Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Painting & Writing Fellowships, Residencies Overseas and More for the New Year!

Greetings all...Thanks to www.re-title.com, FundsforWriters.com and Poets & Writers for a couple of the following opportunities!

(ARTISTS) The British School at Rome: Artists Residencies & Fellowships: Applications are invited for a number of residencies in the visual arts. They offer an en-suite studio and bedroom, meals taken together in a communal dining room, 24-hour access to a historic library collection, a research grant, and at least one group show; they are tenable for three, nine or twelve months.

The awards available for 2011–12 include: Abbey Scholarship and Fellowships; Australia Council Residencies; the Derek Hill Foundation Scholarship; and the Sainsbury Scholarship in Painting and Sculpture. See http://www.bsr.ac.uk/ or contact the Registrar, Gill Clark, at [email protected] Closing dates for applications: mainly January 2011
(see http://www.bsr.ac.uk for precise details and dates)

(POETS) Martin Dibner FellowshipsFellowships of up to $1,000 each are given in alternating years to emerging Maine-based poets and fiction writers to attend writing workshops or complete writing projects. For this year’s fellowships, poets may submit a writing sample of five to seven pages and a resumé by January 15, 2011. There is no entry fee. Visit the Web site for complete guidelines: www.mainecf.org/DibnerFellowship.aspx

(ALL) The Wellcome Trust Arts AwardsThe Wellcome Trust is inviting organizations and individuals to apply for funding through its Arts Awards. The Arts Awards support projects that engage the public with biomedical science through the arts including dance, drama, performance arts, visual arts, music, film, craft, photography, creative writing or digital media. Applications are invited for projects up to £30,000.

The aim of the awards is to support arts projects that reach new audiences which may not traditionally be interested in science and provide new ways of thinking about the social, cultural and ethical issues around contemporary science. The scheme is open to a wide range of people including, artists, scientists, curators, filmmakers, writers, producers, arts workers and education officers. Deadline: 28 January, 2011. Further Information - http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/arts Email: [email protected]

(ARTISTS) Visual Arts Residencies—One-month residencies for visual artists are being offered in America's oldest working art colony on Rocky Neck in Gloucester, Ma. Included is a waterfront studio/ gallery/ living space, and access to a rich, cultural community.
June - October 2011. Application fee is $25. Deadline is March 1st, 2011. rockyneckartcolony.org for application and info. Ruth Mordecai, Director Residency Committee [email protected]

(WRITERS) Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, United States/Japan Creative Artists ResidencyUp to five five-month residencies, each of which includes a monthly stipend of 600,000 yen (approximately $7,100) for living expenses, housing, and professional support, are awarded annually to published U.S. poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers to live in Japan and pursue creative projects. The residencies are sponsored by the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts. The residencies also each include a travel grant of up to $6,000. Submit 10 pages of poetry or up to 15 pages of a long poem or work of prose, two letters of recommendation, a resumé, and proof of publication by February 1. There is no entry fee. Send an SASE, call, e-mail, or visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: February 1, 2011. www.jusfc.gov/programguidelines.asp E-mail address: [email protected]
Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, United States/Japan Creative Artists Residency, c/o Margaret Mihori, 1201 15th Street NW, Suite 330, Washington, D.C. 20005. (202) 653-9800.

(WRITERS) David T. K. Wong Fellowship: A one-year fellowship at the University of East Anglia, including a £26,000 (approximately $41,300) stipend, is given annually to a fiction writer for a work that “deals seriously with some aspect of life in the Far East.” Submit up to 2,500 words of fiction with a £10 (approximately $16) entry fee by January 17. Visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines: http://www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/home/schools/hum/lit/awards University of East Anglia, School of Literature and Creative Writing, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom. Natalie Mitchell, Fellowship Administrator.

(WRITERS) Charles Pick FellowshipA six-month fellowship at the University of East Anglia, including a £10,000 (approximately $16,000) stipend, is given annually to a fiction writer or creative nonfiction writer who has not yet published a book. Submit up to 2,500 words of prose and a letter of reference by January 31. There is no entry fee. Visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines: www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/home/schools/hum/lit/awards University of East Anglia, School of Literature and Creative Writing, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom. Natalie Mitchell, Fellowship Administrator.

