CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Artist Project, a Community Arts Initiative Program
The Artist Project is a collaboration between an experienced artist, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and twelve after-school community organizations in the Boston area.
The program is designed to engage children in the art-making process under the guidance of an experienced artist. Drawing inspiration from the MFA’s collection the selected artist plans and leads an art project with children between the ages of six and twelve. The final product is a collaborative work of art, reflecting the voices and ideas of participating children, and is exhibited in the Edward H. Linde Gallery (168) in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art for up to six calendar months.
LEAD ARTIST INVOLVEMENT
The MFA provides a stipend of $50,000 to the selected artist and a budget of $5,000 for materials. The Lead Artist works with MFA staff and collections, and is recognized across all exhibition promotional materials including the MFA website. The Artist should be available for planning starting in July 2025 and art sessions with children starting in October 2025. All sessions must conclude by April 2026 as the exhibition grand opening is planned for May 2026. The Artist works with MFA staff to schedule four to six visits, lasting approximately 2.5 hours, with each of the twelve organizations. Visits typically take place between the hours of 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm at the MFA and community centers during after school hours. The Artist must be available all of the weekdays (M-F) that the MFA is open until 10:00 pm in order to accommodate group visits to the Museum. A minimum of two sessions per organization must be held in person. The role of the Lead Artist is to guide the children and choreograph the collaborative work of art into its final exhibited shape.
Note that this position is affiliated with the United Auto Worker's Union.
PARTICIPANTS
The MFA currently partners with twelve community organizations including Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, Sociedad Latina, United South End Settlements (USES), West End House Boys & Girls Club of Allston-Brighton, and Vine Street Community Center. Additionally, we are also proud to partner with six of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club, Charlestown Boys & Girls Club, Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club, Gerald and Darlene Jordan Boys & Girls Club, Orchard Gardens Boys & Girls Club, and the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury. The Artist meets with approximately 10-15 children per session. The participating children meet with the Artist after school during their scheduled visits.
PROGRAM SUPPORT
The MFA employs a Liaison for each of the community centers along with support from the Community Arts Initiative administrative staff in the Learning and Community Engagement division. MFA Liaisons are familiar with the Museum’s collections and assist the Lead Artist during each session at the Museum and community centers. Community center art directors are also available to assist during sessions. MFA staff from the curatorial, exhibitions, and facilities departments support the exhibition installation.
The Museum purchases all materials used in the project and assists in installation of completed project. All materials purchased are the property of the MFA.
The Museum does not provide housing or a dedicated Artist's studio space for this project.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the United States, and are expected to reside in or near Boston for the duration of the Artist Project. Artists must be experienced in exhibiting and working with groups of children. Artists who work in any medium are eligible to apply. The Lead Artist is selected through a competitive process which includes a two-stage jury process.
JUDGING CRITERIA
All components of the application must be completed and submitted by the Friday, January 17, 2025 deadline in order to be eligible for consideration. Judges review applications for:
- Engagement: the project inspires children and encourages parent, visitor, and community involvement.
- Creativity: the project draws from the MFA’s collections and reflects the Artist’s style.
- Feasibility: the project must be completed within the time frame and materials budget provided.
- Clarity: the Artist conveys a clear vision of how the final work of art will be exhibited within the gallery space.
- Flexibility: the project allows for multiple participants and considers after-school variables such as children leaving a session early, arriving late, or only participating in one session.
GALLERY SPECIFICATIONS
The Edward H. Linde Gallery (168) in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art is located on the first floor near the Linde Family Wing group entrance. It is a highly-trafficked and visible area filled with natural light. The wall dedicated for the exhibition space is 13’ high by 37’ – 5 3/8” wide. Artists are strongly encouraged to visit the space before submitting an application.
SELECTION PROCESS
Every year a different panel, typically composed of an MFA Curator, Art Educator, Artist, and a Community Art Director, review applications and recommend three final candidates. The MFA Linde Family Director of Community Arts, the MFA Manager of Community Arts Initiative, and other MFA staff members select the Lead Artist following interviews of the final candidates.
INFORMATION SESSIONS
Join us on Zoom to learn more! For additional information, or to RSVP, please email artistproject@mfa.org.
- Saturday, January 4, 2025 -- 10:00-11:30 am
APPLICATION PROCESS
Deadline: Friday, January 17, 2025
Notification: No later than Friday, March 21, 2025
In an attempt to be more environmentally friendly, we request that applications are only submitted using the Submittable platform no later than 11:59 pm on January 17, 2025.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Please provide the following:
- Applicant and reference contact information.
- Letter of Support: A letter of recommendation from an organization that serves children.
- Project Proposal: A brief description of the project concept along with title, media, objective, connection to the MFA collection, community relevancy, and materials or equipment required.
- Visual Rendering: A sketch, mock-up, or other visual example of the completed project in the Edward H. Linde Gallery (168) in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art on a wall measuring 13’ high by 37’ – 5 3/8” wide.
- Project Timeline: A brief outline of the project/session schedule from September through early April.
- Artist’s Resume/CV
- Artist’s Work: Up to ten images of produced artwork. For New Media and Time-Based Media (Sound, Film/Video, etc), send up to ten minutes of video/sound.
ORIGINAL ARTWORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
ALL PROPOSAL MATERIALS MUST BE SENT VIA SUBMITTABLE PLATFORM.
The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Artist Project and the Community Arts Initiative are generously supported by the Linde Family Foundation.