WHO WE WILL SERVE
An overview of the artists we wish to support, and what exactly the ‘’Dark Creative Spirit” encompasses.
• Discipline/genre: Artists and creators of all interests will be welcome to apply once we open for applications!
Disciplines we will consider during our initial renovations will include: digital and traditional drawing, poetry, writing, painting, film, photography, taxidermy, oddity making, tattoo art, costume making (including but not limited to cosplay and fursuit making), jewelry making, art doll making, sculpture, book making, animation, musical composition, theater, and more!
• Geography: We plan to have applications available internationally!
Depending on your location, certain additional legal processes may be necessary for international applicants and residents.
• Demographics: GROTA is Non-Discriminatory! We will accept traditional residency term applicants who are +18, of all genders, of all sexual orientations, and of all ethnic and spiritual backgrounds.
• Career stage: We plan to accept applications from artists and creatives of all career stages: emerging, mid-career, professional, and hobbyists.
Our residency will offer optional opportunities to network, collaborate, market, mentor, and more.
We consider anyone who may identify themself as a ‘’dark creative spirit’’ to be a dark creative spirit. If you later apply to our residency, we will assume you are interested in the unique experiences and aesthetics we promise to offer as a residency tailored to the dark creative spirit. Your exact artistic, aesthetic, and stylistic preferences will be inherently understood as unique to you! Our residency is not in place to define or limit what goth or any other dark-based subculture entails. ‘’Gothe’’ is simply the last name and sentiment of Gothe Residency of the Art’s founder, Vincent Gothe.
HOW WE WILL SERVE
The resources and support we plan to provide reflects on who we are structured to serve, and the legacy we hope to forge.
• Term of the residency: Our running plan, based on our proposed model and initial funding goal is to offer 3 types of residency stays: multiple 2 and 4 week residency periods throughout the year, as well as a single 5 week experience for the entire month of October!
• Residents at a time(not including host(s)): 4-5 residents per residency term. We’d love to host more, but will be unable to do so unless we reach our stretch goals!
• What we will offer: Opportunities to network, resource, collaborate, share work, skill share, and more (via host, guest speakers, other residents, and through social media and gallery exposure).
• What we will provide (in addition to lodging and meals): Designated studio spaces, art supplies and resources(including many traditional and digital art supplies), aesthetic and inspirational creative environment, safe space, and additional shared experience opportunities.
• Who pays for what: To ensure that artists of all backgrounds and financial situations feel within reach of the GROTA experience, we have committed to bringing all residency fees to the lowest operational cost for our applicants. We understand that finances unfairly hold many artists back from connecting with like minded creators and exploring new creative avenues. We are a team of dark spirited artists who have struggled firsthand with early and mid-career financial strains and hardships, and from chis we empathize deeply with artists who often feel excluded from the experiences and opportunities traditional Artist Residencies offer.
GROTA will be pledging its own resources to reduce operation costs, as well as looking to partner with grant companies and dark-spirited businesses seeking to support our cause in anyway. We hope in time to generate additional or even all residency funding with the help of our Patreon supporters.
Application fee:
(This will be a simple processing fee set in place to keep our application team from having to sift through fake or spam applications. Early applications will become available to Patreon supporters.)
Travel: Travel costs both to and from the residency will have to be covered by the resident. If any special arrangements need to be made, we will have a system in place for contacting us.
Travel grants may become available for low income residents and those facing financial strains.
Room and board: With the help of our generous Patreon Supporters, we hope to reduce all resident room and board fees to ZERO!
In the instance of limited patron funds at the time of applications opening you can expect the following fees: 2 week stays: $1,50o usd per resident. 4 week stays: $2000 usd per resident. 5 week stay(for the October exclusive experience): $2500 per resident.
Wanting to stay longer? We have plans for offering longer stays, so stay tuned!
Food(board): Your entire room and board payment/grant will cover food preparation costs–there will be no additional charges for residency provided meals.
GROTA plans to provide residents with 3 meals a day and will work with a private chef to create a menu tailored to the tastes and dietary restrictions of each term of residents.
Lodging(room): Your entire room and board payment/grant will cover lodging costs–there will be no additional charges for your lodging experience.
As a very important reminder: the information provided above is purely based on our initial base crowdfunding goal for Patreon and base operation costs and early estimations. If stretch goals are met and or as we receive additional grants, these details are subject to change accordingly!
With stretch funding goals, we hope to be able to provide FREE Room and Board for ALL future ACCEPTED APPLICANTS!
Please, view our accessibility statement to learn more about our commitments to becoming an accessible, affordable residency experience.
