Zócalo Artist-in-Residence Program

Located on the Beautiful Campus of Zócalo Apartments

Zócalo Artist-in-Residency program is committed to celebrating the creative spirit by incorporating a fully funded artist residency program in Houston — a key pillar within a vibrant community that encourages the interaction between artists and community. With community-engagement and creative placemaking values at its core, Zócalo Artist Residency debuted its inaugural flagship program in 2020 with the primary goal of enabling artists-in-residence to meaningfully engage with community while granting artists the freedom to explore critical ideas outside the studio as within.

Located on the beautiful residential campus of Zócalo Apartments in the Spring Branch area of Houston, Texas, a single one-year and two six-month residencies are offered each annual cycle. Applicants chosen by a rotating selection panel of local artists, curators, and arts administrators are granted fully-funded housing in a private apartment studio, a monthly working stipend, need-based project funding, and hands-on support from our full time residency Program Director.

As a community-immersive program which strives to strengthen the connection between people and the places we share through the power of art and creativity, a focus is placed on granting artists the opportunity to develop community-based projects while providing artists with dedicated time, space, and the financial leverage to create new work in a supportive environment of open inquiry. Given the ample size of Zócalo's 10-acre campus, artists are welcome to re-imagine everyday spaces and push the boundaries of their creativity with site-specific installations or participatory creative projects on Zócalo’s campus and within the surrounding areas of the Spring Branch neighborhood. Emerging to established US-based artists and collectives who have a strong interest in deepening a collaborative, community-engaged creative practice are invited to apply.

Applications for the 2021-2022 Residency Season Open September 2020

Three Residencies Will Be Available:

Full Year: April 2021 - March 2022

Six Month (Spring): April 2021 - September 2021

Six Month (Fall): October 2021- March 2022

VISION & MISSION

Vision

Our vision is to imbue Zócalo Apartments with “a sense of place” by creating an active environment where art and creativity are part of the everyday life of the community.

Mission

ZAIR’s mission is to offer emerging and established artists a valuable & supportive opportunity to advance their artistic careers while participating in the cultivation of a vibrant and engaged community with Zócalo residents and the greater Spring Branch neighborhood.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Support artists working in community contexts
Encourage the development of a wide variety of interactions between artists and community members
Support frameworks for creative collaboration between artist and communities
Encourage and support artistic projects that leave a physical or social legacy in the community
Make our communities more vibrant by inspiring participation and relationship-building
Engage communities and people, even those who don't see themselves as artists, as creators, producers, performers, and active audiences

Meet our Director

Ileana Yordan

As Program Director, Ileana Yordan is responsible for ensuring the ZAIR program is a valuable and engaging experience for everyone involved. She brings to this role experience in both arts non-profit and commercial gallery management and holds a Masters in Arts Leadership from the University of Houston.

Our Program Director serves as a full-time liaison and go-to guide throughout all residencies and works hands-on with each artist to navigate project development and offer guidance to help ensure projects are relevant, beneficial, and feasible for the community.

Meet our Current

Artist Residents

Input Output // Billy Baccam // Alex Ramos

Input Output is a creative lab duo comprised of Billy Baccam and Alex Ramos who each bring innovative approaches to the application of art and technology along with unique human experiences that shape their artistic process. Born out of a collaboration that lit up the inaugural Illectric River Festival in 2017, Input Output researches, designs and develops digital-physical experiences. Together, they bring inanimate structures and spaces to life by combining art, technology, science, and architecture with the creative implementation of light and sound. They work to create stimulating experiences that blur the lines between the digital and the physical world.

"The Zócalo Artist-In-Residency program has been a fantastic experience. The support and resources from ZAIR have given us the space and time to refine our artistic process, explore unfamiliar technologies, and engage the Zócalo community with new art installations and experiments that spark conversation. To be fully immersed in an environment that gives complete artistic freedom and the ability to share that creativity with a curious community has been a dream come true" - Billy Baccam

Full Artist Profile

Theresa Escobedo

Theresa Escobedo is a multi-disciplinary artist, curator, and arts administrator from Houston, Texas. She manages the City of Houston's Civic Art Program through the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and has curated, coordinated, and executed public programs and projects designed to activate public spaces that offer artists the opportunity to impact neighborhood experiences through creative place-making and social inquiry.

Throughout her residency, Theresa has developed an ongoing virtual series of collaborative workshops and conversations featuring artists and multidisciplinary creatives in (or from) Houston, TX. This series, called Zócalo CoLabs, was created in response to COVID-19 to share artist perspectives, artistic practices, and activities that are fun, easy, and enriching for those staying safe at home.

"I've really appreciated the support this residency offers in terms of planning and logistics, as well as the openness to try new things and embrace (and learn!) new practices - like virtual live streaming. That willingness and flexibility go a long way to support and encourage emerging ideas from artists and has made me feel that I have an ally in my success." -Theresa Escobedo

Full Artist Profile

Applications for the 2021-2022 Residency Season Open September 2020

Three Residencies Will Be Available:

Full Year:

April 2021 - March 2022

Six Month (Spring):

April 2021 - September 2021

Six Month (Fall):

October 2021- March 2022

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ELIGIBILITY

Zócalo AiR welcomes emerging to established regional and national individual artists & collaborations who have a strong interest in developing or deepening a community-based creative practice.

Applicants must:

Be at least 21 years old or older
Be a U.S. based artist or artist collaboration (We are unable to sponsor visas for international artists at this time.)
Be able to pass a criminal background screening in compliance with Zócalo Apartments housing guidelines;
Be fully committed and available to live in the provided housing throughout the duration of the residency term.

