Midtown Alliance | 2025 Heart of the Arts Studio Residency | CALL TO ARTISTS

Midtown Alliance is seeking applications from artists who have an established professional practice and are motivated to utilize this residency to advance his/her/their creative development within the vibrant context of Midtown, Atlanta, and to work with the organization to add to the district’s public art landscape. 

The program provides: an 18 month studio term; $2,500 stipend; quality presentation of work for view by the public; and additional commission opportunities. Through their participation in the program, selected artists will engage with Midtown Alliance staff and partners in the service of a core organizational mission to build vibrant public life within the district. Midtown Alliance would like to collaborate with the resident artists on a proposal for a public-facing art installation for the district, details to be determined throughout the residency term.

The program also generates opportunities to connect with other artists and Midtown-based arts institutions and professionals. This program is an extension of Midtown Alliance’s commitment to support the local arts economy, to provide opportunities to share Atlanta’s talent with the Midtown audience, and to enrich public spaces in Midtown, reinforcing the district’s identity as the Heart of the Arts. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: SUNDAY SEPT 29th 2024 | Applications will only be accepted through CaFE.

HEART OF THE ARTS STUDIO RESIDENCY OVERVIEW:

Midtown Alliance launched the artist-in-residence program 2021.  Applications are now being accepted for the third residency term, which will provide studio residencies at various sites throughout the district. The Heart of the Arts (HOTA) residency program is committed to continued professional development for practicing Atlanta-based artists. In addition, it generates opportunities to connect with Midtown-based arts institutions, curators, arts professionals, potential clients and collectors. Residing artists may be engaged by Midtown Alliance and/or partners to commission additional work for the benefit of Midtown’s public spaces.

The ideal candidate for the residency program has an established arts practice and is motivated to utilize this residency to advance his/her/their creative development within the vibrant context of Midtown, Atlanta. The residency program is an extension of Midtown Alliance’s commitment to support the local arts economy and to provide opportunities to share our city’s talent with the Midtown audience. Through their participation in the program, selected artists will directly engage with Midtown Alliance staff and partners in the service of a core organizational mission to build vibrant public life within the district.

2025 PUBLIC ART COMMISSION FOCUS:

Midtown Alliance’s public art program leverages temporary art installations as catalysts for positive change by bringing public spaces to life with visual points of interest that create human connections. The HOTA  program creates a framework that enables more partnerships, more ways to engage artists, and more arts experiences for the Midtown community. Carefully curated public art in the community reinforces Midtown’s identity as Atlanta’s “Heart of the Arts” and reflects Midtown Alliance’s ongoing support for a vibrant public realm that is human scaled and people focused. 

Midtown Alliance has been dedicated to enriching the district with public art since the launch of the HOTA residency in 2021. Over the years, we have invested over $160,000 in commissioning public art activations by talented HOTA fellows. For the 2025 residency term, this commitment will be a focal point, with four potential locations identified for public art installations. We invite applicants to submit preliminary ideas for these sites. The timeline for development and installation is flexible, but the goal is to have the artwork commissioned and installed by the end of the residency term. Midtown Alliance plans to allocate funds in the range of $20,000 to $50,000 per location, pending budget approval.

Although not a requirement, we strongly encourage applicants to provide preliminary ideas for these commission opportunities. This will allow panelists to assess how the artist’s work could translate in a public space installation that is meaningful and impactful.

PUBLIC ART COMMISSION SITES (titles and addresses linked): 

• Commercial Row Commons Catenary System 
  • 92 Peachtree Pl. NE | Atlanta, GA 30309
  • Suspended over a bustling side street that leads to the Midtown MARTA Station this overhead cable system has featured whimsical temporary installations such as disco balls, colorful birds, and hula hoops.
• 10th St. Park Sculpture
  • 1005 Peachtree St NE | Atlanta, GA 30309
  • This pocket park is located on the northeast corner of 10th and Peachtree Street.  It functions as a community gathering space with a fenced dog park and flex zones for a variety of programs and events. The sculpture site on the corner has featured several temporary installations - “Rockspinner” by Zach Coffin, “Autoeater” by Venske and Spanle, and “Conversation Peace” by Kevin Box. The park is across the street from the Federal Reserve, the Margaret Mitchell House, and 999 Peachtree. It is a short walk from Midtown MARTA station.
• Art Walk Sculpture
  • 987-1001 Peachtree Walk NE | Atlanta, GA 30309
  • Located north of the Midtown MARTA station, the Art Walk is one of Midtown’s newest public spaces and invites discovery for people exploring the district on foot. The space serves adjacent residents, daytime office workers, transit riders, patrons of The Consulate restaurant nearby, and visitors to the Federal Reserve’s Monetary Museum. The space is enhanced with lush landscaping, overhead light spheres with color-changing LEDs, and vibrant pavement parking in the 10th and 11th Street intersections. There is a mural by Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn entitled “Electric Saturation.”
• Murals & Storefronts: Opportunities for mural and storefront activations will be located throughout the district similar to the following HOTA commissions. 
  • Jamaal Barber: 111 12th Street 
  • George F Baker: 60 Ptree Place.
  • Demetri Burke & Sayma Hossain: 505 Ptree Street
  • Patricia Hernandez: 493 Ptree St.
  • Amanda Pingbodhipakkiya: 10 10th St. 
  • Jasmine Nicole Williams: 10th St. Park

The above sites are a priority for Midtown Alliance but, with your application, we also welcome ideas, thoughts, and proposals for art or artful experiences in other public spaces in Midtown.

