OVERVIEW
APPLICATION DEADLINE | Midnight EST November 28, 2022*| Apply here
*There is a one day grace period for any artist who started an application prior to the above deadline. This is to accommodate the time difference for artists on the west coast. Applications will not be accepted after this grace period has passed.
RESIDENCY DURATION & DATES
- Up to 4 artists are selected for residencies at Bernheim on an annual basis. One residency is dedicated to a regional artist currently living in Kentucky or in Clark and Floyd counties of Southern Indiana. One residency is dedicated to an artist whose work addresses environmental issues and climate change.
- Duration is anywhere between 6 weeks and up to two months. (please see FAQ below in regard to timing of total immersion experience)
- Selected artists will work with Bernheim in arranging residency dates based on their desired time and availability within the months of 2023.
SUPPORT
- $2500 stipend. Regional artists also have year-round access to Bernheim resources within the year selected.
- Furnished, one-bedroom rustic cabin with full kitchen, bath and Wi-Fi.
- Modest studio space with good light and heat, located on the edge of a 35-acre lake. The is no special art making equipment, but artists have limited access to basic hand and power tools upon request and must prove they can operate them safely before using.
- The horticulture and operations departments, as well as staff ecologists, scientists, naturalists and forest managers are able to provide guidance and support of Artist in Residence projects. Please note, Bernheim staff are not here to entertain visiting artists nor responsible for the creation or installation of proposed work.
- Free or heavily discounted classes, workshops, night walks, etc., while in residence.
- High profile public and private events promote awareness of artists and arts program.
EXPECTATIONS
- A mutually agreed upon work of art to be gifted back to Bernheim for the purpose of encouraging visitors’ deep connections to nature.
- All Artists-in-Residence are required to participate in at least one public program, either on or offsite, during their residencies. Community engagement programs are a way to extend Bernheim’s reach, thereby extending our mission and core values beyond the physical boundaries we encompass. The type and scope of the programs will be mutually designed and agreed upon by the artist and Bernheim’s staff. Typical engagement consists of community projects, lectures, demonstrations, youth-learning experiences, workshops or other special programming. As we continue to navigate the ongoing pandemic, we are looking for creative and safe ways to engage the public with your work, in outdoor settings and through virtual experiences.
ARTIST FEES
There are no residency or application fees, but the artist is responsible for all travel and other living expenses at Bernheim. Also consider indirect costs: time away from your job and paying bills at home while in residence.
ELIGIBILITY
● Applicants may be emerging or established artists on a regional, national, or international level.
● Applicants must be professional visual artists. Students in undergrad studies may not apply.
● In order to give as many artists as possible the chance for a residency at Bernheim, former artists in residence are not eligible to apply. However, we encourage alumni artists to submit self-sufficient creative proposals that bring them to Bernheim for the purpose of creating new nature-based work or the continuation of a project started while in residence. Proposals are staff reviewed as received with limited lodging availability. Contact Hannah Coleman-Zaitzeff, at hannah.coleman@bernheim.org, for more information.
NOTIFICATION
Applicants will be notified of their application status in mid February 2023, or as soon as possible, depending on the availability of the reviewing panelists
SELECTION CRITERIA AND PROCESS
Applications are distilled through a two-tiered, on-line review process into a shortlist which is brought first to Bernheim staff and then to an esteemed panel of regional curators, alumni artists, and arts leaders where final selections are made. All reviewers are asked to consider the following criteria for each application:
- Artistic excellence, innovation and originality in work and project proposal
- Relativity to Bernheim’s mission of connecting people to nature
- Accessibility of the work to Bernheim visitors and public engagement offerings
- Evidence of a current and ongoing professional practice
COMMUNITY, GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Bernheim is located in rural Clermont, KY, conveniently accessible from I-65, 25 miles south of Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky and 20 minutes from historic Bardstown. Bernheim is located directly across from the Jim Beam distillery and this area is the official start of the Bourbon Trail. The surrounding areas offer numerous opportunities for arts and cultural engagement through a variety of museums, galleries, microbreweries, parks and farm to table dining experiences. Additionally, the state is known for horse racing, college basketball, bluegrass music and the world’s longest cave system.
Due to its location, Kentucky has a moderate humid subtropical climate, with abundant rainfall. It has four distinct seasons, but rarely experiences the extreme cold as far northern states, nor the high heat of the states in the Deep South. Temperatures seldom drop below 0 degrees or rise above 100 degrees, but one can often experience a 30-degree shift in temperatures within a 24-hour period.
The nearest major grocery is located 8 miles away and the area offers very little in terms of public transportation.
STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
Bernheim is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other personal trait or characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Bernheim will not tolerate any behavior that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Our aim is to create a vibrant and safe creative sanctuary, and strive to provide an environment that accommodates artists from a multiplicity of backgrounds and circumstances.
