About
Shirley Graham Du Bois, this program’s namesake, was an author, playwright, activist, and composer whose international career led her to study at Oberlin College and the Sorbonne in Paris, work for Chicago’s Federal Theater Project, and later settle in Ghana and Cairo after gaining Tanzanian citizenship. She passed away in 1977 in Beijing at the age of 80, leaving behind a rich oeuvre of plays, biographies for all ages, novels, and musical compositions – a true interdisciplinary creative.
Sponsors
The Shirley Graham Du Bois Creative-in-Residence Program is sponsored by: Arlene and Larry Dunn.
“We are supporting this program because it expands the necessary and important work Castle of our Skins is doing to celebrate and instigate Black artistry, and Shirley Graham Du Bois epitomizes the breadth of Black artistry and its impact on the world.”
-Arlene Dunn
Goals
To foster community and collaboration with and among diverse creatives.
To provide a platform for creatives to share their artistic practice.
To strengthen, expand, and challenge COOS in a collaborative, creative environment.
To increase and diversify COOS’ culturally enriching projects to the general public and social media/online communities.
Responsibilities
Develop a work or works in conjunction with our 2024-2025 season, based on the season’s needs, based on the season's needs, and in collaboration with COOS’ Artistic Director.
Be part of the curation process of one or more projects during the 2024-2025 season, and, if applicable, provide curatorial input into the 2024-2025 season.
Write three BIBA Blog entries related to the COOS mission.
Compensation
Honorarium of $1,500.
Additional negotiated artist fee and project support per project completed in conjunction with COOS’s 2024-2025 season (average range of combined artist/project support provided over a single season falls between $15,000-$25,000).
Title of Creative-in-Residence in COOS publicity material for the 2024-2025 season.
Realization and support of your creative work during the 2024-2025 season.
Publicity through COOS' social networks.
Writing opportunities through COOS.
Professional documentation of created work.
There is NO application fee for this opportunity.
Eligibility
Castle of our Skins seeks one Creative-in-Residence* whose work and experience reflect our mission.
Creatives* of all disciplines, aged 20 and above, are encouraged and welcomed to apply
Creatives of all genders, ethnicities, national origins, sexual orientations/identities, religions/beliefs, education and physical abilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants who identify as Black or belonging to the African diaspora are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applicants who reside in the Greater Boston area are strongly encouraged to apply.
*NOTE: For this application “Creatives” are defined as artists of all practices, including but not limited to: composers/sound artists, musicians, video/film artists, dancers/choreographers, performance artists, visual artists, writers, spoken word, interdisciplinary artists, etc...
*NOTE: Those currently serving on the Castle of our Skins Board of Directors, Board of Advisors, and in administrative positions cannot apply.
Selection Criteria and Process
One Creative will be selected based on the following criteria:
Strength of the vision of the Creative’s practice.
Collaborative potential.
The review process/Creative-in-Residence timeline is as follows:
Panel review of applicants between May 27, 2024 and June 3, 2024.
Brief interviews conducted of short-listed Creatives, starting June 10, 2024.
Creative-in-Residence announced June 19, 2024.
Creative-in-Residence to begin July 1, 2024 and remain through June 30, 2025.
All applicants will be reviewed by a panel of Creatives of various disciplines, identities, and practices.
How to Apply
Application Materials
An artist statement describing your practice, professional experiences, as well as your motivation to apply to this Creative-in-Residence position.
Five to ten work samples as PDF’s, JPEGS, MP3 or MP4. If submitting audio/video, please limit your submission to 15 minutes by providing cues/excerpts. Web links to work samples and press releases are allowed. Where applicable, work samples that capture a broader aspect of your practice are encouraged (ie. interacting with community, engaging in collaboration, etc… ). MIDI renderings will not be accepted for composers/sound artists.
Work sample descriptions: please briefly describe (date, venue, context, relevance to this call, etc) each work sample. Please limit your reply to 100 words per work sample.
A Resume/Curriculum Vitae including contact information.