The Artist-in-Residence program is closed November through February.
The Artist-in-Residence program at T.C. Steele State Historic Site is available to emerging and established contemporary artists in a variety of media who would benefit from a respite to their everyday routine and gain inspiration in a serene, rural setting. Visual, musical, literary and conceptual artists are all welcome to apply. To honor the legacy of Theodore Clement Steele, the most renowned painter of the Hoosier Group of impressionist painters in Indiana during the early 1900s, and his wife Selma, the historic site grants opportunities for growth and exploration to those inspired by the natural environment.
The artist has the option to stay in a rustic, historic guest cottage named La Casita. The cottage has a small bathroom and a kitchenette, is heated and air-conditioned. Artists are not required to stay overnight at the site, but no compensation will be made for accommodations off-site. A separate contract will be required for staying in the guest cottage.
A small studio in a separate cottage is available for the artist to work in and to use for the public outreach portion of the program.
The duration of the program is 2-4 weeks.
Guidelines and Procedures
Artists are selected based on the quality of their work and proposal statement.
The artist will produce works at the site in support of the site’s mission to provide a beautiful environment where public education takes place and appreciation exists for the natural setting, the historic structures, gardens and paintings by T.C. Steele.
The artist needs to be comfortable interacting with visitors at pre-planned, scheduled times during open site hours. The artist will offer activities, demonstrations or workshops to engage the public. This should relate to the site and/or the artist’s personal artistic endeavors in some way.
As a contribution to the site, we ask the artist to leave behind a donated artwork. The use of the artwork will be at the discretion of the site staff. Possibilities include an artist-in-residence annual exhibit, an auction or a sale item in the gift shop that would also promote the artist.
Submission requirements
- Completed application
- 10-15 jpegs, to be viewed online through a personal or professional website. Or images sent via US mail or hand-delivered on a flash drive. Please contact us regarding alternative media submissions or to submit images via email. Please include an accompanying list with descriptions of the submitted work.
- A single-page resume or CV
- 1 personal (unrelated) and 2 professional references
- A written statement that describes:
- your most recent work
- your intended use of the artist-in-residence experience
- how it pertains to the historic site and/or natural environment
- ideas for public engagement activities/demonstrations/workshop
- A criminal background check will be conducted on accepted artists-in-residence
- A $25 non-refundable tax-deductible submission fee. If accepted as an artist-in-residence, this fee will be applied to the *$200 fee.
- A $200 fee will be charged the artist in residence for the use of the facilities and acceptance of the program.
