Call Description

Residency Term: January 5-March 26, 2027

Applications Accepted: June 15-October 20, 2026

Selected Applicant Notified By: November 10, 2026

Located in Spokane, Washington, the sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Artist-in-Residence Program was introduced in 2025 with the opening of sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Fine and Applied Art Building 32 on the campus of Spokane Falls Community College. As a college which is situated on the traditional and sacred lands of the Spokane Tribe and provides services in a region that includes the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Kalispel Tribe and Nez Perce Tribe, applications are open to an emerging Native American (NA) artist who is an enrolled member of a US Federally Recognized Tribe (FRT) with priority given to Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. We will prioritize those applicants and the Tribes of Washington state as well as the Schistu'umsh (Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Indians). *Due to the intentions of this residency program, which is meant solely for someone who is a NA 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.

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 residency provides time for the artist to develop artwork, explore new ideas, and to strengthen existing talents. Opportunities for educational and professional development, connections with students and Spokane community will be available for the artist to explore.

The selected resident artist will have an office space and access to the Fine Art Department studios, which includes diverse creative disciplines such as ceramics, drawing, metals/jewelry, painting, printmaking, digital art, sculpture, and mixed media. 

Applicants need not have any formal training but should have some previous experience creating in their preferred medium.

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 Indigenous 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 (Indigenous and non-Indigenous), 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 of access to the fine art department's studio spaces for ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking, metalsmithing, 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 resident artist facilitated open studio hours, resident artist lead technical demonstrations or lectures, and mentoring through art critique participation. Apprenticeship available from the Gallery Program Director in which the artist would receive guidance in art exhibition, curatorial processes, and technical demonstrations relating to art installation processes.

·      Connection to a community liaison/Tribal representative.

·      A welcome reception, free and open to the public with food and beverages provided by the college.

·      The resident artist would receive furnished off-campus lodging for three months with amenities including kitchen and wifi.

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

·      Travel stipend to and from Spokane, WA not to exceed $500.00

 SELECTION PROCESS:

To promote equity and access, applications will be reviewed by a diverse committee appointed annually. Committee members may include individuals from the SFCC Fine Art Department, the SFCC student body, and regional Tribal communities.

Application Requirements

Submit the following information online or postmarked by the 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. *Due to the intentions of this residency program, which is meant solely for someone who is a NA from a US FRT, we are we asking for documentation to safeguard our commitment to the program’s goals. 

·       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 images of recent visual artwork: 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):

·       Compose a letter of intent describing how the sƛ̓x̣etkʷ Artist-in-Residence Program will specifically impact and contribute to your artistic goals and how you plan to utilize this opportunity. Personal artwork goals, potential collaborations, and the projects/artworks you plan to pursue should be addressed. Please identify any equipment needs required to complete proposed projects/artworks. 

·       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?

For mailed entries, please postmark by the application deadline and address to:

CCS Central Services

Attn: Cozette Phillips, MS-3060

3939 N. Freya

Spokane, WA 99217

Eligibility Criteria

Applications are open to an emerging Native American (NA) artist who is an enrolled member of a US Federally Recognized Tribe (FRT) with priority given to Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. *Due to the intentions of this residency program, which is meant solely for someone who is a NA 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.

Students currently enrolled at Spokane Colleges are not eligible to apply. This residency program does not qualify as college credit.