles of downtown Cincinnati and 'Over the Rhine'. (Manifest Gallery and the Residency Studios are currently headquartered here.)
Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis. At the discretion of the review committee and Manifest st aff, up to two artists may be selected as the recipient(s) of the MAR award which consists of the following:
- Free 24/7 use of a private studio consisting of (for one artist) approximately five hundred square feet of studio and display space for a period of one year (including nominal utilities). In the event that two separate applicants are each awarded the residency,* each will receive one room, with some shared common space including hallway, storage, and restroom.
- Free Drawing League Membership at Manifest Drawing Center which provides access to approximately 400 hours of life drawing sessions through weekly Open Figure and semi-regular Drawing Marathon offerings.
- The artist will be given consideration for teaching courses in our studio program, for pay, during the course of the residency. This will be contingent upon suitability and qualifications, as well as course enrollment, and will be determined by Drawing Center program staff.
- Regular public exposure of artwork in-progress and working studio during 18 Manifest exhibit receptions to well over 2000 members of the public.
- The opportunity to submit to any and all of Manifest’s calls for entry for which the artist is eligible, with the entry fees waived for all submissions. Works submitted by the Resident Artist will still be juried through the blind jury process used for all Manifest projects.
- The participation in a MAR Showcase exhibit in the gallery near the conclusion of the Residency. This is contingent upon approval by the Director, and the availability of suitable work. The purpose of the exhibition is to be Manifest's presentation of works made by the artist in the Residency space and Manifest programs. Residency exhibitions will represent works selected by and curated by the Director or designated staff.
- If a show is presented, the Resident Artist's exhibited work will be featured in a chapter of that season's retrospective Manifest Exhibition Annual publication.
- The presentation of an artist talk to the public at or near the conclusion of the Residency.
* In 2012/13 one artist was awarded the Residency. Since then every year two separate applicants received the award. Applicants have the option to indicate on the application form whether or not they wish to be considered for an exclusive Residency award, or are open to the dual award (having a neighboring resident artist). It is our belief, based on program history, that having two residents activates the experience and the overall value of the program far more than does having just one resident artist. So it is our recommendation that applicants remain open to having a neighbor colleague. In cases where there are two Residents, each will be provided their own private separate studio, but will share hallway access, basic storage access, and restroom.
Note: With a transition process to our new facility, Manifest reserves the option to deviate space assignments from the above historical standard. Such variations could include a Manifest Artist in Residence studio being assigned at new Central Parkway campus (see below for details).
S.I.R.
Scholar In Residence Award* 2024/25
Deadline for Application EXTENDED to April 1, 2024
Notification of Selection: late May 2024
Artist Residency commences: by July 1, 2024
Artists are invited to submit complete applications to the Scholar in Residence program (SIR) based at Manifest's Drawing Center facility. The Drawing Center has relocated to Manifest's newly acquired permanent home as of mid-2022. The new location (dubbed M1) houses all active and future Manifest studio programs as of July of 2022. It is located in the historic neighborhood of Clifton just four miles west of the Gallery, near the University of Cincinnati, and the creative communities of Clifton, Camp Washington, and Northside. (The Drawing Center and SIR home base is located at M1 here.)
(Learn more about Manifest's plans for evolution into The Manifest Center for the Visual Arts here).
Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis. One or two artists may be selected as the recipient(s) of the SIR award which consists of the following:
- Free access to ALL programming at Manifest Drawing Center, which includes approximately 400 hours of life drawing sessions through weekly Open Figure, occasional QuickDraw sessions, and intermittent Drawing Marathon offerings, approximately 600 hours of access to the Manifest Community Darkroom facility, and EVERY class which has reached minimum enrollment.
- Free use of the Drawing Center’s drawing, painting, and photography studio spaces between 8am and 10pm, 7 days a week, including outside of regular programming hours for a period of one year. This includes participating in, or observing, the development of plans for Manifest's long-term updates for the new building.
- The scholar will be given consideration for teaching assistantships for appropriate Drawing Center course offerings, with instructor approval. (Teaching assistantships are unpaid.) Subsequently, the SIR will be given consideration for teaching courses in our studio program, for pay, during the course of the residency and beyond. This will be contingent upon suitability and qualifications, as well as course enrollment, and will be determined by the Drawing Center Education and Studio Program Manager.
- Optional regular meetings with studio and pedagogical mentors. Mentors will be determined within the first month of the residency, and meeting schedules will be developed in collaboration between all parties.
