Artist in Residence

Artists working in all mediums are welcome.  

Priority will be given to artists local to the South Fork River Basin which includes Gaston, Lincoln, Catawba, and Cleveland counties, followed by those within the extended Catawba River Basin.

Artists must align with our mission to provide the community with access to art.

Confluence will promote the artist through social media such as Instagram and Facebook, as well as their website (www.confluencesouthfork.org). 

Purpose: To provide an artist with a space to have the freedom to explore their artistic voice and to lend a platform to their creative efforts. To provide the community with an opportunity to support and interact with local artists in a more personal way. To support art along the Catawba River Watershed and support the South Fork River.

Insurance: Artists will be responsible for insuring any of their own personal equipment that may be left at Confluence during their residency. Catawba Riverkeeper maintains insurance on the premises and any equipment they provide the artist for use during the residency.

The Space: 20’x14’ studio space with storage shelves, desk, & internet access. Bathrooms, Microwave, Work Sink, Class & Workshop space, bicycles & recreation equipment to borrow are available on site.

Accommodation: Not included at this time

Stipend: $1,250 paid in two installments at the halfway point and end of the residency. An additional $500 for materials and supplies are available as reimbursement to the artist.

2024 Residencies: MAY 5th - JULY 28th 2024

Expectations from the Artist: The Resident is expected to contribute 2-3 hours of work time to the center weekly, occasionally helping staff as needed, to have their studio open and welcoming during 2 center-led artistic activities over the course of the residency, lead 1 workshop, talk, or demonstration over the course of the residency, and to either have pieces prepared for a "Featured Artist" gallery reception with art kept on display/for sale at the space, OR donate one piece of public art to the Town of Cramerton. The corresponding Resident can expect to participate in some capacity in the Art or Music Festival, dependent on the time frame of the residency and the festival during their time at Confluence. The Resident will be required to sign a contract detailing responsibilities, privileges, studio access, and safety procedures.

Expectations of the Artist: Artists will utilize their residency time to learn, grow, and work. This includes exploring new artistic mediums, cultivating relationships with other local artists, and reflecting on finding their own specific artistic voice.

Criteria & Selection of Artist: Artist should be local to the Catawba River Basin (Gaston County, NC,  Mecklenburg County, NC, McDowell, NC, Caldwell, NC, Burke, NC, Avery, NC, Alexander, NC, Catawba, NC, Iredell, NC, Lincoln, NC, Union, NC, York, SC, Lancaster, SC, Chester, SC, Fairfield, SC, Kershaw, SC, Sumter, SC, Richland, SC).

Artist can be in the beginning stages of their career, or looking for new opportunities to engage with a local community. Being an advocate for the environment is a bonus, especially if you can utilize recycled, reused, or second-life items in your artwork.

Applicants must include their vision for how they will use the time of their residency, provide a clearly written idea for engaging with the community through a workshop, demonstration, or talk, provide strong examples of their work, present a resume outlining their education and experience, and provide references.

*We are only accepting individual artists at this time and cannot accommodate collaborative residencies.

Artist Selection: Final Artist selection will be determined by a panel of judges based on clear and concise answers given in the application, clarity of vision displayed in a face-to-face interview (in-person or via Zoom), as well as the alignment of the artist’s view for their time with the needs of the center.

What makes us stand out: Our mission is to combine the arts with music, recreation, love of the environment in general, and the Catawba River overall. We aim to support creative and abundant lifestyles through the encouragement of and participation in the expression of oneself through art, music, and movement.

About Confluence

A confluence is the junction where two rivers meet, where multiple things merge.  Confluence is a place where art, music, and recreation come together alongside the river to create that place of convergence for the community. Confluence is a place where neighbors and friends can meet to learn, grow, create, move, and find joy, together.

Confluence offers artists and artisans the opportunity to showcase their work without the exclusivity of representation. They are open to all forms of media and welcome sincerely both emerging and established artists.

*We reserve the right to promote the participation of specific artists and their work prior to, during, and following the residency period.

Please send any relevant questions to april.h@catawbariverkeeper.org

Submissions will be accepted until April 5th, 2024 for the Spring Residency.