Space Taking Artist Residency

Click the link above for more information on the residency!

Photos by J. Andrade Photography
TOP: The Other Side by Amanda Pascali, Opening Reception
BOTTOM: MythoFutuRiddim by AC Evans, Opening Reception

About the Space Taking Artist Residency

The Space Taking Artist Residency, powered by Fresh Arts, is a six-week opportunity for traditionally underrepresented local artists to experiment and “takeover” a public space in new and out-of-the box ways.

For the first and second rounds, artists were provided with a gallery space with the Sawyer Yards creative campus, access to peer mentorship, project support and resources, and a stipend to seed their ideas. Each residency project hosts open hours as well as host a series of socially distanced* public and virtual events and activations during their time in the space. In line with its mission to provide professional development opportunities for artists, Fresh Arts regularly dedicates time and resources to mentoring each selected project through the process of presenting and executing a public program, including marketing, project budgeting, presentation techniques, and more.

Through this program, Fresh Arts strives to showcase a diverse range of creative programming through a six-week space takeover residency program designed to provide artists with a flexible showcase space, marketing and project support, and serve as an income generating opportunity. In a time when experimental art spaces and project funding for artists are disappearing, Fresh Arts sees this as an innovative way to address these critical issues while nurturing a collaborative art community.

*For 2023 residency activities: All in person programming will comply with recommended health and safety guidelines in place at the time of their program period.

Fox 26 Morning News segment

Art Houston Magazine, Issue 13, Fall/Winter 2021: Interviews with Stacey Allen and Saida Carter (pgs 72-75)

The Space Taking Artist Residency is funded in part by a grant from Texas Commission on the Arts and the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance with advocacy support by Texans for the Arts and Texas Cultural Trust. Additional funding support provided by the Deal Company with special thanks to Sawyer Yards.

THE THIRD round of residency applications IS NOW CLOSED!

Fresh Arts, formerly “Spacetaker,” has grown from being a space for Houston artists to promote their work into a multifaceted organization dedicated to nurturing an arts ecosystem that positions artists for success. Launched in the Spring of 2021, The Space Taking Artist Residency, calls back to the organization’s roots proudly serving as a launch pad for artists to “take over” a space for the purposes of developing and executing a creative project and hosting a series of public programs.

First round residency recipients included Koomah + the Locas, YET Torres, Stacey Allen + Saida Carter. Second round residency recipients included Amanda Pascali and AC Evans.

For 2023, Fresh Arts will be looking for two new projects to be selected and awarded eight weeks of access in which to activate a 1,800 sq. foot gallery space, a $2,500 honorarium to offset production costs, and dedicated marketing and project support.

Click the link above for more information on the residency!

Photos by J. Andrade Photography
TOP: The Other Side by Amanda Pascali, Opening Reception
BOTTOM: MythoFutuRiddim by AC Evans, Opening Reception

About the Space Taking Artist Residency

The Space Taking Artist Residency, powered by Fresh Arts, is a six-week opportunity for traditionally underrepresented local artists to experiment and “takeover” a public space in new and out-of-the box ways.

For the first and second rounds, artists were provided with a gallery space with the Sawyer Yards creative campus, access to peer mentorship, project support and resources, and a stipend to seed their ideas. Each residency project hosts open hours as well as host a series of socially distanced* public and virtual events and activations during their time in the space. In line with its mission to provide professional development opportunities for artists, Fresh Arts regularly dedicates time and resources to mentoring each selected project through the process of presenting and executing a public program, including marketing, project budgeting, presentation techniques, and more.

Through this program, Fresh Arts strives to showcase a diverse range of creative programming through a six-week space takeover residency program designed to provide artists with a flexible showcase space, marketing and project support, and serve as an income generating opportunity. In a time when experimental art spaces and project funding for artists are disappearing, Fresh Arts sees this as an innovative way to address these critical issues while nurturing a collaborative art community.

*For 2023 residency activities: All in person programming will comply with recommended health and safety guidelines in place at the time of their program period.

Fox 26 Morning News segment

Art Houston Magazine, Issue 13, Fall/Winter 2021: Interviews with Stacey Allen and Saida Carter (pgs 72-75)

The Space Taking Artist Residency is funded in part by a grant from Texas Commission on the Arts and the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance with advocacy support by Texans for the Arts and Texas Cultural Trust. Additional funding support provided by the Deal Company with special thanks to Sawyer Yards.