(WRITERS) Stadler Center for Poetry/Philip Roth ResidencyA four-month residency, including a $4,000 stipend, at the Stadler Center for Poetry at Bucknell University is given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, or a creative nonfiction writer. The 2011 Philip Roth Residence is open to U.S. fiction writers and creative nonfiction writers who are over the age of 21 and not enrolled in a college or university. Using the online submission system, submit up to 20 pages of prose, a curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation by February 11. E-mail or visit the Web site for complete guidelines.
Stadler Center for Poetry, Philip Roth Residence, Bucknell Hall, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837. Andrew Ciotola, Operations Manager. Deadline: February 11, 2011. Web site: www.bucknell.edu/stadlercenter E-mail address:
(ALL) Byrdcliffe Art Colony ResidenciesThe Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild offers month long Artist in Residence (AIR) opportunities for visual artists, composers, playwrights/screenwriters, and writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Longer residencies are available for ceramic artists. The AIR sessions generally occur during the months of June, July, August, and September. Our goal is to provide solitude in a community and uninterrupted time in which to concentrate on creative work alongside fellow artists. Opened in 1903, the Byrdcliffe Art Colony was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites in 1979 for its architectural and historical significance. It is located in the Catskill Mountains, 1.5 miles from the center of Woodstock, New York. For more information or to apply, please go to http://www.woodstockguild.org/artist_in_residence/index.html
Deadline is March 1, 2011.


Monday, December 27, 2010

More on the My Words Project

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that due to some generous late contributors to the My Words Are My Shelter Project, I was able to send off another $150 to the shelter. They decided to open the box of journals, etc. and the cards I sent with checks and every contributor’s name (except those of you who asked to be anonymous) on January 4th since not all the women were going to be at the shelter on Christmas. So thank you once again for your generosity and support for this project. I’ll let you know how the poetry workshop goes in February.

I have some new opportunities to post this week so until then....Happy Holidays and thanks again!
Yours,
Mirabee

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Happy Holidays and My Words Are My Shelter Update!

Greetings everyone!

I hope you enjoyed the interview with Gigi Rosenberg, author of the new book, Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing: How to Find Funds and Write Foolproof Proposals for the Visual, Literary and Performing Artist. If you haven’t, please check it out. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that the My Words Are My Shelter project is officially closed for the season. Because of you, dear and generous readers, I was able to raise enough money to send 125 women each a journal, pen and pencil AND raise enough money for me to travel to Cleveland to do a poetry workshop at the Norma Herr Women’s Center and also send a $100 donation to the shelter. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I will definitely do this My Words project again next holiday season and hopefully it will grow into something much larger over time. Perhaps other writing workshops at shelter or maybe down the road, some kind of foundation. If you would like to read about the project and the story behind it, please go here: http://miraslist.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-words-are-my-shelter-project.html. For the story behind my mother, Norma Herr, and the shelter in Cleveland, go here: http://www.mhs-inc.org/CWS.asp

One thing that was particularly lovely, aside from all the donations, was that many of you wrote beautiful letters and emails full of encouragement and support. Some of you told me about your own struggle with a family member who was homeless or who was mentally ill. Some of you said that you had been so inspired from this project that you decided to volunteer at a homeless shelter for the holidays. Others from as far away as Australia and Canada said that you wanted to start a similar project in your home town. That is the power of compassion—one small act can spark a thousand acts of kindness. So thanks again for all you have done—even those of you who couldn’t contribute but who sent me such kind and supportive cards and emails. I love you guys!

Have a safe, peaceful and creative holiday and I will post something when I get back from my family's, after the 26th. Lots of new opportunities coming soon!

Best Wishes and Happy Holidays to you all,
Mirabee

Monday, December 13, 2010

Interview with Gigi Rosenberg, Author of The Artist’s Guide to Grantwriting

Today I am happy to introduce you to Gigi Rosenberg whose book, The Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing: How to Find Funds and Write Foolproof Proposals for the Visual, Literary and Performing Artist is coming out TOMORROW, December 14th, in stores nationwide. I was fortunate to grab her for a few questions before she sets out to promote her book. Gigi Rosenberg is a writer, speaker, and presentation coach. Her writing has been published by Seal Press, The Oregonian, Writer’s Digest, performed at Seattle’s On the Boards, and heard on Oregon Public Radio. As a presentation coach, she draws on her background in writing, visual art, theater, and corporate communications to teach artists and entrepreneurs how to give stellar public presentations.

