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Department of Arts & Culture Currently in Search of Four Local Artists for a Year Long, Paid Artist Residency

DAC will hire four artists through Artists at Work program to collaborate on social impact initiatives.

July 20, 2022 - The City of Albuquerque's Department of Arts & Culture (DAC) has been selected to serve as a Cultural Hub for the Artists At Work (AAW) initiative in partnership with THE OFFICE performing arts + film. DAC is searching for four local artists to collaborate on social impact initiatives during a year long, paid artist residency through an open call at https://bit.ly/3ohiRrK. For a period of 12-months, each participating artist will receive a living wage salary of $32,500 (calculated using the MIT Living Wage Calculator for the region, less medical expenses), plus healthcare benefits.

AAW is a workforce resilience program designed to support the rebuilding of healthy communities through artistic civic engagement. Conceived as a public/private partnership, the program will provide a salary, plus full health benefits and professional development resources directly to participating artists; provide financial support to participating local cultural organizations; and connect both to the work of local social impact initiatives in areas such as child welfare, food and housing security, antiracism, physical and mental health, justice reform, sustainable and equitable development, environmental justice and climate resiliency, and immigration. It is designed to impact the whole ecosystem of a community.

Artists interested in applying can find the application at https://bit.ly/3ohiRrK. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 26, 2022 no later than 7 p.m.

Conceived as a public/private partnership, the program will:

  • Provide a salary, plus full health benefits and professional development resources directly to participating artists;
  • Provide financial support to participating local cultural organizations;
  • Connect both to the work of local social impact initiatives in areas such as antiracism, justice reform, sustainability and equitable development, health, economy, homelessness and housing, child welfare, and immigration. It is designed to impact the whole ecosystem of a community.

Candidates must be:

  • In-need of full-time arts employment (not a tenured teacher/artist); 
  • Have, or are interested in, developing a social practice (antiracism, justice reform, sustainability and equitable development, health, economy, homelessness and housing, child welfare, or immigration)


Through this residency, participating artists will:

  • Engage with their creative practice and the creation of their work.
  • Work in partnership with a local Social Impact Initiative or Community Partner to help bring focus to issues that are relevant and responsive to the needs of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County (approximately 12-15 hours/week). Social Impact Initiative/Community Partner can be an organization the artist already works with, otherwise, CABQ DAC will assist in identifying potential partners.
  • Commit to a project, or area of work, as the focus during the 12-month residency.
  • Create new work as part of an ongoing project in partnership with CABQ DAC, and the selected Social Impact Initiative, with a commitment to exhibit work and/or participate in events to be presented free and open to the public.
  • Attend monthly check-ins and/or Professional Development workshops and Artist Work Shares.
  • Be responsible for monthly progress surveys (via email) to be submitted to THE OFFICE performing arts + film.
  • Keep a video, audio or written journal and/or other documentation of the work created during the residency.
  • Be employed by THE OFFICE performing arts + film for the 12-month term and receive a salary and benefits.


CABQ Department of Arts and Culture will:

  • Select qualified artist candidates through an ad hoc committee comprised of CABQ Staff, local artists and local organizational partners.
  • Assist with marketing, outreach, curatorial and administrative support.
  • Assist with the selection of a Social Impact Initiative/Community Partner should the artist not already have one.
  • Assist with organizing exhibition/event opportunities for community engagement with the artist, their chosen project and Social Impact Initiative.

To apply for this program, please fill out the online form at https://bit.ly/3ohiRrK with attention to attaching the following:

A cover letter answering the following questions:
- Are you a resident of Albuquerque or Bernalillo County and have you been financially impacted by COVID-19?
- What is the nature of your current employment status? (Full-time at one company, organization or academic institution? (if so, are you furloughed?)
Part-time at one or more of the above? Freelance artist / Self-employed? Unemployed? Other? (please explain))

-What is your arts practice?
          -Are you currently involved in working with a Social Impact Initiative or are you currently involved with a local organization working on any of the following: antiracism, justice reform, sustainability and equitable development, health, economy, homelessness and housing, child welfare, or immigration?
          -If not, which of the aforementioned initiatives would you be most interested in working with and why?
          -How will you participate in an arts in education or community outreach initiative suitable to your practice and in partnership with the chosen social impact community partner?
           -Please briefly describe your initial ideas for a project you would intend to work on throughout the residency, and what the final product or presentation would be.
        - How will you actively document your process with an online community and its social media? E.g. Virtual field trips, video blogs, remote studio visits etc.
        - How would you integrate members of the community into your work and process?
        - Please describe what your needs would be (e.g. Workspace, materials etc.)

- A resume
- A short artist bio
- A portfolio of current work, or links to a website/page where your work can be found.
- A photo of the artist (head shot) 

DEADLINE TO APPLY: NO LATER THAN 7 P.M. - AUGUST 26. 2022