Interdisciplinary Five-Week Residency
The deadline for this opportunity has passed.
In 2021 the Oak Spring Garden Foundation will host three five-week interdisciplinary residencies.
Each session is designed to support eight artists, conservation practitioners, researchers, scholars, scientists or writers who are pursuing work inspired by plants, gardens, and landscapes.
The goal of this residency program is to provide individuals with the time and space to pursue their own creative projects alongside other residents who may be examining the natural world from different perspectives. By living and working side-by-side in a supportive environment with individuals of varying backgrounds and interests, we hope our residents experience interdisciplinary inspiration and interaction.
What We Provide
Residents will attend a series of events during the first week to become familiarized with the site, our staff, and the other residents in their cohort. These events will include tours of the formal garden, landscape and library, as well as an informal meet-and-greet with Oak Spring staff. After this introduction residents are free to work independently on their projects, explore our 700-acre sustainably managed landscape, and make appointments to visit the library during office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm).
Because OSGF believes in the importance of good, sustainably grown and locally sourced food, we will provide a chef who will prepare multiple communal dinners and prepare some grab-and-go lunches using produce from the on-site Biocultural Conservation Farm.
Residents will be expected to attend dinners prepared by the chef in order to promote interactions, facilitate interdisciplinary conversations and contribute to developing a stronger sense of community. Oak Spring will also provide a residency facilitator who will live on-site to provide day-to-day support to residents and arrange field trips and other social events.
The only requirement placed on residents after the initial introductory events is that they participate in a residency showcase during the final week of the residency. The residency showcase is a fun, informal opportunity for staff and a small number of guests to visit with the participants, see the visual artist’s studios, and learn about what residents have worked on during their time at Oak Spring.
Award
Applicants selected for this award will receive a $2,000 individual grant. Residents should arrange transportation to Dulles International Airport. We will then arrange transport to the Oak Spring estate in Upperville, Virginia. Residents who complete this program will be able to apply to our annual alumni residency.
Eligibility
Residents will be exceptional practitioners who desire time and space to work on their creative projects. Awards will be granted based on excellence and merit, the applicant’s interest in joining an interdisciplinary cohort of artists-practitioners-researchers-scientists, and their work’s relationship to OSGF’s mission. Awardees cannot be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program and must reside on-site for the entire duration of the program. We do not allow pets or overnight visitors during the residency.
Dates
- Session I (Sunday, May 16 – Friday, June 18, 2021)
- Session II (Monday, July 5 – Saturday, August 7, 2021)
- Session III (Sunday, August 22 – Friday, September 24, 2021)
Selection Process
Preliminary vetting will be done by OSGF staff. Applicants who meet the necessary requirements will be reviewed by an external panel of established and relevant professionals working in their field. The selection committee or committees will meet in-person to discuss applicants and select awardees.
For more information or to apply, visit osgf.org.
Deadline for applications is August 12, 2020.