RESIDENT COMMITMENTS:

By accepting a residency in this program, the artist commits to:

• Being present and active for the duration of the residency cycle. Residents should plan to spend a minimum 10 hours per week working in the studio space.
  • Note: Our goal is to actively program spaces in Midtown, and preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate an intention to utilize the work spaces on a regular schedule.  
• Participation in public-facing programming, such as open studios, artist talks and lectures for the benefit of community engagement.
• Working with the Midtown Alliance curator and urban planning team to design and execute a public art commission within budget allotment and approved timeline.
• Producing original work for presentation in an ongoing display adjacent to studio location.
• Providing a certificate of insurance for general liability coverage for the awarded space that runs the duration of the residency term.

RESIDENCY BENEFITS: 

Each artist in residence will receive: 

• Convenient access to a studio space in Midtown
• A stipend of $2500
• Opportunities to connect with other artists and to be in conversation with visiting curators, arts professionals, potential clients and collectors
• Consideration for upcoming commission opportunities with Midtown Alliance and its partners
• Platforms to share work with new audiences
• Ongoing promotion through Midtown Alliance and partner social media platforms

REVIEW PROCESS & TIMELINE: 

Jury assessment will take into consideration the overall body of work and its representation of the artist’s vision, commitment, and dedication to a studio practice.  Applications should demonstrate how working in the Midtown District will advance the professional development of the resident artist.

The Midtown Alliance staff works to assemble a diverse group of jurors with a breadth of knowledge, perspectives, and experience to review applications. We encourage jurors and selection committees to actively consider and seek to recommend a diverse pool of applicants as finalists for the program. 

Midtown Alliance acknowledges structural inequities that have excluded individuals and communities from opportunity based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography, and strives to counter those inequities. 

• Sunday, Sept 8th, 11:59PM EST: deadline to submit application questions
• Sunday, Sept 29th, 11:59PM EST: deadline to apply
• Fall: announcement of finalists
• December: Orientation
• January 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026: Residency Term
   

ABOUT THE MIDTOWN ALLIANCE HEART OF THE ARTS PROGRAM:

Heart of the Arts is a public art program that provides a framework to enable more partnerships, more ways to engage artists, and more arts experiences for the Midtown community.

For years, we’ve partnered with Midtown’s cultural institutions to feature artwork in public places. Through the Heart of the Arts program, we’re doubling down on this work to realize a more ambitious vision: a place in which creativity and artistic expression are defining characteristics of the urban experience. That means lowering barriers and making space for creatives to become part of our community; being intentional about how Midtown art investment delivers positive impacts for Atlanta’s wider arts economy; and generating more opportunities for everyday citizens to engage with arts and the creative process.

Established in 2021, Midtown Alliance’s Heart of The Arts Residency program lowers the barrier for working artists to bring their practices Midtown and generates public-facing displays of work as well as arts programming for the enjoyment of the community. Since its inception, 13 artists have been supported and almost 12,000 cumulative square feet have been dedicated as artist workspace across previously underutilized sites in partnership with willing property owners. Additionally, $254,000 in estimated value of art installations, displays and sales have further supported the artists’ work.

Looking ahead, we plan to continue developing this program and making art an integral part of the daily experience in Midtown. We’ll continue to generate new artwork for Midtown’s public spaces and a robust calendar of public programming. And importantly, the presence of artists in our community will enable district-wide conversations about important issues and shared visions for Midtown.

ABOUT MIDTOWN ALLIANCE:

Midtown Alliance is a coalition of Atlanta’s top business and civic leaders and the catalyst for continued growth and development in Midtown, Atlanta. Since 1978, Midtown Alliance has transformed a 1.2-square mile area in the heart of Atlanta into a premier destination for commerce, culture, living, education and leisure, attracting billions of dollars in investment, thousands of new residents and workers and 6 million annual visitors. Visit www.MidtownATL.com for more information about the district.

Guided by a long-range, community driven master plan (Blueprint Midtown), Midtown Alliance has spearheaded an urban renaissance that is now a nationally recognized model of success. Midtown is a vibrant city center inspired by what people and businesses want: a dynamic urban experience that is at once welcoming, walkable, convenient and attractive. Midtown Alliance is a non-profit organization funded in part by the Midtown Improvement District, membership dues and public and private grants. The organization implements a variety of programs and initiatives including streetscape and transportation infrastructure projects, urban design, a 24/7 public safety force, daily maintenance and landscaping, transportation alternatives and special events.

MORE INFO:

website: www.midtownatl.com/arts

email questions to: art@midtownatl.com
 

Application Requirements

ABOUT THE APPLICATION:

In summary, artists are asked to provide:

• artist statement
• bio
• resume/cv
• statement of intent
• professional references
• eight (8) work samples and descriptions
• head shot
• preliminary concept(s) for public art site(s). - optional

HOW TO APPLY TO A CALL FOR ENTRY ON CaFE™    
Go to CallForEntry.org. If this is your first time using CaFE, click Artist Sign Up and complete the free registration form. You must be registered before you can log in and apply to a call for entry.

If you already have a CaFE account, click Login. Existing users may proceed to Login and apply to a call for entry. If you don't remember your password, use the forgot password link.

Applying is a three-stage process. ALL steps must be completed to submit.

• STEP 1: My Portfolio. Upload work samples.
• STEP 2: Apply to Calls. Search calls and apply.
• STEP 3: Checkout. Complete and checkout.

Need help? Visit the CaFE help center.

Preview and download the application questions here.

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

In order to meet program eligibility for the Midtown Heart of The Arts Residency:

• The artist must reside in the metropolitan Atlanta region upon acceptance into the program.
• (Residents of the following counties are considered eligible: Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Morgan, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton)
• The artist must retain residency in the Metro Atlanta area for the entire length of the residency.
• Must identify as a visual artist and showcase a portfolio of work with a serious commitment to an artistic practice.
• Must not be enrolled as a student in any degree-granting art program during the residency period.
• Must need a professional workspace to support a studio practice.