The Museum of Glass in Tacoma announced an open call for artists from all mediums to participate in the Museum's2021 Visiting Artist Residency Program, with the caveat that the program will go forward if the pandemic allows institutions to reopen. Each year the Museum invites artists to apply for the Visiting Artist Residency to further their exploration of glass medium or continue working on a current series, and it remains one of the most sought-after opportunities to make work in the field. An example of the program’s notable residents are glass artists Dante Marioni and John Kiley who recently completed a collaborative project at the MOG’s Hot Shop in March of 2020.
The residency program hosts selected artists in the MOG’s Hot Shop and offers the assistance of its Hot Shop Team. Running all year, residences can last up to five days with unlimited access to the MOG’s Hot Shop equipment and support of up to three members of the Hot Shop team. Moreover, visiting artists have the chance to access coldworking for the duration of two full days. To apply, prospective candidates must submit concise proposals, accompanied by photographs or sketches of their artistic projects. The committee will prioritize the artists who are looking to enhance their work by experimenting with new ideas and techniques. It is important to note that if an artist has received a Residency at MOG in the recent past, the Museum asks to abstain a candidate from applying for a residency for three years.
The Sheldon Levin Memorial Application Visiting Artist Residency - named after a longtime emcee of the "Thursdays in the Hot Shop" event - celebrates the connections between art and science. The limited residency slots are available for the artists whose works involve a scientific approach to the glass art projects.
The residents work in full view of the visitors during the Museum’s hours (Wednesday–Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, Sunday 12 PM to 5 PM). Moreover, visiting artists are required to present a public lecture on Sunday from 2-3 PM.
According to the application, artists will be responsible for travel, accommodations, and special order materials. In addition, artists are accountable for arranging preparations for packing, insuring, and shipping of artwork prior to the residency. Note that artists are expected to donate up to two works made during the residency program, preparing one piece for the Museum’s permanent collection and presenting another artwork at the Museum’s annual auction.
Keep in mind that because Washington state is seeing a resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Museum still has not reopened to the public. In the email interview with Glass Quarterly Hot Sheet, the MOG’s director of marketing and communications April Matson briefly spoke about the current reopening situation, “We're currently working through reopening. Like other arts organizations in Washington we cannot open until our communities move into the next phase of reopening, or until approval is granted by our governor.” Additionally, Matson commented on the safety protocols for the visiting artists in light of the pandemic, “we're developing best practices around hygiene and safety. Since the situation is still evolving we'll share more about our exact standards upon reopening.”
The application deadline is Sunday, November 1, 2020, by midnight PST (Standard Pacific Time). To apply, visit the 2021 Visiting Artist Residency Application page and create an application account on Submittable via the MOG’s website. For additional questions about the Visiting Artist Residency application process email artistapplications@museumofglass.org.