The Mountain AIR Program is an artist residency developed by the Art in the Libraries Program at WVU Libraries. Building on the pilot residency in 2025, this initiative connects artists with the rich environmental archives held at the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC) to inspire new creative work and public engagement. By focusing on collections that document decades of environmental activism, conservation efforts, industry impact, and citizen response, this pilot residency supports artistic interpretations that reveal the ecological story of West Virginia.
Through project-based awards, Mountain AIR invites artists to delve into these collections—ranging from the papers of grassroots activists to the records of advocacy organizations and state agencies—and create visual works, installations, publications, performances, or other interpretive expressions. The goal is to spark dialogue around place, memory, and environmental justice while activating archival material for broader audiences.
The residency is open to all U.S.-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 knowledge, or explore the complex environmental history of the region will be given strong consideration.
Participants will publicly share their work through small exhibitions, talks, or collaborative projects at WVU Libraries or online platforms. Through this residency, the Mountain AIR Program seeks to breathe new life into archival materials and support artists who explore the intersection of land, labor, activism, and art in West Virginia.
For information about the inaugural WVU Libraries artist residency program,
see:
Artist in Residency | Art in the Libraries | West Virginia University.
2026 Program Sponsors
- Appalachian Community Development Association
- The Oakland Foundation
Program Goals
- To engage creatives with the rich environmental 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 environmental history and activism.
-
To promote and build upon the environmental collections at WVRHC by:
- Enhancing public understanding and engagement with the WVRHC and WVU Libraries, aligning with the university’s land-grant mission.
- Enriching teaching, learning, and research at WVU and in regional, national, and international communities interested in environmental justice and conservation.
- Expanding awareness, scope, and representation of West Virginia’s environmental history and activism in archival collections.
-
To promote and build upon the Art in the Libraries Program by:
- Encouraging discovery, innovation, and sustainability through interdisciplinary artistic practices.
- Modeling diversity, equity, and inclusion in artistic endeavors focused on environmental and social themes.
- Demonstrating the collaborative potential of art, archives, students, scholars, and communities in fostering reflection, dialogue, and activism within WVU Libraries.
Timeline
- October 1, 2025: Application opens
- November 28, 2025: Application deadline
- December 1–7: Applications reviewed
- December 7–30: Applicants notified, winner signs contract, funds for materials
- January 2026: Travel plans coordinated with Art in the Libraries and the WVRHC with administrative assistance
- February 2026: Funds delivered to artist for materials
- March or April 2026: Residency (5–7 days in Morgantown, including 2 days minimum exploring archives)
- April 2026: Public program during Earth Week (April 22, 2026), promoted by WVU Libraries
- Honorarium and reimbursement funds awarded after residency
Guidelines for Artist in Residence
- Commit to AIR for five working days.
- Spend at least 2 days in the WVRHC examining the Environmental History Archives.
- Follow all guidelines and open hours for using WVRHC collections.
- Create a work in response to your research. This could include:
- Exhibit with archival materials or reproductions
- Original artworks inspired by the archives
- A publication or other creative project using a designated workspace
- Present to the community about your process and creation (20-minute talk)
- Participate in a lunch or dinner with WVRHC stakeholders (optional)
Artist in Residence Will Provide
- Digital copies of select works for promotional use
- Links to artist's website or social media for promotion
- Description of project and support with marketing
- A completed W-9 form
- Ownership of final artwork/project remains with the artist
- Signed contract
Funding
- $1,000 for materials and supplies upon contract agreement
- Up to $3,500 for transportation, lodging, and per diem meal expenses (reimbursement)
- $1,000 honorarium after program completion
Application Process
The WV Mountain AIR program is open to U.S.-based artists, curators, and creators aged 18 or older. WVU alumni and underrepresented artists are strongly encouraged to apply. Artists working in 2D or 3D media, mixed media, interdisciplinary work, and curatorial practice are all welcome.
Submit the following by November 28, 2025:
-
Statement of interest (500 words) describing:
- Proposed project
- Archival collections you plan to use (e.g., Environmental Archives or Larry Gibson Papers) Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to WVRHC staff with questions about the collections by using this form: https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc.
- Public programming idea
- How this residency will contribute to your artistic development
- Estimated timeline and budget for supplies and materials up to $1,000 (understanding project may change during residency) (500 words max)
- Artist statement (200 words)
- 2-page resume or CV
- 5–10 digital images or work samples (300dpi or links)
- Submit as a single PDF with subheadings to sally.brown1@mail.wvu.edu
Exhibit space:
The space for the artwork or exhibit for this project will be the WVU Downtown Library Atrium. The Atrium is centrally located in the main campus library featuring large glass ceilings. There are optional limited glass display cases, walls and windows to display 2-d artwork and easels available as well.
Because of a grant from the Appalachian Community Development Association, this work will also be recognized at the 2026 Appalachian Festival,.
Selection Criteria:
Artist in Residence applicants will be juried by the WVU Art in the Libraries Committee in collaboration with the West Virginia & Regional History Center archivists.
Readiness to engage with and benefit from the residency experience
Relevance to Environmental Collections
Alignment with Program Goals
Artistic integrity of Work Submitted: aesthetic quality, creativity, and originality, including inventiveness, experimentation, conceptual ideas, evidence of thinking, decision-making, and personal expression. The quality of artistic composition and overall design of sample work reflects technical skills, mastery of media, understanding of design elements and principles, and compositional skills. The overall impression of the artwork considers whether it stands on its own as a complete and outstanding work of art, especially as it will be displayed individually in Libraries. The plan for the display addresses the feasibility of secure and effective presentation in DCL. Finally, the artist's organization and professionalism are essential factors in evaluating the artwork.
Artist experience (exhibitions, residencies, publications, presentations, performances, etc.)
Materials requests align with space use/funds available
For questions about this project, please contact Art in the Libraries’ Curator, Sally Brown, 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.