The Pinney Studio is a dedicated public space within the Pinney Library with a focus towards creative exploration and play. Located near the entrance of the library, this highly visible, all-glass space is passed by thousands of library patrons each day.

This year, the Bubbler Team seeks one community-minded teaching artist who is especially excited to engage young adults (16+), adults, and seniors in the community. The Pinney Studio is a space to dream big and experiment. This year, applicants applying for the Pinney Studio Artist-in-Residence can submit proposals of any medium and/or workshop theme(s). Strong applicants are those with a clear, dynamic vision that can be scaled up or down to allow for multiple participant entry points.

Being in a public library, our resident artist(s) find that their practice tends to inform the community, as well as be informed by that interaction. Connection with the community can take on many forms, from casual drop-ins by patrons while working in the space to targeted workshops that allow you to translate your art into hands-on experiences. You can anticipate opportunities within the residency to enhance your current projects while also developing your skills and confidence as a facilitator to people of all ages. 

Our Goals:

• Focusing our services and offerings within this space towards young adults (16+), adults, and seniors

• Offering an open space for the public to learn, share, and create through unique and enticing mediums and projects

• Providing professional development and support for our teaching artist by offering Creativity Coaching with artist Angela Johnson

• Connecting artists to the community and the community to artists through hands-on learning and exploration

Current cycle and timeline:

January 12, 2024: Pinney Studio Artist-in-Residence application opens
March 4, 2024: Application deadline
March 4 - April 5, 2024: Applicants reviewed by a jury consisting of community artist(s) and library staff member(s)
April 5, 2024: By this date, results will be shared with all applicants via email

This application cycle will focus on one 6-month residency in Pinney Studio at Pinney Library, taking place Spring to Autumn 2024. Exact months may vary, and there may be an opportunity to extend. We expect that the selected artist is able to commit a minimum of 5 hours a week to the residency.

Selection Process:

The selection process takes place with the help of an annual jury made of up one (1) community educator/organizer, one (1) past Bubbler Artist-in-Residence, and one to two (1-2) library staff members.

When selecting residents, we seek to reflect the diversity of the Madison experience. We look for artists with different levels of experience, a broad range of artistic mediums, and those from different backgrounds and perspectives. Wherever you are in your practice, we hope to offer you new and exciting opportunities to expand your art towards the public and begin—or refine!—your outreach and teaching approaches. This year our jury will prioritize:

• Artists who are comfortable working in a highly visible, publicly-engaged space

• Artists who are comfortable focusing workshops and projects towards an older audience

• Artists who esteem curiosity, collaboration, and connection with community,

• Experience and comfort with developing and adapting creative opportunities to a variety of ages and abilities

• The ability to adapt and embrace change

• Artists who are local (Wisconsin-based)

• Artists who reflect our diverse communities here in Madison

Compensation:

We value compensating our artists-in-residence. Accepted applicants will receive a stipend to be used in whatever way the artist sees fit. Artist are compensated with:

• Monthly stipend of $1000/month

• Additional paid contracts for workshops and community outreach events and visits

• Access to the Pinney Studio during library hours as a collective studio space

• Access to Madison Public Library supplies and budget for supplies

• Access to additional funds to collaborate with guest artists and/or experts

• Creativity Coaching support by artist Angela Johnson

• Access to other Madison Public Library resources, expertise, and infrastructure

History

The Artist-in-Residence Program at Pinney Library was developed when the new Pinney Library opened in 2020, including the Pinney Studio space. While planning to build this new library, the City of Madison underwent a robust community engagement process, and within that, arts and creativity rose as a major need within the community.

As we work to respond to the Pinney community, the residency model is flexible and changing. Since it’s conception, we have hosted three incredible and unique artists: Maria Amalia Wood (2020-2021), Angela Johnson (2022) and bernie & zuzu (2023). We love that it continues to evolve over time, allowing for residencies in more libraries throughout the Madison community as well!

Take a look through the Bubbler Archive to learn more.

Still have questions?

Please contact Trent Miller, Bubbler Program & Gallery Coordinator via email at: bubbler@madisonpubliclibary.org or via our contact page.

To apply, scroll up to the top of this page and click the ‘Apply now’ button.