Gigi, thanks so much for visiting us today. I’d like to start out by asking you to tell us a little about your new book and what motivated you to write it?

Mira: Thanks for having me! I’m a huge fan of your writing, your art, and your blog. I wrote The Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing because I couldn’t find a comprehensive and inspiring reference guide as I was looking for and applying for grants and residencies for my own work as a writer. I also realized that -- in my workshops -- a book would be so useful -- students can only absorb so much in a two or three-hour session and it’s great to have a “go-to” book for when you're researching, or finessing, or feeling demoralized by grants, or the business side of being an artist. Also, I grew up in a family of visual artists so as a kid I thought that everybody made their living as an artist! I wrote the book to empower artists and to share what I knew and what I gleaned from dozens of interviews with artists and funders about how to talk about and write about your work so that others want to support it.

In your process of research and writing, did you learn anything new about grant writing that you didn’t know before?
My biggest surprise was realizing that “famous” artists struggle in the same way I do. There’s little difference between the time “before you succeed” and “after you succeed.” I always thought that famous artists had it easier because they’d already “made it.” In fact: every new project is scary. The only difference is that when you’re experienced you might manage the fear better or know that you just have to keep working to move through it. On the subject of grants I realized how many more opportunities there were than I thought there were. I also learned that the most important thing to do is to learn to write about your work as if you didn't create it -- that’s the challenge and that’s why you need other people to help. They can help you find the language to describe what you do and why you want to have money to make it.

I always say that too, that is, write the application as if you were someone else. I think it helps to distance yourself from talking about your work, which is really hard for some people to do. Sometimes it is the weakest link in an application and it should be the strongest, aside from the work itself. What are some of the biggest mistakes you see artists make in grant applications?

The biggest mistake that artists make is that they think grant application reviewers can read minds! Artists don’t realize that a reviewer is likely seeing their work for the first time and not everything will be obvious. Even though it’s hard, an artist has to explain what the project is in detail and why she wants to make it. Reviewers need the artist to connect the dots for them. The second biggest mistake is that artists don’t spend enough time on the work sample -- it must be not only their best work, but well-documented, and related to the grant. Lastly: budgets scare some artists and they don’t make them specific enough so they detail how the money will be spent. Think about it: when you give money away, you want to know how exactly the money is being spent.

I agree. Very good points. For me the budget one hits close to home! Even I have a hard time with the budget component of a grant application and I’ve written dozens of grants. But you get through it and if you don’t know how to do it, you ask someone to help. Sometimes artists are just too afraid to ask other professionals for help. Anyway, would you mind sharing with my readers five very short kernels of wisdom from your book?

What I learned from all the interviews I did is that 1) To win a grant, you have to apply. This may seem so dumb. But it’s true: your chances of winning are guaranteed to be zero if you don’t apply. Successful grant writers don’t let the competition dissuade them. 2) There are times when I’m better off continuing to build my body of work rather than applying for a grant. Preparing a grant application takes time. I have to decide if the time is worth it. 3) I always need an editor even though I’m a writer. 4) I can’t do a great job on a grant application if I don’t give myself enough time. 5) I don’t let one rejection get me down. I stand up again and get back to the work at hand.

You called me a few months back to talk to me about a chapter in your book. Can you tell my readers a little about that chapter and what you learned from writing it and why you think it's important in your book?


I think the chapter you’re referring to is “Stand Out from the Crowd” which is about how to take a good application and make it great. The best advice from that chapter was from you -- which is to write the grant as if you’re writing to a specific person, a friend even, someone waiting to fall in love with your project. If you write to an “institution” you’ll sound so formal and generic that it won’t grab anybody!

What do you hope your readers will get out of reading your book, Gigi?


