A coalition of public, private, civic, and cultural organizations are partnering to offer three artist residencies as a way to strengthen the cultural vibrancy of downtown Hyannis.
Funded by MassDevelopment’s Transformative District Initiative (TDI), the program will provide a $1,000 stipend for each artist who will spend four weeks developing a body of work that challenges existing narratives of life on Cape Cod.
“Especially in Hyannis, the arts are a super important component of not only supporting the tourist industry, but the year-round economy,” said George Durante, TDI senior fellow at MassDevelopment. “With this particular project having a local artist get paid for their work is significant. It also helps to convey those stories and messages that will help to build up the identity of this community. Art is a great way to do that.”
TDI is spearheading the cultural coalition that includes the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District (BID), the Town of Barnstable, The CapeBuilt Companies, The Design Initiative Inc, Architects, the Cordial Eye, and the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.
]“This is a great example of the power of collaboration in moving cultural initiatives forward that will create a real sense of place and build community through the lens of art,” said Julie Wake, Executive Director of the Arts Foundation. “When these residencies are complete, Hyannis will have three creative projects that serve to connect, inspire, engage, and spur dialogue about what this downtown village is and what it can be.”
The artists chosen will have three available spaces in the downtown Hyannis area where they can conduct their residencies. All are within the Hyannis HyArts Cultural District and include 255 Main Street which was recently renovated by CapeBuilt; The Studio| East End, a space over 100 years old that once served as a train maintenance building; and Studio 50 @ Pearl l Hyannis HyArts Arts Campus.
Applicants interested in applying for a residency must live on Cape Cod and should provide a bio; an artist statement; from five to 10 images of their work; and a statement of why they are interested in telling new narratives of life on Cape Cod. While the residencies are open to a wide variety of mediums, public art is encouraged.
Applications should be submitted through an online application hosted by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 9. The first residency is scheduled to begin on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, however time is flexible within a week if artist schedule requires.
The residencies are tied to a pilot program that MassDevelopment launched last year through the Transformative District Initiative in the gateway communities of Hyannis, Brockton and Attleboro.
