Call Description

Spokane Colleges is honored to introduce Round 2 of the sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Artist-in-Residence Program through the Fine Art Department at Spokane Falls Community College. The fully funded annual  three-month residency will provide state of the art studio space within the newly constructed sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Fine and Applied Arts building to an emerging Native American (NA) artist who is a documented descendent and/or enrolled member of a US Federally Recognized Tribe (FRT) with priority given to Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. The selected artist will explore creative expression through educational and professional development opportunities that connect them  with students and  the wider  Spokane community for the duration of the winter academic quarter January 5- March 26, 2026.  This residency is made possible through generous support from the Sahlin Foundation, Ruby Hospitality, and the Associated Student Government at SFCC.

As a college which is situated on the traditional and sacred lands of the Spokane Tribe of Indians and provides services in a region that includes the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Nez Perce Tribe, we will prioritize those applicants and the Tribes of the Pacific Northwest as well as the Schistu'umsh (Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Indians). The three-month residency includes a $3,000.00 monthly stipend, as well as off-campus housing, studio space, and travel reimbursement to and from Spokane, WA. The program is designed to provide time for an emerging artist to develop artwork, explore new ideas, strengthen existing talents, and form connections with students and the Spokane community. We are sensitive to the interests of the resident artist, with a focus on relationship-building with our students, staff, faculty, and Tribal Liaison(s). Therefore, we offer a variety of internal (classroom, SFCC campus) or external (public facing, Spokane community) professional and artistic development options, such as open studio hours, classroom artist talk(s),  public lecture(s), artist lead technical demonstration(s) or workshop(s), art critiques, Associated Student Government Club activities, art display and/or exhibit.*The way that the public interacts with the Artist-in-Residence will be informed by the desires and preferences of the Artist-in-Residence.

Applications will be open to all artists from US FRTs practicing in visual art disciplines that can be supported by the Fine Art Department’s facilities within sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Fine and Applied Arts Building 32 including ceramics, drawing, jewelry/metalsmithing, painting, and printmaking, and sculpture. The sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Fine and Applied Arts Building, built in 2024, is 60,000 SF and includes, an 804 square foot Fine Art Gallery, classrooms, labs, offices, studios and specialty equipment including a bronze foundry. Applicants need not have any formal degree or certificate training but should have some previous experience in their preferred medium. Applicants whose work engages with cultural traditions through materials, techniques, and subject matter are encouraged to apply.

PROGRAM GOALS:

1.    Cultural Preservation and Reclamation: By creating a space that makes it possible for the resident artists to express themselves authentically and creatively, this residency will contribute to the preservation and transmission of NA culture to future generations.

2.    Empowerment and Identity Affirmation: Our residency creates a pathway to exploration and empowerment by providing the artist with opportunities to explore, express, and celebrate their cultural identities and heritages in an affirming space.

3.    Community Building and Solidarity: The residency program creates opportunities for the artist to connect and collaborate within a supportive professional community informed by their wants and needs.

4.    Cross-Cultural Understanding and Dialogue: Our residency program is designed to promote cross-cultural dialogue and understanding. By providing opportunities for the artist to share their perspectives and experiences with other communities, we plan to promote and facilitate meaningful interactions and build bridges of mutual respect and appreciation.

5.    Professional Development and Visibility: This residency program will provide valuable opportunities for the artist to build skills, develop supportive networks, and enhance the visibility of their work. These opportunities are at the artist’s discretion and designed to build new and extended opportunities for future work and career advancement.

6.    Inspiration and Innovation: Through this residency, we hope to provide a space within a vibrant artistic community that supports and encourages inspiration and innovation in the practice of art.

 OUR COMMITMENTS TO THE ARTIST:

·      The artist-in-residence will decide what kind of art they want to make and exhibit, what kind of professional development they will benefit from, and what they would like their interaction with the community to look like.

·      Three months access to the fine art department’s studio spaces within sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Fine and Applied Arts Building, with access to tools and equipment from the fine art disciplines taught at SFCC including ceramics, drawing, jewelry/metalsmithing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture.

·      Access to instruction in fine art classrooms: opportunities to observe regularly scheduled classroom lectures, demonstrations, and critiques performed by fine art faculty.