I want readers to receive three things from the book: practical advice about where to find grants (including subscribing to your blog!), detailed advice on how to write a winning application, and inspiration so they keep applying for opportunities and keep making art. Most artists work solo and the danger of solitude is that you can lose hope. I want readers to have an inspiring and extremely practical reference guide to the world of grants and fundraising! Please let your readers know that they can download an excerpt from the book from the website: www.theartistsguidetograntwriting.com and they can get a free grant writing tip sheet when they sign up for my occasional updates -- which they can unsubscribe from at any time at www.gigirosenberg.com

Mira: Thanks for having me today. I can’t wait to read your memoir. When are you coming to Portland?!

Hah! Good question. I have never been there but plan to go sometime this coming year while I’m on book tour, or at least when the paperback comes out. I’ll let you know! Thanks so much for your time and insight. I look forward to reading your book!

For updates on Gigi’s workshops and to order her book (you can also order through my site as well), go here: http://gigirosenberg.com/book/


Thursday, December 9, 2010

Residencies in New Mexico, Kentucky, Illinois, Canada, and More!

(MUSICIANS & COMPOSERS) Roots and Rhizomes Percussion Residency at the Banff Center: Led by contemporary percussion champion Steven Schick, this unique program is geared towards early to mid-career artists, who want to contribute to the growth of contemporary percussion.

Roots and Rhizomes will feature three primary activities:

  1. performances by the residents of selected repertoire,
  2. coaching, lessons, and master classes,
  3. seminars and discussions led by faculty.

Roots and Rhizomes seeks to foster new music for contemporary percussionists by commissioning and premiering new work in an environment where performers and composers work collaboratively. Open to international musicians. For more info:

Contact Phone Number:
403.762.6100

The Banff Centre
Box 1020
Banff, Alberta, Canada T1L 1H5
http://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/program.aspx?id=1095

(ARTISTS/CURATORS/SCHOLARS) Paths Crossing Production ResidenciesHelsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP) / Baltic Art Center / Fabrikken for Kunst og Design / Nordisk / Kunstnarsenter Dalsåsen / Temple Bar Gallery & Studios: You are eligible to apply if you live and are professionally based in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Estonia, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Romania or Slovakia.

In partnership with four North European artist-in-residence centres, HIAP is pleased to announce an open call for applications to visual artists and art professionals under the age of 40 from new and applicant EU Member States. Visual artists and art professionals are invited to apply for research and production residencies hosted by the organizers within the framework of the Paths Crossing project. This residency and cooperation project is co-funded by the European Union's Culture Programme for 2010–2012.

The five participating artist-in-residency centres are together able to offer fifteen individual production and research residencies, each from one to six months in duration. Artists, curators, critics and researchers based in Europe (see countries above) are all eligible to apply.

The selected applicant will receive:
• a travel grant
• a subsistence grant to cover living expenses
• a production grant
• free accommodation and studio space for the duration of the residency
• administrative, practical and curatorial support in developing a project within the framework of Paths Crossing
• support in establishing contacts with local artists and organisations

Applications will be accepted from professional artists and art professionals under the age of 40 with at least 5 years of continuous professional experience in the Visual Arts (no restrictions of approach or medium). No students please. The applicant should live and work in one of the eligible countries mentioned above. To foster artistic dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration, good command of English is expected. Application forms can be downloaded from: http://www.hiap.fi/paths_crossing/paths_application_form.doc

Deadline for applications: Thursday, January 13, 2011, 5:00 pm (GMT +2)

(ARTISTS & WRITERS) Santa Fe Art Institute ResidenciesResidencies of an average of 1-3 months for visual artists and writers. Residency provides housing and studio space. Artist responsible for travel, materials, and residency fee ($1,000/month). Financial aid packages available. For more info: (505) 424-5050, www.sfai.org. Deadline: December 31, 2010!

(ALL) Yaddo Residency in Saratoga Springs, NYResidencies of an average of 5 weeks for creative artists working at a professional level in their field. Residency provides housing, meals, studio, travel assistance and materials stipend; artist responsible for materials. FT: (518) 584-0746, FAX: (518) 584-1312, [email protected], www.yaddo.org. Deadline: January 1, 2011.

