I have a friend who has been searching for art fellowships and residencies and a way to spur on her progress in a current series and develop a taste for what adventure to next tackle.  While searching for those opportunities for her, I keep stumbling across a plethora of fascinating art opportunities.

Do you want to live amongst trees and commune with nature?  Boy, do I have the perfect recipe for you…

The Bernheim Arboretum Outdoor Art Fellowship.  This fellowship is only offered every other year, and 2010 is a fellowship year.  But, the deadline approaches…February 28th.

The Bernheim is a beautiful 14,000-acre property located 25 miles south of Louisville. It encompasses a nationally recognized arboretum and 14,000 acres of natural area protecting diverse plant and animal species. Over fifty miles of hiking trails, outdoor exhibits and other facilities offer abundant recreational and inspirational opportunities, which attracts thousands of visitors each year.

JURYING PROCEDURE

The jurors will select the award recipient based on the quality of the work submitted. Support materials will be considered, but only as a secondary resource. The goal in all of Bernheim’s activities is to help realize its mission of strengthening the bond between people and nature by finding new ways to connect nature with people’s everyday lives.

The Bernheim folks believe that if people recognize and benefit from the many values found in nature, quality of life will be improved, thus they will be motivated to protect the natural world for both its practical and its intrinsic value. To that end, the Bernheim Indoor Art Fellowship is given semi-annually to a talented artist who will work within the Forest and/or Arboretum to create works that are inspired by and installed in the natural world.

The Fellowship provides the artist an opportunity to advance his or her own skills and career while enhancing awareness of Bernheim’s goals regionally, nationally and internationally.

The Fellow recipient is required to live at Bernheim for up to three months while working on his/her project. Bernheim will provide comfortable housing in a beautiful wooded setting, plus a financial grant of up to $2,500.00 to cover travel, and other expenses. Material may be provided or funded depending on the proposed projects. The recipient of the Bernheim Indoor Art Fellowship may be required to donate pieces produced during the Fellowship to Bernheim for its permanent use. These works will become part of the Bernheim Art Collection.

Fellowship recipients will also be asked to interact with the public in some way, which may include participating in workshops and/or lectures. Bernheim will reach an agreement regarding the work to be donated and the interaction required from each artist.

ENTRY PROCEDURE

Visual artists (sculptors, installation artists, environmental artists, etc.) who would like to be considered for this fellowship should send a resume, 10 slides, a slide list, project proposal and an artist’s statement. All slides must be labeled with information that corresponds to the slide list. Each slide must be labeled with the artist’s name, title, medium, size, date, and a red dot to indicate the lower left-hand corner or the work.

The artist’s name should not appear in the work samples. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the rejection of the application.  They now accept submissions in digital format on CD, DVD, or video, however, the name should not appear on the works submitted for consideration.

No original works, or email submissions with attached works will be accepted. The Bernheim will not be responsible for safety of your digital files during shipping, and due to the large volume of submissions, will not be able to return your digital submissions.  If you would like your slides returned, please include a self-addressed envelope with proper postage for return.

Submit all materials by certified mail, Federal Express, or UPS Next Day Air, all of which will provide a return receipt.

Address all packages to:
BERNHEIM OUTDOOR ART FELLOWSHIP
P.O. Box 130
Clermont, KY 40110

CALENDAR

Submissions: Nov. 1 to Feb. 28 EACH YEAR
Jury deliberation/selection: March 1 – April 30
Notification: May 15

RETURN OF ENTRIES: Bernheim will take great care when handling your materials, but cannot guarantee or insure these items. Include SASE with proper postage if you would like your slides returned.

CHECKLIST
• 10 Labeled Slides or on CD, DVD or video and corresponding item list
• Project Proposal
• Resume
• Artist Statement
• Self addressed stamped envelope with proper postage for return of materials if desired

For more information, visit: http://www.bernheim.org/art_fellows.htm

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