- The opportunity for public exposure of in-progress and finished artwork during regular Manifest Drawing Center programming, engaging over 5000 members of the public annually.
- The opportunity to submit to any and all of Manifest’s calls for entry for which the artist is eligible, with the entry fees waived for all submissions. Works submitted by the Resident Scholar will still be juried through the blind jury process used for all Manifest projects.
- The presentation of a scholar's talk to the public at or near the conclusion of the Residency.
* In 2018/2019 Manifest expanded its residency program to include a pilot of the Scholar in Residence award. This proved quite successful and impactful for the first SIR, Angela Livezey, who relocated from Iowa to be a part of the Manifest community in 2018. Subsequent SIRs have included artists originally from Louisiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky.
We welcome inquiries about the SIR and MAR any time by email here.
ABOUT BOTH THE MAR and SIR AWARDS:
Both programs are open for application by any serious emerging or established artist, including recent graduates from college art programs. The MAR program was developed to allow artists to focus on their personal, self-directed studio production with the goal of exhibition, while the SIR program was developed to offer earlier-career artists low-pressure opportunities to further research areas of creative interests, including both studio production, refinement of media skills and art fundamentals, and possibly teaching, as well as to provide a vibrant supporting peer culture. Alternatively, the SIR also offers the chance of a year of exploratory teaching for career educators. Both residencies will benefit Manifest's community by providing the public exposure to the often unseen working space and practices of artists, serving to eliminate some boundaries to contemporary artmaking which currently may divide the everyday public from the fine visual arts.
International (non-U.S. resident) artists will be responsible for securing their own travel authorization, Visa documents, etc. Manifest cannot secure such authorization, but can provide basic documentation explaining the nature of the residency to any authorities who require it.
The ideal candidates for the award of either program may be working in any media or genre suitable for the space provided, but would also make reasonable use of the available Drawing Center life-drawing sessions and/or darkroom facility even if this is ancillary activity to their primary work. Suitability for teaching will be considered, but will not be a primary factor in the selection process, and a teaching appointment is not guaranteed.
The Scholar in Residence will primarily operate within the studios of Manifest Drawing Center (the DC at M1), It must be understood that:
• All areas of the DC at M1 are communal and multi-use except the private SIR studio.
• The nature of the new M1 facility is such that some spaces, such as future galleries, offices, and support spaces, may be in flux, under construction, or in use as temporary creative programming space.
• Large and long-term projects will need to be managed in collaboration with the DC Manager, instructional staff, and moderators. However, a small portion of the DC, storage shelves, and other storage spaces shall be reserved for the artist’s continual, individual use.
The Artist Residency studios are currently adjacent to Manifest Gallery, sharing a common hallway in the same building. The studio consists of two north-lit rooms on the first floor and a semi-private hallway usable for display. The entire residency space totals approximately 500 square feet.
The Resident Artist(s) and Scholar will be selected by a committee comprised of internal staff, board members, and external academic/professional advisors. Primary criteria for selection will include:
- Quality, nature, and consistency of sample work.
- Motivation and potential for the creation of excellent new work during residency.
- The degree to which the individual will further develop and benefit from the program and reciprocate with involvement and new positive energy for the culture around Manifest and our communities.
- The ability of the artist to take full advantage of the opportunity and utilize the program resources to maximize its benefits.
Goals for the Manifest Residency Programs include:
- Provide an ideal space for the creation of new work. Above all else productivity and time spent working in the provided studio are critical.
- Greatly increase the likelihood of future success for the resident artist or scholar.
- Offer the opportunity to develop drawing or other art-making skills relative to the consistent availability of life drawing models and a darkroom facility, or to explore how life-drawing can relate to other art-making activities. (Applicants are NOT required to be figurative artists nor photographers.)
- Create a supportive environment for development as a teaching artist.
- Place the artist in a vital and growing arts community in Cincinnati, with locations ideal for meeting with and learning from other artists and arts organizations in the city.
- Expand how Manifest's programming impacts individual artists, our community, and artmaking in society.
- Establish a broad view into contemporary art by providing the public with insights into both art production (exhibits) and processes (studio) under one organizational umbrella, as well as supporting Manifest's own exhibition processes.
Basic conditions for the program:*
The Artist in Residence/Scholar in Residence must remain in good standing, fully using the spaces and resources provided, and participating in the public and programming components of the Award in order to remain in the program for the full duration. Presently the MAR and SIR are strictly a one-year program, without the option for shorter durations. Accepting the award constitutes a commitment to the full year. Manifest believes that a year-long immersion in the process, culture, and energy of the MAR/SIR is required in order for the programs to make their intended positive impact on the artistic career path of each resident artist.
