Ceramic Artist Residency Program (CARP)

About

We are happy to introduce the Ceramic Artist Residency Program (CARP). Our goal is to provide access to the JAC Ceramics Studio to more members of our artist community while elevating the enrichment, engagement, and educational experiences of all. The CARP is not merit-based, but offers space to ceramic artists of all levels, through a lottery process.

The CARP offers ceramic artists the opportunity to have personal shelf space in the JAC Ceramics Studio, as well as the ability to work independently in the studio during all Open Studio Hours, for three (3) months at a time. It is intended to foster meaningful and intentional art-making among participants while providing a supportive environment in which to learn, evolve, and grow as makers.

Anyone who has taken a ceramics class at the JAC within a year and a half (18 months) of the start date of their desired residency, is welcome to apply to the CARP.

STRUCTURE

There are four (4) set application deadlines throughout the year. All residencies are 3-months long, and a participant will be limited, overall, to 6 months of residency (2 sessions) throughout the year. Applications close and applicants will be notified of their status roughly a month in advance of a session’s start-date.

The Four (4) CARP sessions are:

  • February—April, decision made in early January

  • May—July, decision made in early April

  • August—October, decision made in early July

  • November—January, decision made in early October

PREREQUISITES

  • Applicants must take at least one class in the JAC Ceramics Studio 18 months prior to submitting an application.

  • Applicants must be able to work independently and understand the fundamentals of ceramics including drying stages of clay, slipping and scoring, and the glazing process. 

  • Applicants must submit written goals and intentions for the residency 

  • Applicants must submit 3-5 images of your previous ceramic work (saved as: LastName_FirstName_Year)

Note: To maintain eligibility, CARPers must take one ceramics class at the JAC every year and a half (18 months). This helps ensure that everyone is up-to-date on studio policies and procedures as well as maintain safety within the whole studio community. Additionally, this requirement gives people the opportunity to ask technical and conceptual questions of instructors and it helps facilitate safe experimentation.

FEES

Applicants may indicate their preference for a full shelf or half shelf. Fees include shelf space for storage, in-house glazing materials, and firing fees. Clay must be purchased for an additional fee through the JAC (please see below for more details). 

The fee for a Full shelf is $350

The fee for a Half shelf is $245

Work-exchange opportunities are available to reduce the cost of a residency. Responsibilities may include: 

  • Monitoring weekly open studios 

  • Moving clay (depending on one’s ability to lift 50 lbs)

  • Helping maintain a clean and safe studio environment 

  • Unloading kilns (training available, if needed)

    JAC members receive a 10% discount. Payment plans and partial scholarship funding are available. No one will be denied access due to financial barriers. Please email Alex Tsocanos, the Education Director, at alex@jamestownartcenter.org for more information.

Please note: The JAC is not able to accommodate production pottery in our studio. Production pottery includes any large-scale, systematic production, excessive building or creation.  CARPers are limited to 2 bags of clay a month. No exceptions will be made.

All clay fired in the Ceramics Studio must be purchased through the JAC, and all outside glazes must be approved by the Ceramics Studio Manager before being used.

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions and Policies & Procedures pages for a clearer understanding of these (and other) policies.