How Does It Work?
Step 1. For each season of the residency, our board members each select a panelist, to not only assist in reviewing applications but to also refresh the perspectives in the conversation around artist selection.
Step 2. These panelists, along with our board, then review applications and narrow the full pool of applicants down to a small group of semi-finalists.
Step 3. These semi-finalists are asked to submit a video interview, answering questions from board members and panelists about their work and their proposals for the residency.
Step 4. Our board and panel review the videos, then hold a group discussion for final deliberation and voting.
Step 5. The final votes are tallied, yielding one Artist-in-Residence and two Runner Up Artists.
Our Criteria for Selection
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Applications: As a board we are especially interested in the vision inherent in the initial proposal. We consider the time and intent they took to write the proposal, as well as if they have a unique idea that speaks not only to the actual locale that is Cisco, but also speaks to us as people. When considering applications we recommend to our panelists start with the artists’ proposals before looking at examples of their work, or social media or website.
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Applicant Special Consideration: We are especially looking for applicants who may not have as many opportunities as others. This means people of color, queer artists, women who work in typically male-dominated mediums, immigrants, Indigenous artists or any marginalized person who may not have had access to, or the confidence to apply to more traditional residences.
*Special Note: We don’t expect anyone to vote for an artist simply because they might fall into one of these categories, but rather ask our panelists to give this appropriate consideration when voting.
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Cisco Locale/Environment: Cisco is located in the high, and even harsh, desert of the American Southwest. Those that live there, and especially Eileen who lives year round in Cisco, can attest to the intensity of the environment. As an organization, we strongly consider our applicants’ perceived ability to live in an untamed and unique environment, where the elements are as much part of the residency as the artistic workload itself. The environment in and around Cisco makes the residency all the more indelible to those who come and also inherently creates a rich conversation between artist and landscape.
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Artistic Work-Load and Productivity: In tandem with our perception of our applicants’ ability to live with the unique conditions in Cisco, we also place great emphasis on the resilience it takes for artists to be creatively productive in such an environment. We take this into strong consideration as a board, and stress this to our panelists when deliberating.
*Special Note on Training (Academic vs Non-Academic): What is the quote, ‘we learn the rules to break them’? We ask our panelists to remain open-minded about the training background of each artist. We do not pay special attention to “academically trained” artists. We believe that artistic training comes in a multitude of ways whether traditional or nontraditional.
SPRING 2022 TIMELINE
Open Applications: 11/14
Applications Close: End Of Day 2/14
Board and Panelists begin review: 2/15
1st Votes Due / Semi Finalists Notified & Video Requested: 3/1
Semi-Finalist Videos due: End Of Day 3/7
Videos sent to Board and Panel: 3/8
Board and Panel Group Conference & Discussion: TBD 3/11-3/14
Final Votes due / Artists Notified: 3/15
Residency Begins for Artist-in-Residence: 5/1
Residencies for Spring 2022 Runner Up Artists: June-July