Second Shift Studio Residency Program
applications for the 2024-25 residency ARE now OPEN. Applications are due March 1.
Second Shift Studio Space of Saint Paul offers rent-free non-living studio space to artists and creatives who are marginalized due to their gender identity. We award four residencies each year. The application consists of a few short questions about yourself and your practice, and asks for a PDF of work samples. Please read our FAQ below before applying.
Please direct questions to secondshiftstudiomanager@gmail.com
FAQ
When does the residency begin?
The 2024-25 residency cycle will begin on July 15, 2024 and end June 30, 2025.
All applicants will be contacted by the end of May 2024 about their applications.
How are the residents selected?
Second Shift’s Board of Directors will review the applications and select the 2024-2025 residents.
Residents are judged on strength of work, intent of use and need for work space, and those seeking a community of other artists.
What is expected of residents?
We ask that residents:
Spend at least 15 hours per week in their studio
Actively participate in events hosted by Second Shift: Art Soups, exhibition openings, artist talks
Participate in a midyear group critique
Maintain the Second Shift Studio Space: Cleaning the bathroom, shoveling during winter, take out garbage, etc.
Organize a public event at some point during the year
Participate in social media outreach on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook
Participate in an introductory group show with current work at the beginning of the residency
Do they have to complete a body of work during the residency?
In terms of creative output, our expectations are to demonstrate a responsibility to the community and maintain an active and engaged studio practice. While there is no set amount of work that needs to be finished by the end of the year, we ask that residents have something to show for the time they have put into their practice during their residency.
Is there a materials stipend?
There is no material stipend at this time, though we are currently seeking funding.
Where is Second Shift?
Second Shift is located at 1128 Payne Avenue, in the heart of Saint Paul’s East Side. If you would like to tour the space before applying, please reach out.
Who can apply?
Our program is for artists creatives and curators who are marginalized as a result of their gender identity who are over the age of 21. Creatives working in multiple disciplines are welcome to apply—this includes visual artists, writers, dancers, curators, etc. Applicants may not be enrolled in any degree program for the duration of the residency period, and may not maintain a separate studio during their time at Second Shift.
What do you mean when we say people who are marginalized as a result of their gender identity?
Second Shift is a platform for those with marginalized gender identities whose voices have historically not been given equal representation in the art world. This includes (but is not limited to) people who are gender non-conforming, trans, non-binary, two-spirit, genderqueer/fluid, cis-gender women, trans women, and transmen.
What are the facilities like?
Second Shift houses four rent-free non-living, 350 square-foot studio spaces, a storefront, a kitchenette, and a basement storage space. The way these spaces are shared and divided amongst residents will change year to year, depending on the dynamics of that cycle’s residents. Spaces will be assigned based on the needs and plans outlined in your residency application. Residents are expected to provide all their own tools and materials.
What kind of work samples do you accept?
We require that all of your work samples are combined into a single PDF document that is no larger than 10MB. We ask to see either 10-15 images or under 5 minutes of video/sound. If you would like to submit both images and video, please limit yourself to 5-7 images and under 2.5 minutes of video/sound. Writers may submit up to 8 pages of writing samples. If you are submitting video, please upload it to a video hosting site like Vimeo or YouTube, and include the link in your PDF document. We encourage applicants to be creative in how their PDF documents are formatted, but including some brief expository information for your works is suggested (e.g. title, dimensions, materials).
Are residents required to be vaccinated for COVID-19?
Yes, we strongly prefer that all residents are vaccinated by the start of their residency.