For the MAR, the public component includes opening the studio and hosting public guests during Manifest's nine exhibit receptions and nine preview events across the year*, and for the SIR, the public component includes regularly displaying in-process and finished work in public spaces of the DC. For all residents, public components may also include possible instruction of courses (for pay), as well as possible volunteer moderation of Open Life Drawing Sessions or darkroom lab times, artist talks, and documentary activities. *
Manifest reserves the right to document the studio and works made during the residency, and to use images in program and organizational promotional material, including websites and publications, at any time.
The Residency space is not a dwelling, and includes no kitchen or bathing facilities. The artist must secure their own living arrangements. Manifest will provide advice and as much informational assistance as possible in placing the artist in close proximity to the studio. (East Walnut Hills, Walnut Hills, Clifton, and Northside have many excellent options for apartments, some in historic homes, within walking distance to both of Manifest's facilities.)
The Residency spaces are provided as-is, unfurnished and unequipped. The artist may need to provide their own furniture or equipment needed to utilize the space.
At the conclusion of the residency, the artist must return the space to the same condition in which it was awarded to them (or better).
The MAR and SIR programs currently involve no cash award or payment to the artist, other than for the potential pay for courses taught which would be on a separate contractual basis. The value of the awards is estimated at approximately $10,000 per artist.
Manifest will not conduct the sale of the artist's work unless it is included in a Manifest exhibit, or by separate agreement. The artist may sell their own work (and only their work), on their own terms, to interested patrons, but must not utilize the MAR or SIR spaces as a selling venue, booth, or other quasi-commercial facility. Any uncertainty about this should be discussed with Manifest's Director or administrative staff.
To ensure the artists take full advantage of the program, and maximize the benefits it offers, as well as provide reciprocal involvement, the Manifest Residency spaces should be the sole primary creative studios of the artists during the residency period.
Periodic reviews may be conducted to ensure the integrity of the program. This may include routine monthly studio visits and discussions with Manifest's Executive Director, board members, or staff.
* Submission of application indicates agreement to the terms spelled out in this prospectus. A more detailed formal agreement, further clarifying the terms, will be provided upon establishment of the award recipient.
Questions can be emailed to Executive Director, Jason Franz at: jason@manifestgallery.org
In General:
Well over 300 artists exhibit, and 4000 or more patrons visit Manifest Gallery each year. The Drawing Center hosts a roughly equal number of program participants per year and thrives with a robust ongoing community of dedicated artists of all ages. In its first year at M1 (our new facility) attendance doubled at the Drawing Center! Thousands of artists submit works to Manifest's thematic exhibits and our three major publications produced at the gallery. Our exhibits are routinely reviewed in local, and sometimes national news and art publications (including Sculpture Magazine, Drawing Magazine, and Art Papers among others). Our exhibition, publication, and residency programs have created a worldwide network of thousands of Manifest 'alum' many of whom stay in touch, collaborate, and support each other over time. Our Drawing Center attracts and supports a healthy community of active creative learners, including regional professors, students, professional artists, and aspiring novices. We have been told that all of this makes involvement at Manifest, and in the MAR/SIR programs, extremely valuable.
Manifest will accept applications for the MAR and SIR awards on an ongoing basis, reviewing them starting in early April for the upcoming one-year term. Notifications will be made in late May, with the start date for both residencies being July 1st of each year.
The Manifest organization is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit and as such operates on a very lean budget with the support of hard won grants, as well as heartfelt individual donations, and in-kind professional and volunteer services. As such, all submissions and applications to projects include modest entry/submission fees. These are either at or below the national norm for such fees, and we work very hard to maximize all our resources to make the benefits of submission to and participation in our programs more valuable than most gallery experiences. With a mission to stand for quality in the visual arts, we set our own bar high, and generally exceed the expectations of participating artists and our patrons.
Learn about the past MAR and SIR artists here.
Eligibility: Any adult visual artist can submit an application. Artists should bear in mind the criteria listed above when submitting.
Media/Genre: Open to artists working in any traditional and non-traditional genre and media suitable for our studio spaces. Manifest sets out to survey, exhibit, and document excellent quality amongst all types of visual art. Our record of showing a broad mix speaks for itself. This philosophy carries over into the MAR and SIR programs.