FACILITIES WE WILL OFFER
• Bedroom spaces: Single bedroom(shared with another resident or private–we hope to offer you the option to choose). Each bedroom will come fully furnished and decorated to fully immerse you in the GROTA experience.
Residents will be welcome to bring appropriate personal belongings to make themselves feel at home during their stay. If any special arrangements or accommodations need to be made, we will have a system in place for informing us.
• Studio/work spaces: We will have specified studio spaces and resources available for the following disciplines:
General studies, poetry and writing
Traditional drawing and painting
Digital art, video editing, and digital media
Sewing and costume making
Open studio, in place to accommodate any creatives working outside of these media and or those who will need a unique setup.
As additional funding is secured, more studios and resources may become possible to provide!
•Shared/Open spaces: Resident specific restrooms, a general cooking and dining area, living room, garden, library, and a minimum of an explorable .5-acre yard.
• Equipment: We will be open to purchasing equipment to expand resources as needed for our residents’ creative process. We will have a system in place for informing us what materials are needed, and what you are able and unable to bring with you to the residency.
We will allow and encourage residents to bring and or mail their own equipment and supplies.
GROTA will aim to provide the following:
Computers, drawing tablets, and essential digital software.
Printers, Laminators and Cricut/ cutting devices.
Traditional art supplies (everything from alcohol-based markers to charcoal)
Sewing machines and basic costume making supplies.
Book making and scrapbooking supplies.
An advanced traditional and digital resource library.
• Additional creative spaces: A space will be dedicated to a gallery display of everyone's work at the end of every residency term. There will be a designated event offering residents the opportunity to share, showcase, and sell their work!
For a better idea of what our vision for the property is, check out our vision board, here.
ENGAGEMENT PLAN
GROTA plans to offer and integrate several key opportunities for residents into its programs. We believe these engagements are essential and transformative for those who wish to maximize their residency experience.
Community Engagement Opportunities and Events: Residents can participate in local trips and experiences, visit galleries, and contribute to social media content. There is also the option to create content for or from GROTA. These activities are designed to connect residents with the local community, promote cultural exchange, and increase visibility for their work.
Artist-to-Artist Engagement: Residents can collaborate with each other, hosts, visiting artists, and even artists outside of the residency. This engagement fosters a rich exchange of ideas and techniques, encouraging collaborative projects that can lead to innovative artistic expressions and new partnerships.
Artist-to-Environment Engagement: Residents are encouraged to interact with nearly the entire layout of the residency and its property. This interaction includes using the residency’s spaces for inspiration, creation, and display. It helps artists integrate their work with the physical environment, promoting a holistic and immersive creative experience.
Artist-to-Client Engagement: Residents may choose to work with clients outside of or associated with the residency for an assortment of approved projects. This opportunity allows artists to gain real-world experience, build professional relationships, and expand their portfolio by working on commissions or collaborative projects with clients.
Visionary Projects: Artists may offer creative projects to strengthen the residence, such as permanent installations or displays. These projects allow residents to leave a lasting impact on GROTA, contributing to the aesthetic, historical, and cultural richness of the residency. By engaging in visionary projects, artists not only showcase their talents but also enhance the environment for future residents, fostering a sense of continuity and legacy.
OUR SELECTION PROCESS
Embracing a diverse selection of creators each term wil be one of the most important things we do! As is promised, early applications will be available to Patreon supporters.
NEW:
WAIT LIST DETAILS
We are now implementing a "Wait List" system that will prioritize Legacy Patrons (Gold, Onyx, then Silver) based on the status and order of their patron pledge. This means that Legacy Patrons will be granted and guaranteed access to a certain percentage (%50 or higher) of residency slots during all future application seasons. However, it's important to note that while we will always prioritize Legacy Patrons, to honor our inclusion and accessibility values applications will never be exclusive to just those who can donate!
We plan to release our official application page six months to a full year prior to our opening season. As we complete major renovations in preparation for housing and accommodating residents, we will have a better idea of when the grand opening will be!
The Information you can expect to provide on our application:
•General Demographics: Name, pronouns, address, number, etc.
•Examples of your work: A website or social media portfolio and or samples of your work.
•Optional resume submission: For those looking to stand out, and or for those who may be seeking job opportunities through us or our collaborators.
• Vision: Project plans, vision statement/artist statement, desired engagements, etc.
• Supplies: A general idea of the supplies and studio spaces you will need, and the supplies you will be bringing.
• Optional additional accommodations and or needs: Such as wheelchair access, food/animal allergies/concerns, notifications of a service animal, sensory concerns, request for a specific roommate or no roommate, etc.
