Apply
Thank you for your interest. The next deadline for applications will be in March 2014. We will update application materials in early 2014.
For those who submitted applications in March 2013, we will be in touch sometime in May regarding your application. Thank you for your patience.
About Recess
Recess is an artists’ workspace that is open to the public. Recess facilitates every-day interactions between artists and audiences in order to promote the productive space of the working artist as a site of valuable visual and intellectual interaction. Our endeavors promote critical exposure for the artists we support while fostering an inclusive environment in which artists and the public can engage in a meaningful exchange of art and ideas.
About Session at Recess
Artists are given flexible space and resources to realize ambitious projects; Recess remains open to the public at every stage of the project’s development. Though similar to a residency program, Session goes beyond the traditional structure to facilitate interactions between artists and audiences throughout the creative process. We encourage artists to engage with their audience in a manner specific to their creative goals, while using Recess as a studio, exhibition space, stage, and/or experimental platform to generate new work.
Session artists receive an honorarium as well as a project stipend based on the material needs of their Session. Artists have access to their space 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the full duration of their Session and are expected to work on a daily basis or the equivalent of at least twenty hours per week. Session artists will also receive individualized support from Recess staff as well as visits from members of Recess’s Studio Advisory Committee, which is comprised of a small group of gallerists, curators, and academics who are all leaders in the field.
In conversation with Recess staff, artists designate their own work hours, which must overlap with at least 12 of Recess’s 30 public hours each week. Working during public hours allows Session artists to connect with visitors through visual, auditory, and performance-based material or activity. If the artist chooses to work in part when the space is closed to the public, his/her presence must be implied by the site-specific work in process.
About Recess Space
Recess is currently operating out of two spaces. Applicants can indicate if they have a preference between the spaces.
Soho: Recess’s original space is located at 41 Grand Street in Soho, one of New York City’s first artist communities. The 1,200 square-foot space features high ceilings and natural light from the glass storefront that links artists to the street, the neighborhood, and the public. In addition, this space offers wifi, a kitchenette, and portion of our basement given over completely to Session artists to store materials and tools for their project. To see photos and a floor plan of the space visit our Flickr page. Public hours in Soho are Tuesday – Saturday 12-6; Thursday 2-8.
Red Hook: In 2012, Recess was invited by Dustin Yellin to open an additional space for Session at the new arts space, The Intercourse. This 20,000 square foot building is located on Pioneer Street in Red Hook, one of Brooklyn’s preeminent arts destination. Sessions in Red Hook occupy a 500 square foot project space with high ceilings, abundant natural light and wifi. The project room is located on the second floor, which overlooks the exhibition space below. The building features an outdoor sculpture garden, loading dock, gallery, several artists’ studios, a wood shop, a scientist in residence and Yellin’s office. The space is kept active with a community of artists, collectors, and patrons as well as wide-ranging events, classes, and arts programming. To see photos, visit our Flickr Page. Public hours in Red Hook are: Thurs-Sun 12-6, Wed 12-11pm.
Selection Criteria
Recess will only consider proposals submitted in the correct format. Please read submission criteria carefully. Session artists will be selected based on the conceptual rigor and artistic quality of their proposal and their ability to work productively within the unique program. Successful applicants will articulate a particular need to work in a manner that expands beyond traditional studio method and gallery exhibition.
1. Quality of the Proposed Project: Based on submitted project proposal
2. Need to work in Recess’s non-traditional studio/exhibition space: Based on project description, samples of past work, & artist statement
3. Project Feasibility: Based on project description and proposed budget
4. Artistic Merit and Professional Record: Based on artist statement, CV, and the samples of past work
Selection Process
In an effort to decentralize visual authority while maintaining a level of critical coherency a panel consisting of former Session artists, leaders from the contemporary arts community, curators and arts practitioners with programming experience will review Recess’s applications. Visit the Artist Review Panel page for specific panelist information.
Panelists first review project proposals and then look at samples of past work. If panelists judge these primary application materials to be of the highest quality, they then review all other supplemental material. A small portion of successful applicants will be selected for interviews to discuss their proposal in detail.
Your Application
The following items must be included in your application:
NOTE: Applicants must submit the google form (item 1) through this website in addition to materials (items 2-7) through the submittable website. Please save items 2-7 as individual files with your first initial, last name and description. Ex: jsmith_Application Form, jsmith_Resume.
