Program Call for Applicants: AIR 2027
Common Threads: Industry, Labor & Community
The Artist in Residence Program is an initiative developed by the Art in the Libraries Program at WVU Libraries. Building on previous residencies, the 2027 cycle connects artists with the rich Industry, Labor, and Community Collections held at the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC) to inspire new creative work and public engagement. By focusing on collections that document local enterprise, working-class history, union organization, community life, and the human story behind West Virginia’s industrial footprint, this residency supports artistic interpretations that honor and reframe the state's cultural identity.
Through project-based awards, the 2027 WVU Libraries’ AIR invites artists to delve into these archival collections, ranging from union records and company town archives to oral histories and grassroots community papers, to create visual works, installations, publications, performances, or other interpretive expressions. The goal is to spark dialogue around place, labor, solidarity, and heritage while activating archival material for broader audiences.
The residency is open to all U.S. and Canadian-based artists, with a preference for WVU alumni and those working in fields such as visual art, dance, writing, and cultural heritage (including curators and community-based practitioners). Proposals that highlight underrepresented narratives, elevate local working-class history, or explore the human impact of regional industry will be given strong consideration.
Participants will publicly share their work through small exhibitions, talks, or collaborative projects at WVU Libraries or on online platforms. Through this residency, the AIR Program seeks to breathe new life into archival materials and support artists who explore the intersection of industry, labor, community, and art in West Virginia.
Program Goals
To engage creatives with the rich industry, labor, and community archival materials housed within the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC).
To support a contemporary artist with an honorarium, travel support, and a meaningful residency experience.
To foster engagement with WVU students, faculty, staff, and the broader community through dynamic creative programming related to labor history and community resilience.
To promote and build upon the labor and community collections at WVRHC by:
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Enhancing public understanding and engagement with the WVRHC and WVU Libraries, aligning with the university’s land-grant mission.
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Enriching teaching, learning, and research at WVU as well as in regional, national, and international communities interested in labor movement histories and working-class culture.
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Expanding awareness, scope, and representation of West Virginia’s diverse workforce and community histories in archival collections.
To promote and build upon the Art in the Libraries Program by:
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Encouraging discovery, innovation, and sustainability through interdisciplinary artistic practices.
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Modeling diversity, equity, and inclusion in artistic endeavors focused on labor, social identity, and community themes.
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Demonstrating the collaborative potential of art, archives, students, scholars, and communities in fostering reflection, dialogue, and activism within WVU Libraries.
Timeline (2026–2027 Cycle)
Date |
Milestone |
October 1, 2026 |
Application opens |
November 30, 2026 |
Application deadline |
December 1–7, 2026 |
Applications reviewed |
December 7–30, 2026 |
Applicants notified, selected artist signs contract, project setup begins |
January 2027 |
Travel plans coordinated with Art in the Libraries and WVRHC administration |
February 2027 |
Funds delivered to artist for materials purchasing |
March or April 2027 |
Residency: 5–7 day stay in Morgantown including a minimum of 2 days exploring WVRHC archives |
April 2027 |
Public program and exhibition launch, with promotion coordinated by WVU Libraries |
(Honorarium and remaining reimbursement funds are awarded following the completion of the program).
Guidelines for Artist in Residence
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Commit to the AIR residency for five working days.
- Spend at least 2 full days in the West Virginia & Regional History Center examining the Industry, Labor, and Community collections.
- Follow all guidelines and procedures for researchers using WVRHC collections and respect open hours.
- Create a work in response to research in the WVRHC (e.g., an exhibit utilizing archival materials or reproductions, original artwork inspired by or collaging documents/oral histories, a labor history publication, or another experimental creation) by the agreed-upon deadline.
- Deliver a 20-minute community presentation discussing process, creation, and creative intention.
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Attend optional engagement lunches or dinners with WVRHC stakeholders and community members.
The Artist in Residence will provide:
High-resolution digital copies of select works to be used in promoting WVRHC events.
Links to professional portfolio websites or social media handles for cross-promotion and tagging.
A written description of the project and active assistance with marketing events.
A completed W-9 form for tax processing.
Signed contract prior to funding disbursement.
Note: Ownership of the completed final artwork or project remains entirely with the artist.
Funding
$1,000 for art and exhibit materials/supplies, awarded upon signed contract agreement.
