Hey artists! Raging against rent troubles? Here’s your chance to make it better with your art

Not a day goes by in the arts without some exciting news about ways you can get famous by putting your work out there. Lucky you, today’s opportunity for fame and glory even comes with an added karmic boost: More Art’s 2016 Engaging Artists residency is a four-month-long program for artists looking to make some socially-conscious art through community engagement. And to score free studio space. And to have their work showcased in a big cool place like the Queens Museum.

In an especially brokester-suited twist of events, this year’s theme is “housing justice” (which is trending right now). We all love to kvetch about how unaffordable housing has become but if you’ve been especially keen to respond to the issue artistically, like with a site-specific dance under a bridge about community displacement or with a large-scale whitewash-proof mural, now’s your chance to do so and get noticed for it (instead of arrested)!

Artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply, and preference will be given to long-term New York City artists, artists of color, individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and other artists marginalized or excluded for reasons of culture, race, language or lack of formal training.

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The residency includes free use of More Art studio space in Bushwick for up to 12 hours a day from June to September and a final presentation of your work inspired by the program at one of the city’s more prominent cultural venues (it was at the Queens Museum in 2015).

In addition to those perks, you’ll also be participating in a free professional development program starting in May, replete with guest lectures on housing rights, workshops with leaders in the arts and housing sectors, and the opportunity to apply for an exclusive Public Art Seed Grant that will fund a re-mounting of your residency project for even more eyes to see.

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Each of the 14-15 selected artists will be required to volunteer at least 30 hours at a number of partnering organizations in the city including Picture the Homeless, Habitat for Humanity, Breaking Ground, Eviction Intervention Services and more, “getting hands-on with the day-to-day work of activism, even though it may not directly involve the arts.” Selected artists must also attend the full speaker program, professional development workshops, and all studio meetings.

In other words, the residency is best suited to artists who actually want a long-term career in arts and social justice, and less so for musicians who just want to write a warbling song about paying the rent. (You should still definitely do that, just on your own time.)

Ready to apply? Complete the application form and send your CV, along with a portfolio of work samples, to jason[at]moreart.org. Applications are accepted until April 1 at 11:59pm. Good luck! We can’t wait to see you following proudly in Jimmy McMillan’s footsteps.

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