(ALL) Spiro Arts Residency in Park City, UT Residencies of an average of 6 weeks for artists from all over the world working in multiple disciplines, including visual artists, writers, composers, songwriters, researchers, experimental and mixed media processes, etc. Residency provides housing, studio space and stipend ($600). Resident responsible for refundable housing deposit ($300) and travel. FT: (435) 649-6258, [email protected], www.spiroarts.org. Deadline: January 14, 2011

(ALL) Ragdale Foundation Residency in Lake Forest, Illinois– Residencies of an average of 2-4 weeks for visual artists, musicians, writers, dancers, media artists, and choreographers. Organization provides housing, meals, and studio space; artist responsible for residency fee ($25/day), deposit ($100/two weeks), travel and materials. Some financial aid available. T: (847) 234-1063, FAX: (847) 234-1063, [email protected], www.ragdale.org. Deadline: January 15, 2011

***insider note: Mirabee has stayed at Ragdale many times and loves it!

(ALL) Artcroft Center for Arts and Humanities Residency in Carlisle, KY—Residencies of an average of 2-8 weeks for visual artists, writers, actors, and performance artists. Residency provides housing, studio, and meals; artist responsible for residency fee ($40/day), deposit (10% of residency fee), travel, materials, and local transportation. T: (859) 473-0552, [email protected], www.artcroft.org. Deadline: The application process is now ongoing; no deadlines

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

New Residencies & Grants and a My Words Project Update

Hey everyone, thanks so much for all your letters of support and all your donations to the My Words Are My Shelter project. It apparently struck a deep chord in many people and the response has been amazing. The update is this: In the very first day, I got $507! That is enough to send a box of journals, pens and pencils to every single woman at my mom’s shelter. I haven’t even checked my P.O. box for checks yet and today, some other donations came in. What I decided to do with the extra money, is to use the money for a ticket to go to Cleveland to the shelter (no need for housing as I have friends there) and do a poetry workshop with the women there this coming February. Any left-over money from this My Words project after that will be donated to the shelter in either check form or in the form of more journals or books (they really need books too!). So that’s the update. I’ll run this project until December 20th for now. I think that it will become an on-going project for the future and I hope that it inspires other such actions across the globe. Actually, it already has---I have heard from several people around the world who said they were going to do the same thing. Very cool! And all because of YOU!

Okay...onward and upward! I have a couple opportunities and will post more tomorrow or Friday. Have a great day and thanks once again for your support. I’ll keep you updated on the project.

Cheers,

Mirabee

(CA ARTISTS)
The Creative Work Fund Grants of $10,000-$40,000 for projects by San Francisco Bay Area artists and organizations. Projects must feature one or more artists collaborating with a nonprofit organization to create new works. Artists may be working in media (film, video, video or sound installations, radio, or computer-based media) or traditional arts (including performance). The Creative Work Fund celebrates the role of artists as problem solvers and the making of art as a profound contribution to the intellectual inquiry and strengthening of communities. for more info, call 415) 402-2793 or visit the website: www.creativeworkfund.org. Check website for guidelines.

(WRITERS & ARTISTS)
Provincetown ResidenciesThe Provincetown Community Compact is accepting applications for residencies in two dune shacks in the Cape Cod National Seashore (Provincetown, MA USA). These primitive dwellings in a magnificent setting provide one to three week stays, one with a $500 fellowship for a visual artist, and two funded writers' weeks. For details go to: www.thecompact.org

(MN or NY ARTISTS) The 2011 Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant Program—will award grants to emerging creative artists (composers, sound artists, playwrights, creators of performance art and experimental theater, and visual artists). Minnesota-based executive and program administrators working for nonprofit organizations in music, theater, and visual arts are also eligible to apply. The deadline for applications in Music, Theater, and Visual Arts is February 28, 2011.

The Travel and Study Grant Program places emphasis on individual exploration and growth. The program supports such activities as research leading to the creation of new work, the development of collaborations, participation in specific training programs, time for reflection and individualized study, investigating artistic work outside of Minnesota or New York City, and dialogue on aesthetic issues.
The application and guidelines are available at www.Jeromefdn.org If you have questions, please contact the Foundation office at 651.224.9431 or 1-800-995-3766.