Up to $3,500 in reimbursements covering transportation, lodging, and per diem meal expenses.
$1,000 honorarium for the participating artist upon successful completion of the program.
Application Process
The AIR program is open to all artists, curators, and creators (ages 18+) based in the United States. WVU alumni and underrepresented artists are especially encouraged to apply. Artists working in 2D or 3D mediums (painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, collage, digital art, book arts, ceramics, textiles/fabric, audio/oral history installation, performance art) or interdisciplinary practices are welcome.
Please submit the following as a single PDF by November 30, 2026:
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Abstract (up to 150 words): Summarize your project plan.
- Statement of Interest (up to 500 words): Describe your proposed project, the specific collections within the WVRHC Industry, Labor, and Community archives you intend to research, ideas for your public presentation/program, and how this residency will advance your artistic development. (Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit and explore https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ to locate potential archives to utilize. For questions on specific collections please use the Contact Form: WVRHC - LibAnswers).
- Estimated Timeline & Budget (up to 500 words): An outline of project milestones and supply costs up to $1,000. Offer your availability for coming for your residency and for the public program (can you complete the project in one week or will you make 2 trips) in March - April of 2027.
- Artist Statement (200 words max): A brief overview of your general creative practice including any connection to Appalachia.
- CV/Resume: Maximum 2 pages including your location and website.
- Work Samples: 5–10 high-resolution digital images (.jpg format, 300 dpi minimum) or direct web links to representative work.
Email the single combined PDF with clear subheadings to Curator Sally Brown at sally.brown1@mail.wvu.edu.
Exhibit & Presentation Space
The primary space for displaying project outcomes will be the WVU Downtown Library; locations are flexible, media depending.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be juried by the WVU Art in the Libraries Committee alongside West Virginia & Regional History Center archivists based on:
Readiness & Relevance: Clear readiness to engage with archival materials and strong conceptual alignment with Industry, Labor, and Community themes.
Alignment with Program Goals: Intentional commitment to public engagement and community connection.
Artistic Integrity & Design: Aesthetic quality, original voice, technical mastery, and structural feasibility of displaying the proposed project in the Downtown Library Atrium.
Professional Background: Demonstrated track record in exhibitions, residencies, community projects, or publications.
Budget Feasibility: Realistic materials requests matching space constraints and available funding.
Questions?
Contact Art in the Libraries Curator, Sally Brown, at sally.brown1@mail.wvu.edu.
Examples:
Artists can find inspiration in archival collections, using historical documents, photographs, objects, and other materials to create works that reflect on or reinterpret the past. Here are some examples of what an artist might create:
Mixed Media Collages: Combining photocopies or digital prints of archival photographs, documents, and other ephemera with contemporary materials to create visually rich collages that juxtapose past and present.
Historical Paintings or Drawings: Recreating scenes, people, or events from the past based on archival photographs or descriptions, providing a new interpretation or contemporary perspective on historical moments.
Photographic Series: Developing a series of photographs that respond to archival images, either by recreating them in contemporary settings or by drawing thematic connections between past and present.
Performance Art: Designing performances that are informed by historical events, documents, or personal stories found in archives, often blending historical reenactment with modern commentary.
Video Art: Producing video pieces that incorporate archival footage, interviews, and other historical materials, sometimes combining them with contemporary footage to explore historical continuity and change.
Textile Art: Creating quilts, tapestries, or other textile pieces that use patterns, images, or texts from archival sources, often to tell stories or highlight historical themes.
Digital Art: Developing digital artworks or interactive experiences that use archival data or imagery, allowing audiences to explore history in new and engaging ways.
Books or Zines: Producing artist books or zines that compile and reinterpret archival materials, often including visual art, poetry, and personal reflections.
Reconstructed Letters: An artist might create a series of artworks based on letters from an archival collection, using these letters as a base to explore activist themes.
Memory Maps: Inspired by old maps, an artist could create a series of contemporary maps that overlay historical data with modern geographic information, exploring changes in the landscape and society.
Music or dance performances: In developing a musical or dance performance, artists might start by exploring rare books, letters, or diaries that reveal personal narratives and cultural histories. Music scores and recordings within the library can provide both inspiration and material for original compositions or choreographic pieces. Historical documents and archives offer a wealth of visual and contextual details that can enrich the narrative and aesthetic elements of the performance.