·      Professional development opportunities available to the artist should they choose to incorporate them as part of their residency experience include engagement with students and the community of Spokane through artist facilitated open studio hours, artist lead technical demonstrations, classroom talks or visits, public artist talk or lecture and mentoring through art critique participation.

·      Gallery apprenticeship available, in which the artist would receive guidance from the Gallery Director in the curatorial processes and technical demonstrations relating to art installation.

·      Option of exhibiting artwork through the SFCC Fine Art Gallery. As an educational gallery, 100% of all profits from sales through the SFCC Fine Art Gallery are directed to the exhibiting artist.

·      A welcome reception, free and open to the public with food and beverages hosted by the SFCC Fine Art Gallery will be scheduled with the resident artist.

·      Connection to a Community Liaison/Tribal Representative.

·      Furnished off-campus lodging for three months with amenities including kitchen, laundry, and WIFI.

·      Three stipend payments in the amount of $3,000.00 each to assist with costs of living such as local travel, meals, and art supplies associated with a three-month residency.

·      Reimbursement for travel to and from Spokane, WA not to exceed $800.00

SELECTION PROCESS:

To ensure equity and access, applications will be reviewed by a diverse committee including Tribal representatives, SFCC fine art faculty member(s), and an enrolled member of the SFCC student body Red Nations Club.  The selected artist will be notified by November 3, 2026, and the residency term will be January 5-March 26, 2026.

Application Requirements

Submit the following information online or postmarked by the September 20, 2025 application deadline. Complete applications for the sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Artist-in-Residence Program would include the following: 

·       ​Name

·       Mailing Address:     City:   State/Province:    Zip/Postal Code:

·       Phone

·       Email

·       Tribal Affiliation(s), please provide a copy of Tribal ID or certificate status.

·       Provide a list of prior art experiences such as education, relevant training, awards/honors, exhibitions, performances, residencies, apprenticeships or a CV 

·       Artist Statement (no more than two pages in length)

·       5-10 of current visual artwork samples: file types accepted in JPG, JPEG, Office 365, PDF, and PNG. File name format: “First Name_Last Name_1.jpg” The max to upload would be 30MB.

·       Image List: Next to the number of each artwork, provide the title of the piece, medium, size, year of completion, and optional image description. Please do not send portfolios or actual work, images only, as the application will not be returned. 

·       Years working in a creative discipline(s):

·       Description of new artwork(s) you intend to explore and complete during the residency.

·       Creative discipline(s) and techniques of proposed artwork(s) or project:

·       Written statement specifying areas of interest through professional development engagement with SFCC Fine Art students and community audiences.  The artist may choose to have several public events, such as open studio hours, an artist talk or lecture, and workshops or they may elect to limit direct interaction with the public. We are sensitive to the interests of the resident artist, with a focus on relationship-building and professional and artistic development.

*The way that the public interacts with the Artist-in-Residence will be informed by the desires and preferences of the Artist-in-Residence.

·       ​List two professional references with contact information for each. Name, Email, Phone, and Relationship

·       If you receive the residency, a spouse, partner or family member(s) may accompany you. Please provide their name(s) and their relation to you.

·       Will you agree to be present on campus for 35 hours a week during the 3-month residency term?

Would you be interested in an opportunity to exhibit artwork at the SFCC Fine Art Gallery at the culmination of the residency?

For mailed entries, please postmark by September 20, 2025, and send application to:

CCS Central Services

Attn: Cozette Phillips, MS-3060

3939 N. Freya

Spokane, WA 99217

Eligibility Criteria

The sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Artist-in-Residence Program is open to an emerging artist who is a documented descendent and enrolled member of a US Federally Recognized Tribe (FRT) with priority given to Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. *Due to the intensions of this residency program, which is meant solely for someone who is a Native American from a US FRT, we are we asking for documentation to safeguard our commitment to the program’s goals.  The term ‘emerging’ is utilized to define artists who are without gallery representation. To ensure equity and access, applications will be reviewed by a diverse committee including Tribal representatives, SFCC fine art faculty member, and an enrolled member of the Red Nations Club from the SFCC student body. The selected artist will be notified by November 3, 2025, and the residency term will be January 5-March 26, 2026.