Submission Fee: Each application must be accompanied by a $50 non-refundable
submission fee. Fee must be paid
by U.S. check or U.S. or International money order made payable to MANIFEST, or by credit card
via PayPal. (If paying by PayPal PLEASE use the paypal link provided on the page that follows the submission of the online application form.) There is no need to submit separate applications to both the MAR and SIR if you are interested in participating in either. Simply indicate 'both' in the appropriate spot on the application form.
How many works should I submit?
For applications we request 12 images of sample work be sent for consideration. These works should indicate as nearly as possible the intended direction/scope of your residency focus. If your direction is uncertain, then please explain this in your narrative answers on the application form.
Images and Info: Manifest accepts only digital images and documents for consideration. See specifications below. The gallery will retain the submitted images of the successful applicants and reserves the right to use the images in publications and organization/program publicity. Please do not send links to Google Drive documents. Web links should only be used for files too large for email (such as video files). Jpegs should be sent as email attachments only.
Digital Format: Digital images and PDF resume should be uploaded to the given application Dropbox. Video works should be submitted by way of a link to online viewable content included in the notes section of that work's information on the application form.
Any email inquiry should include the artist's full name
as subject along with 'MAR or SIR application'
Application images must meet the following specifications:
File names (for images AND other documents) = artist's last name (underscore) first name, followed by the image number as noted on the application form
(i.e.Jones_Mike_1.jpg).
Detail, installation, or alternate view images must include the word 'detail' in the filename (i.e. Jones_Mike_1detail_1.jpg).
Detail info should NOT be included on the application form. The image files should be in HIGH QUALITY JPEG format,
images should be no smaller than 1000 pixels in width or height and
72dpi.
Images must be oriented properly (i.e. top of image is top
of artwork) and should not include text info or borders that are not part of the actual work.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING VIDEO, MOTION, and INTERACTIVE, ENTRIES or DETAILS
Manifest requests that all video or interactive submissions, or video details illustrating an entry, be in the form of a link to a viewable online copy of each work. The work should be shown online in its full length.
Note that a jpeg still image should still be submitted to represent the work in addition to the video material, and this file name should include the term 'video'. Please email us if you have any uncertainty about this (info@manifestgallery.org)
Video links should be provided on the application form for each work in the NOTES or LINKS section, and should link directly to online or downloadable content that does NOT require a login, password or membership to view. These may be in the form of Youtube, Vimeo, Dropbox, or other similar links. Effort should be made to eliminate confusion or extraneous information that may interfere with the jury's viewing of the work. Any extraneous information, or material not considered to be 'the work' will inevitably detract from the jury score for that work.
Links to entries must remain valid and active through the notification of jury results
Entry
Checklist: (for your reference)
Completed
application form (online submission is required) |
Fee paid by check or credit card via PayPal (payable to
Manifest)
|
| Digital images formatted as directed and loaded to the Dropbox |
| Artist's resume in PDF format (loaded to the Dropbox) |
PLEASE USE THE PROJECT DROPBOX TO LOAD IMAGE FILES AFTER SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY FORM. A LINK TO THIS DROPBOX WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED IN THE EMAILED COPY OF YOUR FORM IN CASE YOU CHOOSE TO LOAD FILES LATER.
POSTAL MAIL
If sending entry fee by check, please be sure it is postmarked by the deadline and mailed to:
Manifest
Creative Research Gallery
MANIFEST ARTIST RESIDENCY APPLICATION
P.O. Box 6218
Cincinnati, OH 45206
e-mail jason@manifestgallery.org with
questions
(PLEASE feel
free to print, share, or forward this information.)
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Current MAR west studio
Current MAR north studio
Current MAR west studio
A view down Woodburn Ave. towards Manifest Gallery and DeSales Corner
 Manifest Gallery street view
 Manifest Main Gallery view
 Manifest's M1 - the location of Drawing Center and SIR programming as of in mid-2022. The future home of the Manifest Center for the Visual Arts.
 Manifest Drawing Center welcome message in former location lobby (2020)
Open Life Drawing at Drawing Center
Studio wall dominated by work made by SIR 2019/20 Mike Bale
 First SIR, Angela Livezey, at work at Drawing Center
 Photos made in Manifest's darkroom by SIR, Isaiah Armstrong
 A small sampling of the Center's Natural Specimen Collection
 A small sample of our expansive Cast Collection
 A playful moment and instructional installation at the Center
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