(MUSICIANS & COMPOSERS) Music Omni Residency: Each August, approximately a dozen musicians--composers and performers from around the globe--gather for two and a half weeks to share in a unique collaborative music making residency program. Music Omi encourages its residents to participate as members of an international musical community; sharing ideas, performing each others works and writing music for one another while exploring their own musical vision. Music Omi invites applicants from all musical disciplines who wish to broaden their artistic horizons and engage actively with a diversity of other musicians.

Unlike most artists residency programs, where artists come to work in isolation, Music Omi actively encourages the exchange of ideas and the sharing of cultures through active collaboration. A singular feature of the Music Omi experience is the presentation of two public concerts at the conclusion of the program (one on the Art Omi campus itself near the conclusion of the residency, and the other at a New York City venue the day following the conclusion of the residency).

Applicants may be primarily composers, improvisers or performers, but have some proficiency in each of these areas. Music Omi welcomes academically trained musicians, musicians "of the street," players of traditional instruments, concert instruments, vocalists, and sound artists of all kinds. "Pop," "jazz," "classical," "folk," "experimental," and other such labels have no bearing on the selection process, only musical excellence and a wish to collaborate. It is recommended that applicants come not with specific projects in mind, but rather with a willingness to share their skills and sensibilities, and an openness to working together with others on jointly conceived musical projects.

All awarded fellows commit to remaining for the entire residency and to participating in the concluding concerts. Everyone accepted to Music Omi receives full room and board during his or her stay (note that Art Omi is unable to provide travel funds).

Contact Information
Contact Name:
Jeffrey Lependorf, Music Omi Director
Contact Email:
[email protected]
Contact Information:

Omi International Arts Center, Inc.
55 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Google Map


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

My Words Are My Shelter Update!

Hey everyone....well, talk about a great response! I can’t believe how fast you all got back to me. It is amazing. I believe that I will totally make my goal and then some, which makes me think that this project is much bigger than I previously thought. Some people from around the world have emailed me about starting up their own My Words project at a women’s shelter near them. I’m also thinking that if I can get enough money beyond my journal goal that maybe I will travel to Cleveland and do poetry workshops for the women at the shelter. I’ll keep you updated about that. I know that they have done workshops there in the past and they have been very successful. And what a great use for their new journals and pens!

By the way, ignore the wikileaks/paypal hacking message I sent before. Everything is fine and no one’s account will be hacked into.

Thank you so much for your support for this project, even those who can’t send money but who wrote me really sweet and supportive emails. I’ll keep the project going until the 20th and then see what comes of it—either more journals for the women or poetry workshops if there is extra money. And if you DO donate via PayPal, don’t worry about it saying Mira’s List—that’s the account it will go into and the account I will make a check from. Just write a little note on your donation saying that it is earmarked for My Words Project, NOT Mira’s List, okay?

Cheers,
Mira

Monday, December 6, 2010

A Quick Note on Donations to the My Words Project

Rumor has it that...according to the NYT, a number of hackers have been threatening to shut down PayPal with denial-of-service attacks during the next few days, to retaliate against PayPal ending its association with WikiLeaks. So I’m not sure what to do...if you are worried, perhaps you should send a check instead if you were thinking of donating? Your choice. I’m not sure what to tell ya.
Thanks!
Mira

My Words Are My Shelter Project

Dear Readers,

As most of you know, this blog is mostly about helping you as artists to find funding and residencies throughout the globe. I try to keep my personal life out it this blog as much as I can, although now that I have a book coming out, a memoir no less, the line between my personal life and my blogging life as arts advocate will get a little blurry sometimes. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, considering what my book is about. Read on....

My mother, Norma, a brilliant pianist (see picture above, an illustration from my book), was struck down by schizophrenia early in her music career. For the last seventeen years of her life, she was homeless and her life story and the story of how I found her late in life at a women’s shelter in Cleveland, is told in my book, The Memory Palace (coming out mid-January).

Recently, the shelter where my mother lived, the Community Women’s Center of Cleveland, was rebuilt and renamed in her honor. It is now called The Norma Herr Women’s Center and is sponsored by the Mental Health Services, Inc. of Cleveland. It is a safe haven for women who have fled domestic abuse, substance abuse, homelessness and poverty. There they can receive food and shelter, friendship, counseling and assistance in employment.

