LOCAL ARTISTS SELECTED FOR INAUGURAL 10 EAST ARTS HUB CURATORIAL FELLOWSHIP
Fellows to receive stipends to implement arts programming at a new community arts space on the Near Eastside
Five Indianapolis artists have been selected for a unique paid fellowship on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis to program and activate a new community arts space, the 10 East Arts Hub (“The HUB”) located on East 10th Street. The selected artists are Ess McKee (Spring 2020), Eduardo Luna & Eve Eggleston (Summer 2020), and Micah & Shamira Wilson (Fall 2020).
INAUGURAL 2020 FELLOWSHIP
The 10 East Arts HUB Curatorial Fellowship was created to elevate the diverse creative community in Indianapolis and provide meaningful financial support to artists through opportunities to present ambitious and innovative programming. During the 10-week fellowship, each fellow (or pair of fellows) is given a $7,500 stipend and will also have access to $6,000 in additional program funding to implement their creative and artistic vision at The HUB.
Fellowship applications were reviewed by a selection committee of Near Eastside artists and residents who evaluated applications for their uniqueness of the proposed programming, appeal to the existing Near Eastside community, project viability and impact the fellowship would have on the applicant’s career. The committee included Anila Quayyum Agha, Josh Anderson, AshLee Baskin, Clayton Hamilton, Channie Jones, Jordan Munson, Consuelo Poland, Carl Pope, Lukas Schooler and Dominic Senibaldi.
In total, 35 applications were received for the fellowship from individuals ranging from 24 to 60+ in age. More than 75 percent of the submissions were from people of color.
“Whether established or aspiring, our vision for this fellowship is to provide Indianapolis artists with additional professional opportunities,” said Joanna Nixon, 10 East Art Director. “The HUB is intended to be a vibrant space for creative expression, and we look forward to the unique perspectives and artistic programming that the Fellows will bring to the Near Eastside.”
Each fellow (or pair) will program and activate the HUB during the Spring, Summer and Fall with a line-up of free multi-cultural arts programming accessible to all ages. Programming will include hands-on art making, artist conversations and workshops, music programming, dance instruction and more.
The 10 East Arts HUB Curatorial Fellowship is made possible with grant support John Boner Neighborhood Centers received from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. through their “Strengthening Indianapolis Through Arts and Cultural Innovation” initiative.
MEET OUR FELLOWS
Ess McKee
Spring Fellow, March 20 – June 5, 2020
Ess is a multimedia visual artist with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industry & Technology (printing and design) and a Studio Art minor with a printmaking focus. She has been involved in the Indy arts scene as a multimedia artist, studio manager, organizer, instructor and curator for nearly seven years.
For her fellowship, Ess is proposing a series of weekly programs that will feature a variety of art forms and appeal to all age groups. Highlights of the fellowship include hands-on artmaking experiences and workshops for families, such as toy making, drawing, and learning about Mexican folk art. She is also proposing a self-care Monday series focused on health and wellness that will feature yoga and sound healing. The programming is rounded out by African dance workshops, artist talks featuring conversations with Indianapolis artists from a variety of artistic disciplines (dance, photography, visual arts) and an art installation creation and talk with local mural and graffiti artists.
Eduardo Luna & Eve Eggleston
Summer Fellows, June 19 – August 28, 2020
Eduardo was born in Acapulco, Mexico but has resided in Indianapolis since 1999. He creates music shows and works to elevate the Latino Arts in Indianapolis through various festivals and partnerships with non-profit organizations. Eduardo holds a bachelor's degree in Media Arts and Science from IUPUI.
Eve is an Indy-based exploratory artist. Her social practice work focuses on beekeeping, urban agriculture and sustainability and finding ways people can experience the beauty around them. Eve has a Master's in Social Practice Art from the University of Indianapolis and a Bachelor's in Psychology and Studio Fine Arts.
For their Summer fellowship, Eduardo and Eve have proposed a series of weekly programs featuring a variety of Eastside artists and art forms, that will be accessible to all age groups. A consistent activity throughout the 10-week fellowship is a radio show that showcases Near Eastside residents, artists, and happenings on 99.1 FM. The fellowship kicks-off with a free concert by Bashiri Asad, which is followed by nine weeks of multi-disciplinary art activities including; dance workshops, Cardboard Cortado sculpture making, a family-friendly printmaking workshop with Cat Head Press and lnstituto Grafico De Chicago, a family portrait day, an Art Expo Swap Night and a poetry workshop.
Micah Wilson & Shamira Wilson
Fall Fellows, September 11 – November 20, 2020
Micah is a digital illustrator and painter who earned his BFA in fashion from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago. While teaching at the Boys and Girls Club, Micah became fascinated with the therapeutic effects of art. He went on to study art therapy at Herron School of Art and Design. Micah balances an artistic career with tutoring at-risk youth.
Shamira is an interdisciplinary visual artist with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from John Hopkins University. Shamira's current body of work is abstract minimalism and explores textile motifs. She has exhibited her work at the Indiana State Museum and Indianapolis Contemporary.
For their Fall fellowship, Micah and Shamira are proposing a multi-sensory exploration of cultures through various weekly activities and programs including the sounds of Jazz and its history in Indianapolis, African music, storytelling and drumming, Native American Poetry, Bollywood dancing, Beatboxing, and an exploration of dance and song from the regions of Mali, Senegal, Gambia and Guinea.
