ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Deadline for 2025 Applications August 31, 2024
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CMCArts connects artists with St. Croix and the Caribbean to develop their professional practice while educating and diversifying the arts culture. We provide dedicated time and space in the scenic town of Frederiksted for artists to work, research, and develop while living at the museum in our artist-in-residence apartment.
CMCArts is a non-profit organization, with limited funding sources. We were founded in 1994 as a means of addressing the increase in violence afflicting the youth of St. Croix by providing and teaching alternative forms of positive expression through art. We are a comprehensive working Art Center for the Virgin Islands and Caribbean Region where people of many cultures and talents can gather to share in creation. CMCArts Artists in residence will stay in Historic Frederiksted and will be provided a one bedroom fully furnished apartment with a full kitchen and living/workspace. While here, the artist-in-residence acts as an ambassador to the museum by providing community outreach via workshops, school programs, and artist talks.
To be accepted into CMCArts Artist-in-Residence Program all artists must complete this application form and email it to cmcarts by August 31 for a residency the following. Based on the application, a phone interview, and the space available the artist will be notified by October 31 if they have been accepted to the program.
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Submit your Application by emailing to the link below
LOCATION CMCArts is located in a restored building on the waterfront of Frederiksted on the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Croix. Frederiksted has served as a catalyst for change throughout the Virgin Islands. It is the historic location where enslaved African-Caribbean Virgin Islanders led the 1848 revolt that ended the enslavement of Africans and their descendants. Situated on the western edge of the island Frederiksted is also known as Freedom City by the town's 1,000 year-round residents. BACK TO TOP
FACILITIES CMCArts has a shared ceramics studio equipped with a sink, several wheels and a kiln. This space can also be utilized for multi-media production, including printmaking, drawing and other mixed media but with limited wall space. In addition, our Courtyard is a great space for artists to create under our large tent. The living room / studio space in the apartment is equipped with 2 work tables and we encourage artists to utilize the walls. Artists can use this time as a creative incubator for conceptualizing ideas and research. To this end, artist of all disciplines are encouraged to apply, including writers, filmmakers, poets, playwrights, performance artists, musicians, etc. Please note the residency apartment is located on the 3rd floor with no elevator. BACK TO TOP
TERMS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM
Funding: We are a small art museum. CMCArts actively applies for grants, and we have awarded teaching artist-in-residence $1,000-$2500 stipend for 3-6 week stays. Artists are responsible travel expenses, local travel, food, car rental, and personal art supplies. Please be advised that everything is more expensive on island than in the states. We are happy to assist artists in the process of requesting their own funding by providing a formal letter of acceptance in the program.
Guests in the Apartments: If accepted into the program a spouse or partner is allowed to stay in the artist-in-residence apartment for part of the residency.
Your Artwork: Artists are requested to donate one piece of original artwork to add to our Museum Collection. Dancers and Musicians are asked to give a free performance. Writers are requested to give a reading. This request applies for both CMCArts Teaching Residency and Artist Residency Programs.
CMCArts offers both Teaching and Non-Teaching Artist Residencies.
Fee: Non-teaching Residency fee is $150 per night for a minimum 7-night stay
Deposit: For an artist residency that is not teaching, artists are requested to pay a 50% deposit of their Residency fees upon approval. The deposit is non-refundable..
Non-Discrimination Policies: CMCArts will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. BACK TO TOP
The four weeks I spent as artist-in-residence at Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts refined my teaching, honed my creating, and integrated me into the community in such a way I felt naturalized by St. Croix into a citizen-in-residence of Frederiksted. The ways in which the students, young and adult, engage the creative learning process was invigorating. I love that they bring themselves when learning. In the states, that’s not always the case; we tend to bring our expectations. In St. Croix, they bring who they are and what they have to share. It’s one of the most sharing cultures with whom I’ve ever been engaged. They were at the museum for me as much as I was there for them, and ironically, I always left with more.
I must say I’m a different person now after going to CMCArts. I found my pace in sunny St. Croix. Whether in Frederiksted or Christiansted, I fit. I was able to anchor my work in how it began, accessible work about the people. On my walks, I’d meet folk chatting it up on the streets, visit store owners in their shops, or enjoy pate from festival on my way to the beach. Hearing music dance with the breeze as passersby greet one another with time of day just made me feel good; made me feel seen. Point is it’s always about people; people matter more. I was invited into people’s homes, farms, studios, and workspaces. They shared like it was breathing. It was air for them. What did Kahlil Gibran say, “to withhold is to perish.” I felt so absorbed by Frederiksted that when tourists scatteredly crossed Strand Street from a visiting cruise ship, I said to myself, “Look at all these visitors… just everywhere…” LOL I had to laugh at myself when I heard myself say it out loud.
I definitely have to go back. Every person at the museum made sure I had what I needed for classes and the materials and supplies were prepped and ready to roll. Additionally, I love that I could participate in the museum’s other programming which helped bridge and elevate my learning. The living and workspace not only have beautiful views and balconies, but rests in a historical courtyard perfect for reflection and appreciation of nature. I must admit, when I drove away on the way to the airport, I circled the block to sit at the entrance of CMCArts where a Moko Jumbie stands reminding us of the healing nature of where I claimed home for four extraordinary weeks.
-Clayton Singleton, honorary Cruzan. Happiness.
“Our residency at CMCArts was powerful and restorative. Complete with views of palm trees and turquoise water from the piano bench, relaxing and spacious accommodations, and inspirational creativity all around us. We played music with so many wonderful people, toured art studios, and watched the sunset every evening. Grateful to be welcomed and immersed in the unique beautiful CMCArts community! “
Amy K Bormet
APARTMENT
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