Carver Bank Information Sessions
Carver Bank Artists-in-Residence Program
Open Call | Apply Now
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and Rebuild Foundation invite applications for their joint Artists-in-Residence Program beginning in January 2013 and culminating with a public exhibition at the Carver Bank in 2014.
About the Carver Bank Artists-in-Residence Program
The Carver Bank Artists-in-Residence Program provides a dedicated artist work studio and a $500 monthly stipend ($6,000 throughout the year) to exceptional North Omaha-minded artists or collaboratives—with an emphasis on artists of color, North Omaha residents, and those whose work critically engages issues of race and ethnicity. Three artists or collaboratives will be selected for the 12-month program.
The program provides the opportunity to draw on mentorships and resources from internationally recognized artist Theaster Gates and Bemis Center and Rebuild Foundation staff to: develop, advance, and showcase their work; deepen their individual practices through critique, public engagement, skills and knowledge sharing; and create a space where personal artistic inquiry and collaborative relationships can flourish.
The artists selected for this program can be at any stage in their careers and work in all disciplines, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, new media, installation, performance, music, interdisciplinary, social practice, architecture, or hybrids of the above. In addition to dedicated studio space at the Carver Bank, artists will have access to: Carver Bank’s interior and exterior performance and exhibition spaces, and the Bemis Center’s facility, which includes a woodshop, welding and ceramic equipment, and the 3,000 volume Clare Haas Howard Art Research Library.
About Town Hall + Carver Bank
Theaster Gates’ Town Hall + Carver Bank project is an effort to develop a new cultural space in the Near North Side neighborhood. Town Hall began in late 2010 with a series of dialogues and dinners with artists, stakeholders and potential partners, and this listening process continued throughout 2011. Currently underway, the renovation of the Carver Bank building marks the beginning of the second phase of Town Hall. Carver Bank, at 2416 Lake St., is the site of the first African American-owned bank in Omaha. The project’s goal is for the site to become a space of public participation and cultural adventure, and serve as a hub for the creative and public life of its neighborhood and community. Opening in winter 2012/13, Carver Bank will house exhibition and performance space, artist studios, a Big Mama’s Kitchen sandwich shop, and a transformed exterior landscape.
Application and Selection Process
Early deadline: Nov. 19*
Final deadline: Nov. 30
Studio visits and interviews (selected artists): Nov. 19 – Dec. 7
Announcement of selected artists: week of Dec. 10
To apply, please submit:
1. curriculum vitae (cv) or resume
2. brief letter of interest that addresses how this opportunity would further your artistic practice and why you would like to be part of the Town Hall + Carver Bank program
3. Work samples in the format most appropriate to your art form (ex. YouTube/Vimeo links, pdf, jpeg, tiff, mp3, 1 megabyte limit per attachment/upload)
*Early applications are encouraged. Application materials are due at 4:59 CST on Nov. 19 and Nov. 30.
Materials may be submitted via:
Online Application: http://www.bemiscenter.org/carverbank/application.html
Email: Jessica [at] bemiscenter [dot] org
Mail/Delivery:
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
c/o Jessica Scheuerman, Carver Bank Program Coordinator
724 South 12th Street
Omaha, NE 68102
Upon review of application materials, selected artists will be invited to participate in studio visits and/or interviews with Bemis Center staff and Theaster Gates.
Information Sessions
To tour the Carver Bank building and site (currently under renovation) or to ask questions about the application or project, please attend a 30-minute info session at Carver Bank, 2416 Lake St.
• Monday, November 5, 12:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 13, 6:00 p.m.
• Friday, November 16, 12:00 noon
For further information contact Jessica Scheuerman: jessica [at] bemiscenter [dot] org | 402.341.7130 x 20