Request for Proposals for Artist Residencies

Hands of artist using chalk.

Artists in all fields of creative and performing arts are welcome to apply for CAI's Artist-in-Residence program.

This is the final year of CAI funding. For this last funding cycle, CAI hopes to fund only few projects, each of which has the promise of significant artistic and community impact. To submit a proposal, follow the guidelines below.

CAI accepts proposals for residencies for sessions from as short as a few days up to four months. All fields of creative art are eligible to participate: music, film, plastic arts, visual arts, drama, writing, architecture and so-called emerging disciplines. Companies and collaborating artists may apply. Both emerging artists and established artists are invited to participate.

Proposals may be submitted directly by artists outside the Buffalo area. Members of the UB and Buffalo arts communities are also welcome to propose projects to bring performing artists and creators to the region to create and present new work.

Request for Proposals for 2020-21

Guidelines and Application Procedure

CAI is interested in artists who have demonstrated artistic excellence, and have achieved demonstrable professional accomplishment, or who, through the submitted works, display exceptional promise. Resident artists should use their residency to create new works, or complete works in progress. Your project description should describe your project and goals in specific detail.

Artists/companies must demonstrate a strong commitment to arts education and community involvement — such commitment must be directly addressed to the variety of opportunities that exist in the Western New York region, though national and international collaboration may also be an integral part of any proposal.

Resident artists will provide educational and community components. For some a public conversation about their work might be appropriate; for others, it might be a micro-seminar or a master class. It might be a semester-long encounter. Or it might be major interactions with the community’s arts organizations combined with interaction with the university community. CAI welcomes other creative methods of engaging students and the local community as well. Description of intended form of engagement should be included in all proposals along with information regarding communication with and buy-in from intended local partners.   

CAI is not able to provide accommodations for out-of-town artists at this juncture. Artists may request honorarium, travel expenses, housing expenses and other expenses up to the New York State allowable rates. This should be included in the budget with your application. Please see Planning Your Residency for some resources to help estimate these expenses.

Bringing MORE Great Artists to Buffalo

CAI residencies are intended to bring artists from outside the Buffalo area here to enhance the experience of the UB and Buffalo communities.

Funds may not be used to compensate persons already associated with UB or to underwrite operating expenses.

Eligible disciplines:

This process is open to all artistic disciplines.
 

Review process:

Applications will be reviewed on the basis of:

  • The quality of the project concept.
  • Artistic excellence.
  • Artist engagement with UB students and the Buffalo community.

CAI Co-Directors will seek input from appropriate experts during the review process

Deadlines:

Applications will be reviewed in the Fall for projects for the following academic year.

In order to be considered for the Fall 2019-Spring 2020 cycle, completed applications must be received no later than Nov. 25, 2018. 

Semi-finalists will be identified in late Nov. 2018 and may be asked to provide supplementary materials or respond to reviewer queries by Jan. 4, 2019.

Final decisions regarding residencies for 2019-20 will be announced in March 2019.

How to apply:

Interested parties should submit the Artist-in-Residence Proposal form online, and provide Artist CVs, and work samples via email to cs287@buffalo.edu with "Artist-Proposal" and the proposer’s name in the subject line. 

In order to be considered, all materials must be received no later than Nov. 25, 2018.

Applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of their proposal. Those selected as semi-finalists, will be contacted by Dec. 10, 2018 regarding next steps for final consideration.

Successful projects will be announced in March 2019, and projects must be completed before June 2020.