Industry, Labor and Community Residency

Common Threads: Industry, Labor & Community

The Artist in Residence Program is an initiative developed by the Art in the Libraries Program at WVU Libraries. Building on previous residencies, the 2027 cycle connects artists with the rich Industry, Labor, and Community Collections held at the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC) to inspire new creative work and public engagement. By focusing on collections that document local enterprise, working-class history, union organization, community life, and the human story behind West Virginia's industrial footprint, this residency supports artistic interpretations that honor and reframe the state's cultural identity.

Through project-based awards, the 2027 WVU Libraries' AIR invites artists to delve into these archival collections, ranging from union records and company town archives to oral histories and grassroots community papers, to create visual works, installations, publications, performances, or other interpretive expressions. The goal is to spark dialogue around place, labor, solidarity, and heritage while activating archival material for broader audiences.

The residency is open to all U.S. and Canadian-based artists, with a preference for WVU alumni and those working in fields such as visual art, dance, writing, and cultural heritage (including curators and community-based practitioners). Proposals that highlight underrepresented narratives, elevate local working-class history, or explore the human impact of regional industry will be given strong consideration.

Participants will publicly share their work through small exhibitions, talks, or collaborative projects at WVU Libraries or on online platforms. Through this residency, the AIR Program seeks to breathe new life into archival materials and support artists who explore the intersection of industry, labor, community, and art in West Virginia.

Program Goals

• To engage creatives with the rich industry, labor, and community archival materials housed within the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC).
• To support a contemporary artist with an honorarium, travel support, and a meaningful residency experience.
• To foster engagement with WVU students, faculty, staff, and the broader community through dynamic creative programming related to labor history and community resilience.

Guidelines for Artist in Residence

1. Commit to the AIR residency for five working days.
2. Spend at least 2 full days in the West Virginia & Regional History Center examining the Industry, Labor, and Community collections.
3. Follow all guidelines and procedures for researchers using WVRHC collections and respect open hours.
4. Create a work in response to research in the WVRHC (e.g., an exhibit utilizing archival materials or reproductions, original artwork inspired by or collaging documents/oral histories, a labor history publication, or another experimental creation) by the agreed-upon deadline.
5. Deliver a 20-minute community presentation discussing process, creation, and creative intention.
6. Attend optional engagement lunches or dinners with WVRHC stakeholders and community members.

Funding

• $1,000 for art and exhibit materials/supplies, awarded upon signed contract agreement.
• Up to $3,500 in reimbursements covering transportation, lodging, and per diem meal expenses.
• $1,000 honorarium for the participating artist upon successful completion of the program.

Exhibit & Presentation Space

The primary space for displaying project outcomes will be the WVU Downtown Library; locations are flexible, media depending.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be juried by the WVU Art in the Libraries Committee alongside West Virginia & Regional History Center archivists, and our guest juror, Rachel Johnson, Morgantown Arts Council Arts and Culture Specialist, based on:

• Readiness & Relevance: Clear readiness to engage with archival materials and strong conceptual alignment with Industry, Labor, and Community themes.
• Alignment with Program Goals: Intentional commitment to public engagement and community connection.
• Artistic Integrity & Design: Aesthetic quality, original voice, technical mastery, and structural feasibility of displaying the proposed project in the Downtown Library Atrium.
• Professional Background: Demonstrated track record in exhibitions, residencies, community projects, or publications.
• Budget Feasibility: Realistic materials requests matching space constraints and available funding.

Applications are juried by the WVU Art in the Libraries Committee alongside West Virginia & Regional History Center archivists, and a guest juror, Rachel Johnson, Morgantown Arts Council Arts and Culture Specialist. Criteria include readiness and relevance to the archival collections, alignment with program goals, artistic integrity and design, professional background, and budget feasibility.