Arts on Main launches the Artists in Residency program inviting artists from around the world to stay and work in Gloucester, Virginia. Supported by the Cook Foundation, the residency program encourages artists to engage with the community while living and pursuing their work on the Goshen estate. Artists enjoy deeply focused time to explore, experiment and to work independently. The residency is open to emerging and experienced artists of all disciplines. “This exciting new program enables invited artists to bring creative energy to the Gloucester community. To find inspiration in the people and in the beauty of this area while allowing the artists to work creatively at the highest levels,” said Melanie Chambers Hartman, director of the Artists in Residency program for Arts on Main.

Establishing an artists in residency program in Gloucester is the realization of a dream of Adrianne Ryder Cook Joseph, founder and president of the Cook Foundation. “Gloucester’s surroundings are exceptional in their beauty, tranquility and authenticity. By sharing our unique environment with artists from around the world, we hope to nourish the creativity of artists from all disciplines. The interaction of these artists with our community will, in turn, stimulate our own creativity, grow our artistic community, and develop our reputation as an arts center,” explained Joseph.

Residency periods range from 2 to 8 weeks and artists partner with Arts on Main for community engagement events. “We look forward to encouraging these artists with the support of the local community and engagement through Arts on Main hosted events such as demonstrations, talks, workshops or performances,” said Betsy Henderson, Executive Director of Arts on Main.

Initially, residencies will be available on an invitational basis. Artists are invited to submit applications for consideration. Selection is based on artists’ work and community engagement proposals, and by evaluating the benefits of a residency period in Gloucester to the individual artist. Residencies are open to artists age 25 years and older who are not local residents. Degree-seeking students at the time of application are not eligible, however, post-graduate students will be considered.

The fiscal year 2016-2017 was a year of Firsts for Arts On Main in an extraordinary period of growth and stability. From coming together to meet and exceed the Cook Foundation Challenge, through the success of our first Open Juried Exhibition, the expansion of the enrichment program, the triumph of RiverJam, to our considerable role in organizing and hosting major parts of the Gloucester Arts Festival’s first Plein Air week, it has been a year of challenges sought and overcome. With the help and involvement of countless of our members, partners, supporters, volunteers and donors, we have much achieved so much for which we can all take pride.

July 2016 through June 2017 at Arts On Main

July
• 5th anniversary celebration
• Meeting the Cook Challenge
• Exhibit of Vernon Carter Collection to benefit Woodville school
August
• Mullins Sisters concert
• Jeffro exhibit
September
• Carvers and Cabinetmakers exhibit
October
• First Member’s Juried show
• First “Movie On Main”
November
• Animal Art show with GMHS
• Gala—First Sell out crowd
December
• Holiday Art Show
• Community Orchestra and the Snow Queen
January
• Hired First Paid Staff—Betsy and Alisa
• Found art show
February
• Monti Sykes Mayan Art Show
• VMFA speaker on Mayan art
March
• Carolyn Dudley show
• Donor recognition event
• Pat Dews week long workshop
• First Singer/Songwriter Concert by Julie Clarke

April
• Art in Flowers exhibit of floral arrangements interpreting artwork
• 1200+ visitors for Daffodil Festival
• GCG Kids workshop
• RiverJam—FIRST, almost $20,000
May
• Kay Van Dyke show
• First Gloucester Arts Festival and week long plein air event
June
• First Open Juried Show
• Singer/Songwriter, Tray and Joann Eppes
• After school Art Enrichment Program ends 5th year with 550+ kids in 4 schools benefiting. Over 1200 kids impacted to date. Support for the GCF, VCA, Gwathmey, Treakle, Edward T. Bedford foundations and many individuals and business.