1. Application Form 2014 is forthcoming: Applicants must submit this google form through our website in addition to uploading materials through the link below. A pop-up will appear when you’ve successfully submitted the form. Please submit only one google form per application.
2. Artist Statement
3. Resume or CV
4. Proposed Budget: Estimated total and annotated list of possible expenditures (these need not be final numbers. If selected, budget will be discussed with Recess staff).
5. Project Proposal: Your proposal, including all text and up to 3 images (optional) should be less than 1000 words and should not exceed two pages of 12-point, single-spaced type. Please save your proposal as a .doc or .pdf file. Your proposal should include:
- General description of project (materials, scale, conceptual and technical goals, etc.).
- What you envision our space will look like throughout your Session. What, physically, will be in the space? How will it evolve during your Session?
- Specific interest in Session at Recess.
- Desired Length of Session (generally, Sessions are 2-3 months in length)
- Proposed means of public engagement
6. Work Samples (Choose 1 of the following representations). Documentation should show past work created within the past two years and/or renderings of proposed project.
- 10 Jpeg images (12 images if applying as a group), at 72 DPI resolution minimum, no dimension to exceed 1,000 pixels
- OR up to two video or audio samples sent as links to online work (preferred) or quicktime files no larger than 3 MB (no longer than 3 minutes each) and up to 8 Jpeg images (10 images if applying as a group).
- Media files should be titled with your first initial, last name, and number: ex.: jsmith1.jpg, jsmith2.jpg.
- Video and audio submissions must be Mac compatible. Each clip viewed will be no longer than three minutes.
7. Work Description/Image List/Video Script: A numbered list of images, audio, or videos with title, year, size, and medium of work. Include a brief (2-3 sentences) description of work if necessary.
You will need to create an account after clicking submit on the bottom of the landing page. If you have any technical problems or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@recessactivities.org or 646.863.3765.
FAQ’s:
Q: When will Sessions take place?
A. Sessions in Soho will occur some time between August 2013 & August 2014; Sessions in Red Hook will take place from May 2013-May 2o14. If you would like to request a particular time slot, please do so in your proposal.
Q. Are Sessions open to non-US citizens?
A. Yes! We love receiving international applications. However, material stipends and honoraria will be reported to the IRS for tax purposes. Thus, we do ask that non-US citizens have either US residency status (with a valid Social Security number) or a valid work visa that runs through at the least the end of the residency period.
Q. Should members applying as a group each provide a resume, artist statement, and examples of past work?
A. Each person in your group should submit a resume and artist statement. Groups can send up to 12 images, divided amongst members as you see fit. If you have worked together in the past, please submit examples of past collaborations. If this is your first time working as a group, individual work is fine.
Q. Can I submit more than one application if the proposals are totally different?
A. Please select the idea you think is most in line with Recess’ mission. You can always reapply with new ideas, but please only one application each round.
Q. Can I build costs of travel and accommodation into my budget?
A. Artists receive a stipend that should be used towards purchasing the materials and, in select cases, hiring specialized support essential to realizing their proposed project. At this time, we cannot offer financial support for living, travel and accommodations. The honorarium can be spent however you see fit.
Q. How much should my budget propose?
A. You should propose a budget as close to your projected materials costs as possible. If granted a Session, artists will revise and finalize budget with Recess staff. Generally, materials stipends range from $500-3,000 with occasional exceptions on both ends of that spectrum. NOTE: We can’t cover living expenses.
Q. Can I include images or special formatting in my proposal?
A. Proposals can include up to 3 images (optional), but should be less than 1000 words and should not exceed two pages of 12-point, single-spaced type. Please save your proposal as a .doc or .pdf file.
Q. Can the material stipend include an artist fee for me or honorariums for other artists or performers?
A. The majority of the materials stipend should go towards physical materials, though can include some performers fees or technical support fees if they are essential to your proposal. Recess intends the honorarium to act a gesture of thanks for the artists, so we ask that no further funds for Session artist be taken out of the materials stipend.
Q. What do you mean by “Proposed means of public engagement?”
A. We never ask artists to propose participation for participation’s sake. Artwork can engage its audience through visual or auditory means, or more explicitly, ie through participation. We ask that artists take advantage of Recess’s built in audience, and we ask that each proposal define public engagement in terms of the specific needs of the project.
