The North Street Collective Resident Artist Program offers an opportunity for individual artists or duos of any discipline to create, advance or complete work in a self-guided and self-motivated way. We especially encourage partnerships of artists and scientists or artists and community activists who seek to work together in new ways to apply. Since we are a new program, we are looking for people who are entrepreneurial by nature and who will also contribute to the growth and spirit of our new effort.
We are located at 350 North Street, Willits, California 95490
Q: What’s the schedule?
Our Spring/Summer Term runs May 7– August 20, and Fall Term runs September 10-December 17. Residents may apply to stay for two weeks to three months. North Street accommodates up to three residents at a time. We also host exhibits, open houses and other events throughout the year.
We are accepting applications until March 15th, 2017.
Q: Who can apply?
North Street Collective Residents are emerging or established artists who come from a variety of background and disciplines, or are working experimentally across several disciplines. In keeping with Mendocino’s unique heritage and sense of place, artists from Native American backgrounds, and Mexican artists, and artists whose work is connected to ecology have special priority for residencies. We also celebrate artists working with wood or other materials from the local natural environment; artists working with railroad-related themes; or those with a social practice related to this region of the world, including water, food system, and social justice. We are encouraging applications from artists representing the widest possible ranges of perspectives and demographics. To that end, emerging as well as established artists are invited to apply.
Q: What else is expected of the artists?
In addition to working on a clearly-defined project, residents are asked to make some sort of contribution to the community. Artists are encouraged to conduct one public performance or event. This can take form of an open rehearsal, a screening, a reading, a class, or a talk. Workshops and community events are strongly encouraged.
Q: What is the facility like?
Remodeled in 2016, North Street combines workspace with communal living space. The flexible and multipurpose interior and grounds house formal and informal performance and work space. We have three bedrooms/workrooms, two large interior studio/gallery spaces, and two external work platforms. We encourage artists to build connections locally, and to explore all facts of North Street and Willits and Mendocino, inside and out.
Q. What kind of art is acceptable?
Residents are professionals working in or across following artistic disciplines, with priority given to artists from whom this place is most conducive to their work, especially those with connections to Native American communities, Mexico, and with an interest in ecology and the natural environment:
Literature, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, and translation;
Visual Art, including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, mixed media and installation art;
Plastic & Industrial Arts, including sculpting, design, and drafting;
Performance, including choreography, performance art, multi-media and/or collaborative works incorporating live performance;
Film, Video, & other Media, including narrative, documentary and experimental films, animation, and screenplays;
Gardening, Horticulture, & Wellness, including edible, decorative, and permaculture;
Culinary Arts, while we do not plan to offer a professional or commercial kitchen and will probably only be able to provide the basics in our space, we could also potentially welcome culinary artists who seek a reflective time to experiment with or write about their craft.
Science and Research, especially ecology, geography, biology
Green Building, Energy, and Design, smaller projects and/or writing about these
Political and Social Organizing, especially projects relevant to the local community
For more information and to start your application, click here.