Art & Law Residency Program: Applications Due October 17, 2011

Art & Law Residency Program

Program Goal
The Art & Law Residency provides an intellectual and artistic setting for participants to engage in ongoing discussions and debates that examine the overlap and disconnect between artistic production and the law from historical, social, ethical and intellectual standpoints. Using law as both a discourse and medium, new visual artwork and critical writing will come into being through the Program. All the participants will also gain experience and knowledge they can carry into the future beyond the Program.

Overview
The core of the Program will be semi-monthly Seminars directed at the examination of current art and law issues. Seminars will take place at the law firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP. Faculty as well as leading legal scholars and visiting artists will lead these Seminars. During the course of the Program, artists and writers will develop new projects and papers and receive support from Faculty on a regular basis to discuss and address the aesthetic, practical, philosophical, legal and judicial aspects of their work. The Residency will culminate in a public Exhibition and a Symposium held in New York City where artists will exhibit their projects and writers will present papers. Curators will work with The Residency curator in conceptualizing and organizing The Residency exhibition. For a list of the 2010 and 2011 Fellows and their Bios please click here.

Program Provides:

1. Seminars: Twice a month, a legal scholar, artist or Program Faculty will lead Seminars as well as assign related readings. Topics for lectures and group discussions will include practical, theoretical, philosophical and speculative perspectives on art and law.

2. Legal consultation and representation: Access to private consultations with attorneys and work with assigned pro bono representation for individual projects as required. Additional legal advice and guidance in the form of individual meetings to discuss general practical and theoretical questions may be arranged.

3. Studio Visits and Mentoring: Visual artists will benefit from studio visits by visiting artists and curators. Writers will be assigned a mentor to help with the conceptualization and development of their papers.

4. Exhibition and Symposium: Writers will present papers at an evening Symposium and visual artists will exhibit their final work in an exhibition. Curators will work with The Residency curator in conceptualizing and organizing The Residency exhibition. Curators will also write a 2,000 word essay about The Residency exhibition. A modest stipend will be provided towards production costs and/or research materials.

5. Van Lier Fellowships: VLA is pleased to announce that the residency will offer Van Lier Fellowships in its second and third years which VLA administers on behalf of the Van Lier Fund of the New York Community Trust. Van Lier Fellowships are made possible with the generous support of the New York Community Trust’s Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund.

Participation
Participants are required to attend semi-monthly Seminars as well as participate actively in group discussion and individual project and paper development. Participants who successfully complete the Seminar series will participate in the final Exhibition and Symposium. The semi-monthly Seminars will be held on Mondays from 6-9 pm at the law firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP. Seminars commence in January 2012.

Eligibility
All applicants must have a minimum four-year professional record. Visual artists working in all media may apply. Writers and curators may have backgrounds in Art History, Art Theory, and Art Criticism and be strongly engaged with contemporary visual art. Artists, writers, and curators interested in issues of constitutional law, contracts, property, free speech and intellectual property are especially encouraged to apply.

How To Apply
Please submit all parts of the applications by mail or in-person by October 17, 2011 (in-office receipt) to:

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VLA
Art & Law Residency Program
1 East 53rd Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10022

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1. Statement:
Please indicate if you would like to participate as a visual artist, writer or curator. The statement should discuss your work, educational experience, intellectual interests, as well as your interest in the Program and how the Program may benefit your work. The statement should be no longer than two pages.

2. Resume or CV:
Detailing most relevant accomplishments including education, exhibitions, residencies, publications, awards. Please include name, address, phone, email and website.

3. Two References:
Include only names and contact information. Letters are not required.

4. Work Sample:
For visual artists: 15-20 images of recent work on DVD or CD, or up to 5-minutes of recent video on DVD. Save images as .jpg, 1000 x 1000 pixels at 72 dpi. Please include an image list detailing title, date, materials, and dimensions or running times.

For Writers:
Two recent writing samples, totaling no more than 20 pages, double spaced.

For Curators:
A writing sample (catalog, journal, etc.) no longer than 20 pages and 10 to 15 images of recent curated exhibitions.

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Other submission guidelines:
Include your name on each page you submit. Do not submit original material, VHS tapes or 35 mm slides. Applications will not be returned. Late applications will not be considered.

Please note: There is no application form or application fee.

Application materials will be treated with care; however, the Program is not responsible for their loss or damage. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like your DVD or CD returned. Additional materials will not be returned.

Selection and Notification Process
Participants will be selected by Program Faculty on the strength of their application and demonstrated potential for vigorous debate and group discussion. Candidates should show promise for artistic and intellectual growth in their own work during the course of the Residency as well as any possible contribution their work and research may make to the field at large. Selected participants will be notified December 1, 2011 .

Application inquiries via e-mail are preferred: ssarmiento@vlany.org

Tags: application process, art and law residency, legal theory, new york