One of the things the shelter does is encourage the women to keep a journal. They also hold poetry workshops when they can get funding or a writer to volunteer his or her time. This writing process is key to their empowerment. When I found my mother at the end of her life, I discovered that she kept a storage unit at U-Haul all those seventeen years. When I opened it up, I found seventeen years of diaries.

My mother wrote each and every day to help keep her imaginary voices at bay. She wrote descriptions of flowers in the park, she wrote poems, screenplays and soaring lyric prose. I read each and every one of these diaries and was blown away at their beauty and power, and yes, their sense of tragedy, delusion and loss. But ultimately, I realized how much keeping a journal helped my mother navigate through the world. I believe that she found a certain strength in writing every day—it gave her a different kind of sustenance than the food she received at shelters and from strangers. It gave her a voice.

This is why I am starting a project this year called My Words Are My Shelter. I am sending a box of hardbound journals made from 100% recycled materials, along with a pen and a pencil, to each and every woman at my mother’s shelter in Cleveland. The cost of sending that box is more than I can afford right now so I am asking you if you would be willing to help me out and be a part of this process. That said, I realize that everyone is asking for money these days, so please do not feel pressured. But if you do feel so inspired, here is what you can do to participate and to get your name on a giant card that I am sending out on December 20th:

1. To send one woman one journal, one pen & pencil, plus postage, it costs $5. You can click the donate here button on my blog (right hand side bar) and use your paypal account or credit card. Please write that it is for the My Words project because it is not a Mira’s List donation.

2. Or you can send a personal check made out to me, Mira Bartók, or to Mira’s List, and mail it to my post box address: Mira’s List, P.O. Box 273, Athol, MA 01331.

3. OR...if you don’t feel like donating, please consider donating something to your own local shelter or donating your time. Or buy a sandwich for someone on the street or a cup of hot chocolate, and tell them where the nearest shelter is. Do you know where the nearest shelter is?

Thanks for reading this. I’d love to raise $500 by December 20th and put a lot of names on the card I am sending out. Any money I receive above and beyond this amount will just be donated to the shelter for other much-needed items or put into an account for next year’s My Words Project. Please spread the word about this project and if you get inspired, why not start a My Words Are My Shelter Project of your own for your local shelter next year?

Happy Holidays!
Love,
Mirabee

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Urgent Deadline: International Low-Residency MFA & Practice-Based PhD

Hi everyone, I wanted to leave Ayun Halliday’s great interview up longer but I just found this announcement below in my spam folder and wanted to get it out there because the deadline is SOON. I also have something really important to post tomorrow or the next day, plus a ton of new opportunities and yet another interview so keep your eyes open for a lot of things this coming week! If you’d like to read about the amazing zinester and author Ayun Halliday, check out her interview with me HERE. Also, in a recent post, there were some discrepancies that a diligent and kind reader alerted me to. She said the following regarding the residency at the Islip Art Museum Carriage House:
The Islip Art Museum Carriage House In Process link to http://jasonparadisart.com/ reports different submission specifications that the Islip Art Museum. Also, this curator is requesting that submissions be sent to him directly; the museum site indicates they should be sent directly to the museum. I also just noticed that the deadlines are different. The museum posts December 1, and http://jasonparadisart.com/ posts December 15.

Okay...here’s the deadline I wanted you to know about...oh, one more thing, even during times when I am incredibly busy and cannot post for several days, I almost always at least post a bunch of quick deadlines on twitter and facebook, and many of these are the kinds of things that I don’t post about on my blog, including contests, book prizes, exhibition oppportunities, etc. If you are on Facebook, just go to my Mira’s List page for late-breaking news: http://www.facebook.com/pages/MIRAS-LIST/72394590508 and if the post isn’t too long, it automatically is fed into twitter (my twitter name is miraslist). And on twitter, I often retweet many great opportunities, including arts jobs, from international sources.

It might be way too late for applying for this program but at least you can check it out for the following year if you don’t make the deadline on Dec. 15th:

(ARTISTS/ STUDENTS) MFA Creative Practice – Three Spaces With Advanced Standing For Spring 2011: Three spaces are available in the MFA program for applicants with graduate level course credits in art, media, design and related fields from other institutions to begin studies in January. With a transfer of a minimum of 15 credits (30 ECTS) accepted applicants can complete the MFA Creative Practice in three semesters by summer 2012. An application form is online. http://www.transartinstitute.org/Admissions.html
Application deadline December 15, 2010!

