I'm writing to you from the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming where I am attending a three-week Artist Residency. In the past two years alone, I've applied to 15 residencies, and this is the first one I've been accepted to (ever) through an open call process. I’ve been joking for years that some day I will crack the code on artist residencies and the day is finally here!
In truth, I don’t have all the answers but I have gained some insights from conversations with other residents and Ucross staff.
This experience is incredibly meaningful to me because I have been receiving "nos" for so long. This is not the case for everyone however. Some of the other residents here are young and have already attended many residencies after getting accepted on their first try. It can be really confusing to watch others have easy success while you are continually told “no”.
I’m here to tell you here is no singular path to acceptance. Being the best artist or writing the best proposal may not seal the deal.
The Program Director of Ucross joined the residents for dinner one night and we asked her some questions about the selection process. I am sharing my takeaways that are specific to this residency, but I think could apply to grants, other residencies, and shows, etc.
For each Ucross season (they have two each year) they receive a whopping 900+ applications. The number of applicants has been growing over the years, and I have seen this for other desirable open calls. Open Calls are becoming increasingly competitive all around.
Ucross selects around 55 residents each season, and they are divided between writers, composers, movement artists/dancers, and visual artists. This fall season there are only four painters, and I am one of them. There are just not enough slots for every qualified artist. It's incredibly humbling.
The Selection Panel for Ucross is made up of former residents since they have firsthand knowledge of what the experience is like. For example, you have to walk 2/3 of a mile from the housing to the studios. It is remote here. There are snakes and other wild things. The isolation is wonderful, but some ability to be on your own is needed. Part of making their selections is working out when folks can attend, what studios they will use, and any other special requirements. It's like a 3D puzzle where everything needs to work with the other weirdly shaped pieces.
It's easy to think decisions for every open call are based on merit (and it is certainly a factor) but the reality is that merit is usually only a portion of the criteria. It could come down to something like they don't have an open spot for the month you are available, even though your work makes the cut. The Program Director said there were many instances where she wished she could have told someone how close they were, but all she can do is encourage folks to keep applying.
My relationship to Open Calls lives in a state of tension between opposing perspectives. I think their usefulness is very limited, but I apply for them with enthusiastic abandon. I try to keep a healthy boundary between my self worth and the results of open calls.
Even though a large part of my business is to support artists with Open Calls, I am highly aware that it is nearly impossible to have a thriving art career solely through open calls.
I have found that there are three ways that opportunities come to me: 1) Open Calls, 2) my Visibility, and 3) my Network. Invitations don’t just fall from the sky and people need to know about me to choose me.
In previous newsletters, I've alluded to some deep research I've been engaged with that addresses #2 and #3. I'm developing a new program (Course? System? Not sure how to talk about it yet) that will assist artists with the development of opportunities outside of open calls. This is the piece that has been missing in my support for artists that I have been trying to figure out how to address over the past 6 years. It’s another code I’ve been trying to crack.
I'll be sharing more about this new venture in the coming months, with a pilot program in early 2026. Until then I am using myself as a test case for the material and I have to say, I’m having a lot of fun and good things are happening…
With enthusiastic abandon,
Virginia