Application period for the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program is closed until January 1, 2025.

For over fifty years the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program has provided talented artists a year-long opportunity to focus on their creative work. The Roswell Residency is not project-based nor engagement driven, providing the artist an opportunity to look inwardly.

The program is solely dedicated to the development of the individual artist. RAiR is perfectly geared to provide unobstructed studio time. Successful residents are self motivated and able to work happily with extended solitude. The nature of the RAiR Fellowship is informal. There are virtually no obligations on the part of the grantees except to respect the facilities and the privacy of the other artists.

The Roswell Museum generally invites fellows to have a solo exhibition of their work toward the end of their stay, however, this opportunity is optional. RAiR’s Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art then offers to purchase a piece from the artist for permanent display.

2024 applicants will be notified with results in late May, 2024.

Six residencies will be staggered throughout the year with start dates between November 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025.

Artists considering applying to the RAiR Program should think carefully about what is actually involved in a year-long residency. Especially if:

1) You have or expect to have numerous or time-consuming commitments outside of Roswell during the next year. We support our artists' efforts to develop professionally but we ask that you do not attend other residencies, live part-time elsewhere, or be gone more than six weeks total during the year. While we have no specific expectations of an artist’s social activities in Roswell, being present on the compound is a requirement. Exceptions are made from time to time but artists are expected to let RAiR know ahead of time of their plans to be absent.

2) Your partner or family is not ready to live in Roswell for a year. The residency is located on the outskirts of a town of 50,000 people, and there are few employment opportunities. While the Roswell area has some decent schools, no special or 'outstanding' private schooling is available in this part of rural New Mexico. Many partners and children thrive with the open space and free time, but others, understandably, feel that their life is 'on hold'. In an effort to make the residency a productive experience for an artist we ask that they consider whether their family is ready for a year in Roswell.

3) You have life issues that require special resources or support networks. Our local community of like-minded creatives is very small and all cities of any size are at least three hours away. If you have serious outside circumstances, a year in Roswell due to its isolation and relatively low level of financial support can become an obstacle to dealing with other circumstances. Medical situations that require intensive, specialized treatment, for example, might require a resident to do a serious amount of traveling.

4) If you have no means of transportation. While the residency itself is essentially self-contained, the facility is three miles from the nearest retailers. In the past, some residents have managed with only a bicycle but keep in mind that this is the American West and conditions vary considerably. A driver’s license and an automobile are generally considered essential to everyday living. Additionally, numerous destinations of interest can only be accessed by car. 

FAQ

Q: How long after the application deadline will my residency begin? 

A: Successful applicants can expect to have their residency begin anywhere from three months to as long as one year from the notification date. Our residencies float on an open calendar in part to keep the residents' exhibitions toward the end of their residencies. Every residency begins the day the artist arrives and ends one year later. The RAiR Program works to meet the needs of the new residents, but no system can perfectly fit every artist's plans.

Q: Should couples apply as a couple, a team, or as two individuals?

A: It is not recommended that artists who maintain individual practices apply together. If you work more often as a collaborative team then apply as a team (one application with one fee). If the team application is selected by our jury, you would both receive credit for the residency but your stipend would be a total of $1200 per month ($1100 + $100). If you work primarily as individuals then apply separately. If only one artist is selected then you can both come and since there are two extra studios, each of you will likely have your own studio. In the extremely rare case that both artists in a couple are selected in the same year, they would share one house, have first dibs on the extra studio and receive two $1100 per month stipends.

Q: We have children, are there schools near the residency?

A: Yes, basic New Mexico public schools and a few pre-schools. There are also a few church and military schools.

Q: Can I bring my cat?

A: Yes, but you may want to keep it indoors as we have a large array of predators, including coyotes, around.

Q: Can I bring my dog?

Dogs have not been allowed on the residency for decades but, we are experimenting with allowing dogs back at the residency. Dogs must be housebroken and must be non-aggressive to animals and humans.

Q: What kinds of organic foods are available in your area?

A: A modest but growing selection of organic produce is available at local (national chain) grocery stores.

Q: Can I grow my own?

A: Not really, because residents are here for one year only and water scarcity issues combined with soaring summer temperatures, we strongly discourage residents from gardening. A potted tomato and a couple of herbs on the porch are more appropriate for the residency.

Q: Is there internet access?

A: Yes, we provide wireless internet on the residency and have recently updated the service with a grant from the Thoma Foundation. The quality, while good, on the whole, can drop off from time to time. Artists who need great internet all the time might consider a personal hotspot.

Q: Should I bring my furniture?

A: As a general rule, no. The houses are fully furnished. However, please bring your own towels, blankets, sheets, and pillows. If you have a favorite coffee maker or waffle iron, you are welcome to bring them. You should also bring as much of your own studio equipment as you can; within reason.

Q: Do you accept international applications?

A: Yes, we accept applications from outside the US and support the visa process. We can make no guarantees about the success of any visa application.

Q: When will I be notified?

A: Applicants will be notified by late May.

Q: When will the residencies begin?

A: Six residencies will be staggered throughout the year with rough start dates for the 2024/25 residencies projected to be:

2 residencies beginning November 1, 2024

2 residencies beginning March 1, 2025

2 residencies beginning July 1, 2025.