** For Summer, 2016, Lakeside Lab is accepting artists-in-residence during the period of May 16 – June 24. Artists may apply for two to four week residencies.

Program Information

The Iowa Lakeside Lab invites artists, musicians, and composers of all genres to
apply for a two- to four- week residency. Artists from any region of the U.S. may apply.

The artist-in-residence program is part of an on-going partnership between artists, scientists, and community members in the Iowa Great Lakes Region of rural Northwest Iowa/Dickinson County. Artists whose work engages with ecology, science, and natural history are especially encouraged to apply.

Artists receive complimentary meals and housing. Artists have full access to the field station, its scientists, students, and the local community. In exchange, we ask our artists to host one “open studio” event or to create a community engagement project (approximately three to five hours of community contact time).

Applications are accepted from January 15 through March 15 for residencies in that calendar year. Selected artists will be notified in mid-April.

For residency and art-related questions, please contact Residency Co-Directors Lisa Johnson (14brushes@gmail.com) or Alex Braidwood (a@listeninginstruments.com)

Materials and Working Conditions

Artists should plan to bring tools and materials that they need because Lakeside does not have traditional working shops. The region is rural and peppered with small towns. Some supplies can be purchased in the area, but specialty products are not common.

Labs that are not in use are turned into studio spaces for our artists. Studios are large, with good natural light, and are shared by two to four artists at a time.

Artists are encouraged to use the landscape as their studio, and to interact with the natural landscape as much as possible. We are a nature preserve, and so we ask artists to carefully consider the environmental impacts of their on-site projects. Staff at the Lab will be happy to consult with artists-in-residence on specific environmental concerns.

Transportation

Artists must arrange their own transportation to and from Lakeside. A car is helpful, but not necessary. Bike trails connect much, but not all, of the area.

Open Studios & Community Engagement

Our artists organize one open studio event during their residency. Typically, two artists host their open studio together. Residency directors co-ordinate the dates of your open studio with other events on campus.

If you choose to do a community engagement event, we encourage you to think creatively about your projects. A typical community event includes 3-5 hours of contact time. It ma ybe a lecture, an art walk, a workshop, or another creative project.

Lakeside is a busy place in the summer. We’re happy to help you develop a project that engages with our community once you are accepted as an artist-in-residence. We understand that residencies can open up new ideas, and we are open to artists who would like to make adjustments once they are onsite.

The Application Process

Applications are accepted from January 15 through March 15 for residencies in that calendar year. Three to five artists are accepted annually. Artists working in diverse media are encouraged to apply. Selected artists will be notified in mid-April.

As part of Lakeside Lab’s commitment to developing new artists, one residency is reserved for an early-career artist each year. Artists should note on their application if they wish to be considered “early career.”

All applications must be submitted digitally using this link.

You will be asked to supply:

  1. An Artist-in-Residence application form
  2. 8-12 images of your work (as .jpg files)

    Resolution 100 dpi; maximum pixel dimensions 1600x1600

    Please label each image as follows: LastName.FirstInitial_Number.jpg (i.e. Smith.K_1.jpg)

    Sculptors may include three additional images if needed to show multiple views

    Multimedia artists may also submit up to 10 minutes of material via links to vimeo, youtube, or soundcloud

  3. A List of Works (pdf) that includes your name, the title of each piece, its dimensions, and date completed.
  4. A personal statement describing your work interests and how you see those fitting into art-science-community partnerships (up to 500 words)

You will receive an email confirmation once your application has been received. Thank you for your interest!