Creative Careers

Residency

The Creative Careers Residency is a transitional program providing support for full-time, self-directed creative practice in architecture, art and design, performing arts, intermedia arts, or creative writing.

While pursuit of an advanced degree in a creative practice provides support, structure, and most importantly, the time necessary to develop and execute creative work, after graduation many practitioners lose these networks of support necessary to develop significant work, posing a significant barrier to the transition from degree to sustained work. The Creative Careers Residency seeks to reduce these barriers to creative practice post-graduation, by providing the time, structure, and funding support to transition from academia to post graduate endeavors.

    • To provide transitional support for creative artists, parallel to the scaffolding typical of academic disciplines, to assist graduates in their transition from “graduate student” to “creative professional.”

    • To foster the continued artistic growth of recent graduates by allowing them to practice their artistic discipline full-time.

    • To set up U-M graduates of creative disciplines for success in a deep creative practice by providing the infrastructure of support necessary to do so.

    • Reduce barriers to artists without generational wealth to develop sustainable careers as artists.

    • To increase the presence of and interactions with artists-in-residence across campus.

    • To support early career creative practitioners as a bridge to the next tier of artist residencies

    • Cohort of fellow creative residents, with regular check-ins, ideation and feedback sessions

    • Stipend of $40,000 for a 9.5 month residency period (June 15-March 30)

    • Health Care coverage

    • Supplementary allowance for supplies and travel

    • Support for an engagement with the public (i.e., talk, exhibition, performance)

    • Media support

    • A desk space can be available

    • Campus engagement (up to 5 hours per week on average):

      • As Mentor for the Arts Initiative Creative Fellows interdisciplinary group of U-M students

      • Development of up to two workshop or equivalent for U-M students through one of our partner units

    *The residency does not provide housing or a studio workspace (a desk space is available).

    • University of Michigan Winter 2023-Spring 2025 master’s level graduates (MFA, MDes, MM, MA, MArch, MS, MUD, MURP) of Art & Design, Architecture/ Urban Design/ Digital and Material Studies, MMs/ MAs/ MFAs in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Creative Writing.

    • Creative Careers Residents must be available to be “in residence” throughout the duration of the program June 15, 2025–March 30, 2026 (travel time should be pre-approved and not conflict with campus engagement obligations).

  • Application opens: November 21, 2024
    Deadline: February 2, 2025
    Decisions by: February 28, 2025

    •••

    Prospective residents apply with a project proposal and work toward a public engagement that showcases creative work outlined in the proposal. Proposals should address: 

    • How the project aligns with the Arts Initiative’s mission “to illuminate and expand human connections, inspire collaborative creativity, and build a more just and equitable world through the arts” and; 

    • Include evidence of experience mentoring, leading, or teaching being able to work with students and stakeholders from diverse disciplines and backgrounds.

    • Describe an art-making or participatory workshop opportunity you would like to lead with students and stakeholders from diverse disciplines and levels of experience.

    Submit through Slideroom Application Portal:

    • CV

    • Portfolio (up to 5 projects; projects can be related sets of images, media, or written work examples)

    • Proposal for the residency project (up to 2-page narrative, can include visuals or other supplemental media).

    • Unofficial transcript (proof of expected graduation date), and, if selected, an official transcript that indicates completion of the degree program.

    Up to three residents will form a cohort, engaging with each other, the Arts Initiative and its partners, and the wider arts ecosystem of Southeast Michigan.

    Selection Criteria:

    • Quality of creative work examples

    • Alignment to mission and feasibility of the project proposal

    • Evidence of ability to cross boundaries to mentor range of students

Creative Careers Residents

  • Kara Roseborough

    Kara Roseborough

    Roseborough is a Master of Fine Arts in Dance graduate from the School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
    •••
    Roseborough will develop a Motown ballet “La Vie en Rose,” which chronicles the journey of a small-town Black waitress with dreams of dancing in New York City. The piece examines issues of race and gender as they pertain to an artist’s journey and incorporate the history of Black people in southeast Michigan.

    In collaborating with local musicians, Roseborough will reconfigure the work to be set entirely to new and existing Motown-inspired songs to situate the ballet further within the local Black community.

    2024–2025 Cohort

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  • Leah Crosby

    Leah Crosby

    Crosby is a 2024 Master of Fine Arts graduate from the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design.
    •••
    Crosby will create a serialized experimental audio work and accompanying chapbook or zine that draws on research on identity co-formation within caregiving relationships.

    The audio will be released serially via WBCN, Ann Arbor’s community radio station, culminating in a final live performance of the entire audio series at the Ann Arbor District Library, where the companion chapbook will be distributed. The remaining chapbooks will be distributed in vintage vending machines installed on campus.

    2024–2025 Cohort

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