Artist Residency Program Overview
For a period of three months, the Artist-in-Residence will receive professional support as well as spiritual development opportunities as they engage in the life of the church. The program is designed to shift with the artist’s needs and giftings, but the goal is to benefit both the church and the resident. What the resident can expect from this program:
- Artistic mentoring with Sarah Hempel Irani
- Spiritual Direction
- A vibrant Christian Community
- Optional Studio Space (located 1 mile from the church)
- Honorarium of $1,000, plus fundraising efforts for materials (Grant from the Delaware-Maryland Synod)
The expectation is that you would create a work or works for the church that helps us better communicate our stories, the story of Good Shepherd, all rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Life of the Church
Our hope is that the Artist-in-Residence will become an integral part of the life of our church for a season. (While it is not necessary to live in Frederick full-time, we would expect regular engagement with the community.) The expectation is that you would be in regular attendance at worship services, be present for community engagement opportunities at Good Shepherd and meet regularly with the Communications Ministry Team. We invite you to be a part of our community!
Who Can Apply
This program is best suited for visual artists who are interested in narrative and community. It would be ideal for a young artist just starting out. We would love to support you in your artistic vocation and help you grow spiritually. It might be ideal for an older artist who is switching to a more studio-focused life. Or this might work well for an artist in retirement, who may have loads of experience and wants to be a part of a spiritual community. Ideal applicants do not have to be Christian, but must be willing to engage with the Christian story and seek to integrate their understanding of the Christian faith with their vocational calling as an artist—developing practices that seek to create work for the benefit of the broader community.
Application Questions
- ) Please submit a short biography (.pdf) including the following:
- Contact Information
- Medium(s)
- Website/ Social Media Pages
2.) Write a letter of interest (.pdf) addressing the following questions:
- Why do you want to be an Artist-in-Residence at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church?
- What growth opportunities would this program afford you?
- Do you have a current connection with a church?
- What kind of project do you imagine working on during your residency?
- How can you connect it to the 70th Anniversary of Good Shepherd?
- Do you need studio space? Any particular needs?
3.) Upload up to 10 images using Google Slides, if you don’t have an online portfolio.
Submit to [email protected]
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: May 15th