All buildings and main roads in Bernheim’s arboretum meet the standards of ADA compliance. Rustic lodging facilities are currently not wheelchair accessible and can be difficult for those with mobility challenges.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need a car for this residency? While several artists have successfully accomplished their residencies without, a car is strongly suggested while in residence at Bernheim. It will offer greater freedom in your exploration of both the arboretum and into the natural forested areas. There are several bikes available for resident artists, that are suitable for navigating the arboretum but not suggested for use on Forest Hill Drive or when shopping for food or supplies.
Can my wife/husband/partner/child/pet attend this residency with me? Partners and children of artists-in-residence may visit and/or stay in the provided lodging during the residency term as long as they do not interfere with the goals of the residency. Pets are not allowed in lodging facilities but exceptions are possible upon request.
Are collaborations or collectives allowed to apply for a residency?
Yes, lodging options are available if several artists work as a team, but the stipend would apply to the team as a whole. Artist collaborators and collectives must submit a single application with appropriate work samples that show artwork made by the group, not its individual members. The submitted application must indicate the primary contact person and clearly specify the number of collaborators and the group’s workspace needs. Due to housing limitations, individual housing will not be provided for each group member; collectives must share housing.
If selected, am I tied to my residency proposal?
No. We want artists to make work inspired by their experiences at Bernheim and understand that may be different than what is proposed in the application. Asking artists to submit a project proposal while in residence allows us to see that thought has been put into the process and gives the artist a starting point for the creation of new work when on site.
Do I need to have a completed work of art by the end of my residency?
No, with some exceptions. We prefer quality work that is meaningful to the artist verses work that is rushed to complete the expectations of the residency contract and provide up to a year to receive work in exchange for the residency. However, if an artist is hoping to create a site-specific installation or sculpture before their residency period ends, the scale and scope of the piece needs to be considered prior to the start of the work and approved by Bernheim staff.
Does the residency require that I live on-site for the entire time period? Is it possible to break up the residency into several stints?
Yes, and yes. Selected artists are required to live on site. It is highly suggested that artists stay for a duration between 6 – 8 weeks. We really prefer for artists to stay as long as they can or to break the residency into several portions of prolonged stays (minimum of at least two week stretches). The time will go quick and there is a lot to take in at Bernheim. We are flexible and willing to take all into consideration, but our true preference is total immersion.
Are there specific cut-off dates for the residency, or is this application cycle only apply for the year of selection?
This is an annual call, so for budget and planning purposes we prefer residencies to be scheduled or at least started in the remaining months of the year they are selected. We have purposefully kept the dates of scheduling residencies loose as we understand that many artists juggle other jobs and oftentimes a family as well. Some artists may want to be here at a particular time of the year to implement their project ideas or may need to arrange for a specific time based on other obligations. If this is the case, we ask that artists include that information in their submission.
How many artists are in residence at a time?
We generally only have one artist-in-residence at a time, although sometimes artists do overlap a few weeks. In those cases, they are housed in separate lodging facilities. Because of this, artists should be prepared to work self-sufficiently in solitude. Working in this fashion can instill a great sense of freedom for some and possibly feelings of loneliness for others, and should be taken into consideration before applying.
Does Bernheim also provide material support?
Material support is currently not available although natural materials such as fallen trees and plant material are in abundance and highly encouraged for creative uses.
Does Bernheim’s residency include cooked meals?
Meals and food are not included in the residency but each lodging facility is equipped with a well-stocked kitchen for making meals. In addition, Issacs Cafe is open daily at the Visitor Center, offering soups, salads, sandwiches and seasonal fare prepared with food grown in Bernheim’s edible garden. Artists receive staff discounts at Isaacs during their residency.
What kind of special art making equipment does the Bernheim residency provide?
The studio at Bernheim does not house any specific art making tools. If you need/want to work in a particular fashion, you must bring them with you.
Is the residency program for available for writers, musicians, dancers and choreographers?
The residency is currently available for visual and mixed media artists and includes artists working in the mediums of sound and performance artists when accompanied by visuals of some kind. The program is currently not available for writers or musicians.
What are you looking for when asking for references?
References can be anyone who can attest to your character and life as an artist, whether it be a mentor, professor, fellow artist, or gallery owner. Avoid providing references who have an impressive reputation but don’t really know you. We are interested in your seriousness as an artist, your dedication to a creative practice and your readiness for a residency program.
I applied in 2019, do I need to apply again or do you keep previous applications on file?
We receive too many submissions to keep on file, so artists need to reapply annually to be considered.
Do you accept international artists in your program?
Bernheim loves international artists and has hosted many artists from around the world in the 41 years it has been in existence! International artists are responsible for obtaining the proper visas and all temporary immigration requirements if applicable. A working knowledge of English is essential as we do not have the capacity to provide an interpreter for applicants who speak little or none.
Could you provide feedback on my application?
Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications, Bernheim is not able to provide feedback on artists’ applications.