HERE’s Artist Residency Program is a great opportunity to develop work. They’ve  really ramped up the program in the past few years and have been steadily nurturing a lot of new artists and innovative work.

From the email I received:

Applications are due on January 2, 2008 (postmark or hand-delivery by 6pm). To apply for HARP, please send five copies of the following: a Letter of Interest, along with biographies and/or resumes, of the artist(s) involved, an artist’s statement, an outline of what the artist or team plans to accomplish during the residency. Please also provide one work sample of previous work (dvd, audio, scripts, etc). The work sample is the most important component of your application. To HARP, HERE, 145 6th Avenue, NYC, NY 10013-1548. After applications are reviewed, candidates will be interviewed by Kristin Marting, Artistic Director and Kim Whitener, Producing Director. Final decisions will be announced by February 15.  Further information available at here.org and questions can be addressed to Matthew Tennie, Programming Associate, at 212/647-0202 x 315, or harp@here.org.

more info after the jump…

Led by HERE’s Artistic Director Kristin Marting, HARP nurtures the development of hybrid artists and their audiences, through cross-disciplinary exchange, peer-driven workshops, and panel discussions.  HERE encourages artists who have been working and producing for 5-10 years and have established an artistic vocabulary to apply.

While in residence, the artist’s or team’s residency is linked to a specific project in development and an exploration of ideas and processes intrinsic to their artistic growth. HERE believes that artists must be in control of the work that they create. This control goes hand in hand with a responsibility to participate in all phases of their artistic projects from inception through all development stages to full production. HARP is designed to respond to the ideas and needs of its artists. The artists themselves must be proactive in bringing those ideas and needs to HARP and to each other; they shape workshop and discussion offerings, create performances, and work with HERE staff to publicize and promote HARP events.

HARP also includes hands-on administrative sessions to supplement our already strong artistic development process. We believe that in order for these artists to stay in the field, they must have the necessary skills to function as viable creative enterprises. HARP offers advice on business issues such as tax preparation, grant writing, project planning, budgeting, marketing and non-profit incorporation. Administrative sessions are led either by a HARP artist with the necessary skill, an appropriate HERE staff member or an outside expert. Most important, frequent meetings provide community and address the needs of the whole artist.

Two to four projects from the Development component are selected for the Production component of HARP each year.  Each selected artist participates in all Development activities, but also collaborates with HERE to develop appropriate resources and support for their production. Projects are produced at the scale appropriate to the work – there is no set formula for producing in the season – chamber or main stage, four performances or twenty, one performer or twenty-five. What is key to the Production component is that the integrity and clarity of the artist’s vision be supported.

Unique to HARP are the services we provide to artists who practice outside of easily-recognized disciplines. Although there are many developmental programs that focus on a particular artistic discipline or work, HARP focuses on hybrid or multidisciplinary artists, those who fall outside of the traditional definitions of “writer,” “director,” or “performer.” In fact, HARP nurtures the artist who takes risks with traditional forms, and who finds inspiration in the active exchange of artistic ideas.

Each Residency lasts a minimum of one year. At the end of the year, the artist and HERE may mutually decide to extend the residency for up to 3 years. Residencies begin on March 1st.