FELLOWSHIP OVERVIEW
Background
According to a national study in 2015 by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, only 4% of museum curators, conservators, educators and leaders are African-American and 3% are Hispanic.
“People of color have had difficulty entering the pipeline, facing barriers that include exclusion from informal mentoring networks, resistance to alternative perspectives on art history, and financial hurdles: many entry-level internships are unpaid,” a NY Times article cited in their recent article: With New Urgency, Museums Cultivate Curators of Color.
To increase opportunities to gain curatorial experience 10 East Arts is excited to announce the inaugural 2020 10 East Arts Hub Curatorial Fellowship starting in March 2020. The fellowship will consist of three (3), 10-week paid fellowships, where selected curators will facilitate community programming that activates a community arts space (the 10 East Arts HUB) located on East 10th Street in Indianapolis.
This fellowship will provide Indianapolis artists and curators, established or aspiring, a unique curatorial opportunity to communicate an innovative and artistic vision and engage with community through programming, dialogue and all forms of creative expression.
HOW WE DEFINE CURATOR FOR THIS FELLOWSHIP
A curator (from Latin: cura, meaning "to take care") is a manager or overseer. The 10 East Arts HUB Curators will be responsible for managing, programming, presenting and displaying innovative and diverse artistic or cultural activities at the HUB. Individuals with experience or a passion for activating spaces who have backgrounds in social justice, performance, visual arts, heritage/history, social practice, community organizing, and design are welcome to apply.
FELLOWSHIP ELIGIBILITY + SELECTION CRITERIA
FELLOWSHIP ELIGIBILITY & QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must meet the below eligibility criteria
Be age 18 or older by December 2019
Resident of Central Indiana (Marion, Boone, Johnson, Hendricks, Hamilton, Hancock, Morgan & Shelby Counties)
Have a keen interest and understanding of Indianapolis’ cultural and artistic landscape
Able to manage programming budgets and meet deadlines
Have excellent verbal and written communications skills
Have some previous arts and culture programming or event coordination experience, be knowledgeable about the arts as an administrator or creator and have a commitment to hosting programming that is diverse, innovative, accessible and welcoming.
FELLOWSHIP TIMEFRAME
Three (3), 10-week paid fellowships will be offered in 2020. The 3 curatorial fellows will be selected at the same time which will create a curatorial cohort so selected fellows can support each other throughout 2020 if they choose.
Spring Fellowship: March 20, 2020 - June 5, 2020 (10 weeks)
Summer Fellowship: June 19, 2020 – August 28, 2020 (10 weeks)
Fall Fellowship: September 11, 2020 – November 20, 2020 (10 weeks)
APPLICATION AND FELLOWSHIP TIMELINE
November 15, 2019 | Application Opens
December 5, 2019 | HUB Open House (see FAQs below for details)
December 10, 2019 | HUB Open House (see FAQs below for details)
January 10, 2020 | Application Deadline. Submissions must be received by 11:59 EST.
January 20 – 24, 2020 | Potential Interviews of Fellowship Finalists
February 14, 2020 | Fellows Announced
Spring Fellowship: March 20, 2020 - June 5, 2020 (10 weeks)
Summer Fellowship: June 19, 2020 – August 28, 2020 (10 weeks)
Fall Fellowship: September 11, 2020 – November 20, 2020 (10 weeks)
CURATOR EXPECTATIONS
Bring a unique and innovative curatorial vision to the 10 East Arts HUB with a diverse program plan that is accessible to a variety of ages and audiences.
Program the HUB a minimum of 2 times per week. (This will be supplemented by additional core programming that will take place in the HUB space which will be coordinated with the 10 East Art Director).
Bring a diverse and multi-cultural view to the space.
Oversee the planning, budgeting, execution, marketing and documentation of your curatorial/public programming vision. Documentation includes a summary of curatorial lessons learned, a recap of implemented programming, participation numbers and representative photos of curated programs.
Be mindful and sensitive of the surrounding neighborhood, history and demographics Click here for additional information about the Near Eastside.
BENEFITS
A $7,500 Curatorial Fellowship will be awarded to each selected curator which will be paid $1,500 bi-weekly during the duration of the 10-week fellowship.
Each selected curator will also have access to a project budget of up to $6,000 to be used during the duration of their fellowship. These flexible dollars can be used by each curator for program and marketing related expenses such as artist stipends/travel, refreshments, supplies, promotion and rentals. It is strongly encouraged that artist(s) be compensated for program participation.
The curator will have access to an office/administrative space at the HUB during the duration of their fellowship with complimentary utilities and Wi-Fi.
Marketing and program guidance assistance provided by the 10 East Art Director.
Mentorship provided by the 10 East Arts Advisory Council, a diverse group of Eastside artists and creatives who have expertise in visual arts, theatre, music, urban planning and arts administration.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applicants will be reviewed in an anonymous process. The selection committee will review digital images and/or video documentation that accompanying a written narrative. Selection will be based on the following criteria:
Creativity and uniqueness of the proposed curatorial vision
Commitment to community and being mindful of the existing Near Eastside neighborhood
Project viability with proposed curation/programming schedule (See Fellowship Appendix for an example)
Impact the award will have on a curators career
FELLOWSHIP AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS
Curatorial fellowships will be announced in February 2020.