International Low-Residency MFA Program
Transart Institute offers the MFA Creative Practice, a fully accredited international masters program for working artists with summer residencies in Berlin, winter residencies in New York and one-on-one advisement during two academic years - wherever students work and live. Students are free to pursue work in any art-related genre and to create their own course of study, working independently and with the support of self-chosen studio and research advisors. Short periods of intensive residency permit students to continue with their professional work and keep a balanced personal life while participating in the program. The majority of Transart students are emerging and mid-career artists and teachers at tertiary institutions.

The new MFA Creative Practice is a student-centered, project oriented postgraduate art program which fosters independent thinking, risk-taking and the creation of an informed and sustainable art praxis. The Institute is also a platform for faculty to expand their teaching praxis by making space for creativity and experimentation. Beyond its educational objectives, Transart Institute is engaged in building an international community in support of students, alumni, faculty and their artistic and academic goals. The institute offers its former students a virtual and material basis for artistic practice, the exchange of ideas, opportunities and critiques, supporting individual and collective growth beyond the duration of the program.

Scholarships
Several scholarships are available to students of the MFA Creative Practice program: Developing Country Scholarships, Achievement and Merit Scholarships are being awarded. The scholarships provide a reduction in tuition from 10 to 50%. More information on scholarships can be found on the Transart Institute website
http://www.transartinstitute.org/admissions.html

Practice-based PhD
An information session will be held at the Transart Institute winter residency on January 9, 2011 in Brooklyn, New York about admissions and the course of studies for Transart Institute's practice-based PhD expected to begin in July 2011. The session will be by invitation only and 50% of seats will be reserved for graduates of Transart Institute's MFA program. To be considered for the information session please send an email with an outline or draft of your proposal including references and resources along with a short CV or bio to [email protected]. Transart is particularly keen on encouraging proposals from the areas of documentary art making, language/image, software studies and network culture. The proposal should demonstrate systematic study, independence, critical competence and originality. It should include a record of the 'practice' element and also serve to contextualize the practice intellectually while cle arly demonstrating its contribution to knowledge.

Portfolio Review for the MFA Creative Practice
Transart Institute seeks independent, inquisitive and imaginative artist to apply to its MFA Creative Practice program starting summer 2011. Interested artists, teachers and all professionals in related fields who are seeking advancement in visual arts and new media are invited to come to the Transart winter residency (January 7-9, 2011) for feedback on their portfolio as suited for admission. In addition, these sessions will give prospective applicants the opportunity to learn more about the program, attend a public lecture and mingle with Transart faculty and students in person. To RSVP please email [email protected]

More details for all programs are online. http://www.transartinstitute.org/Profiles.html

Application deadline for admission with advanced standing: December 15, 2010 Application deadline for summer 2011: rolling admissions Application fee for the MFA program: 25 USD Application deadline for the PhD info session: December 11, 2010
For more information please contact Selina Heaton: [email protected]
Transart Institute
http://www.transartinstitute.org
USA: +1 (347) 410 9905
Fax: (508) 682 2853
Mail:Transart Institute,
228 Park Ave S. #34726,
New York, NY 10003

Welcome to Mira's List

This blog provides information on upcoming grants, fellowships and residencies for artists, writers, composers, and media artists. It is for serious professionals only, from emerging to mid-career to established. I also publish information for graduate students from time to time. However, I do not publish information on exhibition or publishing opportunities, nor do I advertise artist retreats and workshops that charge money. At least that is my current policy. For more info on where to exhibit or publish, please see my links section which I try to periodically update. I sift through hundreds of search engines and websites to find opportunities for YOU dear artist. In return, I ask you to pass the information along to those who need it. Also, since this is a free blog, I don't always have the time to weed carefully through everything. If you find a grant or website or residency that is not up-to-date, is dodgy in some way, or is no longer in existence, please let me know! Also, if you stay somewhere at one of the residencies I suggest and have a good experience, I want that feedback too. Please check my FAQs at the top right side bar if you have questions before starting your search. Best wishes and happy hunting!