Request for Proposals: Josephine Sculpture Park 2025-2026 Artist-in-Residence Program

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE (AiR) PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Up to 2 artists will be selected for the 2025-2026 residency program through this competitive national call reviewed by JSP’s Curatorial Committee.  Artists will be primarily visual artists working in sculpture as well as the mediums of sound and performance as responsive experiences to sculpture and the natural environment.

Residency details will be tailored to each artist’s proposed artwork and are designed around 3 main components: 1) artwork creation, installation and exhibition; 2) informal public interaction with JSP visitors; and 3) participation in at least one community engagement event determined by the artist and JSP staff (i.e. community workshop, artist talk, etc.).

In 2025, the selected artist(s) will visit Frankfort and work with JSP staff to collaboratively plan their 2026 residency. This 1- to 3-day site visit will include meeting with staff, discussing their proposed artwork, determining site location, and solidifying community engagement plans. It will be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon date July-October 2025.

In 2026, the selected artist(s) will be in residence at JSP for up to 10 weeks, the duration depending on the scale and scope of the proposed artwork. The program is designed to be intentionally flexible to allow artists to submit large-scale proposals that may take the full 10 weeks to create. In the RFP submission materials, artists should suggest an appropriate residency duration (number of weeks) and date range for their proposed artwork.

Artists-in-Residence create artwork at JSP, a raw outdoor environment, offering a quiet space for artists to fully immerse themselves in nature, diving deep into their process and research, which is essential for true innovation and excellence. Residencies typically do not overlap, allowing artists to focus on personal and professional growth, creative practice, and risk-taking without distraction. Artists are encouraged to challenge themselves and push beyond their comfort zones, supported by experienced artistic staff and specialized equipment to create large-scale works on-site. Artists receive technical support from staff, hands-on assistance from community volunteers, material support, and access to a robustly equipped studio and outdoor work pad. The artwork is intended to be on exhibition for 2 years at JSP.

This program provides direct benefits to each artist as well as intrinsic value to the community at-large. A supportive environment inspires artists to create new work and advance their careers by fostering courageous artistic growth and providing opportunities to experiment and try things they’ve never tried before with professional technical and artistic guidance. The exhibition of new artwork provides an immediate audience to the artist and artistic inspiration to the public.

STUDIO, EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES SAFETY

Studio 

The JSP studio, the “Art Barn,” is a 2,000 sq. ft. studio with wood working, metal fabrication, ceramic kiln, and kitchenette (sink, microwave and refrigerator) plus a 2,000 sq. ft. outdoor work pad with gantry. Studio is available to artists-in-residence, interns, volunteers, and staff conducting work for JSP every day from dawn to 10pm. Artists must agree to follow all studio rules and safety guidelines.

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS

There is no specific theme, however, artwork should be physically and thematically suitable for exhibition at Josephine Sculpture Park. Artists will be primarily visual artists working in sculpture as well as the mediums of sound and performance as responsive experiences to sculpture and the natural environment. JSP encourages the artist to be innovative, take risks, and try something here that they could not create elsewhere.

• Art must be suitable for a hands-on outdoor exhibition in a public space.
• Art should be capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions including high winds, high temperatures, heavy rain, storms, etc.
• Works of art shall not create inordinate safety problems or liability problems for the general public or Josephine Sculpture Park.
• Art must be an original creation by the artist.

ARTIST BENEFITS & BUDGET

The benefits outlined are all inclusive. If the artist’s budget is greater than the benefits outlined, it is the artist’s responsibility to secure any additional funds.

2025

• Site Visit stipend: $1,000 (paid upon arrival, pending signed Residency Agreement and cleared background check, if applicable)

2026

• Residency stipend: $2,000/week for up to 10 weeks
• Materials stipend (plus access to some materials on-site): up to $2,500
• Lodging stipend: $500/week for up to 10 weeks
• 20% paid 1 month prior to residency start date, 30% paid upon arrival, and 50% paid upon successful completion of residency

Staff Support

• Up to 10 hours/week studio assistance and training from JSP Park Manager on a mutually agreed upon schedule
• At least one 60-minute mentorship session or meeting with JSP Executive Director & Chief Curator
• Pre-residency planning, weekly check-in while in residence, and post-residency communication support from JSP Director of Programs & Partnerships.

PROJECT TIMELINE

• 1- to 3-day pre-residency planning visit to JSP and Frankfort community (ideally between July-October 2025)
• Up to 10 weeks in residence, depending on the scope and scale of the proposed artwork (ideally between May-Sept 2026)
• Artwork is intended to be on exhibition for 2 years at JSP. Artist will sign an exhibition contract as part of the Residency Agreement that outlines mutually agreed upon duration, maintenance and decommissioning of the artwork.
• The Curatorial Committee and JSP staff will review proposals May - June.  We expect to make final decisions and notify all applicants by July 1.

SELECTION PROCESS

Submissions are scored by the Curatorial Committee composed of individuals with broad and diverse backgrounds that serve residency goals, including 1-2 JSP board members, 3 JSP staff, and 2-5 artists or curators, including at least 1 AiR alumnus, 1 regional artist/curator and 1 out-of-region artist/curator.

The Curatorial Committee scores submissions following a rubric. Submissions with the highest scores may be invited to interview with JSP staff committee members. JSP staff make the final selection based on the committee’s recommendation.

Submissions will be scored by a Curatorial Committee based on the following: 

• Body of work: Does the applicant exhibit a high level of skill in their medium(s)?
• Artistic growth: Does the applicant present a compelling proposal for how this residency would expand their artistic practice? JSP encourages AiRs to be innovative, take risks, and try something here that they could not create elsewhere.
• Appropriateness of artwork: Is the proposed artwork physically and thematically suitable for exhibition at Josephine Sculpture Park?
• Feasibility: Does the proposed timeline and budget reflect the scale and scope of the proposed artwork?
• Clear interest in being part of the JSP AiR program: Does the applicant appear to have researched Josephine Sculpture Park and the Frankfort community?

Application Requirements

1.Current CV or resume: Teams must submit one resume/CV per team member. Five pages per CV/resume max. 

2.Complete Residency Proposal. 8 page max. This must include the following elements. Please review your proposal carefully prior to submission to ensure you are including all required details.

• Letter of interest addressed to the JSP Curatorial Committee with a brief description of your interest in the JSP residency program.
• Artist Statement.
• Project proposal containing a written description of the proposed project (artwork and community engagement idea), its proposed impact on your artistic practice and on JSP visitors, and a timeline, including the preferred date ranges for your site visit (2025) and residency (up to 10 weeks in 2026).
• Image(s) of proposed artwork. Acceptable formats include sketches, image of maquette, computer generated drawing, or other comparable media. If the sculpture will have sound or light components and/or is kinetic, artist can include a link to 1 short video (no more than 3 min.).
• Project budget detailing how the residency stipend will be used and any additional funding, if applicable. Include artist fee, additional labor, materials, food, travel costs, etc.

3.Work Samples. Min of 4, max of 8. Up to 8 images of previously completed work. We encourage you to thoughtfully select work samples that demonstrate your skill and ability to complete a project as proposed. Please review and follow the printable image preparation guide on the CaFÉ website and provide work sample details as outlined in CaFÉ upload process including: title, media, dimensions, date, etc.

4.Three (3) professional references. Please include name, title, address, affiliation, phone number, email address, and relationship to you.

5.Optional. Artists may include up to three (3) selections of support materials such as reviews, news articles, and other related information.