The Create Change Residency program supports the development of participatory and community-attuned creative projects by artists of color working within their communities. Projects may take place anywhere in the five boroughs either in person or virtually, across various community sites, from laundromats and urban gardens to playgrounds and community centers. The residency is a year-long program that runs from January to December.
The Create Change program is shaped around three learning blocks:
Make Art
What role does art, culture, and creativity play in making meaning, shifting narratives, and creating change in our communities? Participants examine a range of artforms across the fields of social practice and creative placemaking that align with The LP’s approaches to cultural asset mapping and leadership development.
Build Community
How can art and cultural practices build trust and accountability with communities? Participants will explore approaches to fostering attunement with community rhythms, building reciprocal partnerships, and the art of meeting people where they are.
Create Change
Understanding the power that exists within ourselves and our communities, how do we creatively leverage power for equity and positive societal change? Participants will explore personal and collective relationships to race, power, and privilege in order to facilitate social transformation through their art and cultural practices.
Overview
The program requires a significant time commitment as Artists-in-Residence are expected to develop collaborative projects in-community through deep partnership and engagement with neighbors, local stakeholders, and community organizations. The Residency offers a $15,000 honorarium and up to $10,000 in project production, a series of workshop sessions taken alongside the Create Change Fellows, monthly cohort coaching sessions, and professional development mentorship.
Duration
One Year
Honorarium + Production
$15,000 + $10,000
Number of Artists-in-Residence
Up to 3
Applications Close
August 21, 2023
LP Programming
A Past Workshop
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Program Format
Up to 3 Create Change Artists-in-Residence will be selected to participate in the 2023 program. The program schedule includes the following:
- Six workshops
- Individual and group coaching sessions on cultural organizing
- Public open studios to feature each artists work
- Monthly meetings with LP program staff
- Studio sessions with leading curators, artists, activists, and scholars
- A mentor to support the development of your project and creative practice at large
Open Call
Key Dates
Applications Open – July 19
Info Session – July 21 | 12:00pm EDT
Applications Closes – August 19
Residency Interview Panel – September 15
Bed-Stuy Residency Interview Panel – September 19
Award Notification – October 2023
Info Session
Learn more about the Create Change program and the selection process from LP staff and alumni artists by participating in the info session on July 21 at 12:00pm – 1:00pm. The session will be hosted via Google Meet and live closed captioning will be available through the platform. A recording of the session will be available for all to reference on our website.
Selection Process Overview
APPLICATION REVIEWS
LP staff will review all applications and select a shortlist to be invited for an interview with our Artist and Community Council panel. Due to the volume of applicants, we are not able to provide feedback to candidates who do not progress to the interview round.
SHORTLIST RESIDENCY INTERVIEW PANELS
We will convene via Zoom conference to conduct the interview panels. Residency candidates will be interviewed on September 19.
SHORTLIST FELLOWSHIP APPLICANTS
Fellowship candidates will be asked to submit additional materials as part of the second round process. There is no interview panel for the Fellowship program.
Eligibility
Ideal candidates have experience with developing collaborative or community-based projects. They demonstrate an alignment with LP values, have a background in community organizing and outreach strategies, and are at a catalytic moment within their creative practices.
Eligible Residency Candidates:
- 21 and above
- Are in alignment with The LP’s values and POC-centered principles
- Have a demonstrated creative practice which is committed to community building and public engagement
- Demonstrate an interest or practice in socially and community engaged art
- Is familiar with the cultural history and local issues impacting Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn
- Lives, works, and/or shows demonstrated investment in the Bed-Stuy communities
- Are committed to co-creating a community art project
- Are familiar with the cultural history and local issues impacting the neighborhood they are proposing to work with
Bed-Stuy Residency
To help counter structural, systemic injustices in Bed-Stuy, we will prioritize:
- Applications from generational and long-term (10+ consecutive years) residents
- Applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, Native and/or People of Color
- Applications from individuals in the disability community, including immunocompromised individuals
- Applications from individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+
FAQs
I do not identify as a community-based artist or one that incorporates social practice within my work. Am I eligible for the program?
Yes, you are eligible. We know that traditional models of formal training for visual artists (be they based in universities or facilitated through residencies emphasizing individual aesthetic and/or professional development) quite often do not fully prepare them to work with and in a community in a sustained or even substantive way.
Create Change was created to offer artists an opportunity to deepen or develop a public art practice that graduates from a model of placing static art objects in public spaces to one that emphasizes the ways art and artists can serve as catalysts for social action and relationship building (not just contemplation). We realize that some artists may not identify as community-based artists or social practitioners, but are curious about making work in this way. We created the Fellowship program to provide a space where artists can build on their approaches to community-based art making.
What is the time commitment for the program?
Over the course of the program, Fellows and Artists-in-Residence will spend roughly 50 hours participating in workshop sessions and related programming, and should plan to spend an additional 50 hours attending professional development offerings, work sessions with their cohort, coaching sessions, artist salons. Artists-in-Residence will also spend a substantial amount of time developing their independent projects.
I’ve already participated in several professional development programs. What is unique about Create Change?
Create Change is not a typical series of professional development workshops. Some of the topics and themes covered every year include: cultural arts organizing, building community partnerships, deep listening and storytelling, understanding public policy, dismantling racism through art, and more. We believe in the tenets of popular education and draw from the immense and diverse knowledge of the cohort participants throughout the program.
This experiential form of learning is central to The LP’s mission and core values, which we imbue in all of our programs. Besides concrete skills and experiential learning opportunities, one of the greatest benefits we offer our artists is a network of like-minded practitioners and supporters.
Do I have to be a “visual artist” or professional practitioner to apply? How do you define a professional artist?
Artists working in any art form are eligible to apply as long as they are interested in community-based art making. As a community-based program we recognize that there are many accomplished artists who do not identify themselves as “professional artists” and/or do not earn their living solely from art-making. Successful applicants are able to demonstrate a record of artistic experience; and analytical thinking skills to contribute to the collaborative learning environment.
How much of the hybrid program schedule will be in-person?
We are planning to host some of the workshops and public programs in-person at our storefront in Bed-Stuy, while the professional development offerings (coaching, mentorship, office hours, etc) will be scheduled through Zoom or Google Meet.
What kind of tech access will I need in order to participate?
- Access to reliable and consistent internet connection
- Access to a computer or tablet with camera and a microphone (not a phone if possible)
- A Zoom account set up and familiarity with the features (you can open an account for free here)
A Google Meet account (you may access it via a gmail account, open a free account here)
Do I have to be based in NYC during the Fellowship or Residency program?
Yes, only artists that are currently based in NYC are eligible to apply for the Fellowship and Residency programs.
May I receive feedback on my application?
Due to the high volume of applicants, we only share feedback with candidates who advance to the interview stage of the application process.
What kind of projects are ineligible for the residency programs?
Solo production of art works made for personal practice. Proposals with no involvement, impact, or engagement with additional stakeholders or a broader community.