The ideal candidates for this program are open-minded, multifaceted, progressive artists who are self-directed, motivated, and passionate about creating new work and engaging community throughout that process. They are excited about interacting with the Zócalo and Spring Branch community and working closely with fellow residents and staff. This residency is an opportunity for visual artists and interdisciplinary creatives to make a difference through their craft.

Zócalo AiR warmly welcomes all eligible persons regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, religion, spiritual beliefs, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

If you have questions about our eligibility criteria, contact us at zairinfo@zocaloliving.com

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

All of our residencies are offered free of charge to awarded residents. The awards for all residencies include fully-funded housing in a private apartment studio, paid utilities, a $250 monthly stipend, and access to all of our community amenities including on-site pool, gym, clubhouse coffee bar, laundry facilities, free weekly fitness classes, a yoga studio, dog park, valet trash service, & easy access to public transportation.

• The one-year artist-resident will reside in an 867 sqft. two-bedroom / one-bathroom apartment which includes basic kitchen supplies, linens, in-unit laundry, and furniture upon request.

• The 6-month artist-resident will reside in a 713 sqft. one-bedroom / one-bathroom apartment which includes basic kitchen supplies, linens, and furniture upon request.

Please know it is required for artist-residents to live in the housing provided throughout the entire duration of the residency. Fully furnished apartments (as pictured below) can be requested if needed.

For more pictures and details about our apartments click here

Great looking living room with high-end stucco textured walls, brand new baseboards and new outlets for a choice of high-speed cable or fiber access.

The galley kitchen has everything you need including stainless steel spotlights to highlight the apartment's designer finishes and easy clean faux wood flooring.

Ample dining area off kitchen, perfect for a delicious meal, a place to study or work from home in a fresh, tranquil environment. New white ceiling fan with light.

Big comfortable, relaxing bedrooms with plush carpet, high-end stucco textured walls, all new baseboards and a large closet.

Zócalo's colorful exteriors are a wonderful background to the lush landscaping found near the Zócalo's clubhouse and throughout the property.

Sunset view of Zócalo's on-site resort-style pool and central recreational area.

Our community clubhouse balcony where we love to relax and look out over the pool and recreational area. A great place to meet neighbors while having a fresh cup of coffee.

WHAT EXPENSES ARE NOT COVERED?

The following expenses are not covered by the residency:

Food, Materials, Personal Items (toiletries etc.)

Moving Expenses: Residents are responsible for the cost of travel and moving to/from Zócalo. We currently do not offer moving stipends, nor can we act as a fiscal sponsor to residents at this time. We are actively working towards fiscal sponsorship and the ability to provide moving expense assistance to our residents in the future. If additional funds are needed, we suggest incoming residents apply for local and/or regional grants and/or initiate a crowdfunding campaign to support their financial needs. Zócalo will provide an official award letter, upon request, to assist residents in their fundraising endeavors.

Renters Insurance (Required for all Residents): In compliance with Zócalo's housing guidelines, Zócalo AiR requires all residents to carry a minimum of $100,000 Personal Liability Insurance coverage throughout the entire term of their residency. Policies are available for purchase on the market for as low as $11 per month. Residents will be required to provide evidence of insurance coverage prior to move-in.

WiFi: At this time artists are responsible for the cost of Wifi from their preferred provider. This allows artists to have full control over the service to best suit their individual technological needs. We look forward to the day we can add WiFi to our list of included offerings in the future.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS?

Artists are invited and expected to fully commit to the program by establishing a presence at Zócalo and engaging the public with their work throughout the duration of the residency term. This is a long term process-based residency that allows for experimentation and flexibility, therefore no specific quotas are in place. However, artists are expected to develop a project or series of projects that can be completed within the residency term.

Our expectations can be summarized by the following items:

Continued Presence & Engagement (for the duration of your residency)
Adherence to Zócalo’s Code of Conduct (for the duration of your residency)
Attendance at Group Orientation, Welcome and Farewell Parties
Mandatory quarterly review meetings with Program Director (every three months)

This residency is about stepping out of a comfort zone into a new context, pushing oneself to explore and experiment, therefore artists are expected to bring a sense of openness, vulnerability, and energy to this residency.

In return, artists can expect to be provided housing in a clean, safe, and comfortable environment in addition to being fully supported, cared for, and treated with respect and dignity within our community and by our staff.

HOW CAN I APPLY?

Artists can apply here on our website through SlideRoom starting September 1st, 2020. The deadline to apply is October 26th, 2020 11:59 pm. No applications will be accepted before or after this timeframe.

In response to COVID-19 and the unprecedented economic impact it has had on the arts sector, application fees for the 2021-2022 have been waived and it is free to apply.

Required Application Materials

General Contact Information
Artist Bio
Artist Statement
CV/ Resume
60 Second “About Me” Video
A headshot & up to 10 digital work samples (which may be any combination of still images, video, audio, and writing)
Five Short Answer Statements
Additional Questionnaire

Collaborator applicants: Collaborations are between two people. Preference is given to collaborators with a history of successfully working together, but new Collaborations will be considered. Only one application is required per Collaboration and applications must reflect the work of both members.

Before applying, we ask all applicants to consider their own cultural sensitivity, privileges, emotional intelligence, and the ways in which they will personally contribute to and benefit from engaging in this environment.

WHEN CAN I APPLY?

WILL YOU HAVE AN INFORMATION SESSION?

Yes, our Program Director will host two online information sessions on the following dates:

Session #1: Tuesday, September 15th 6-7pm (cst)

Click Here to Register

Session #2: Thursday, October 8th - 6-7pm (cst)

Click Here to Register

These sessions will be hosted on Zoom and recorded for publication on Vimeo & our social media sites for reference in the case you are unable to attend. Registration is required.

HOW WILL THE SELECTION PROCESS WORK?

Once the application period closes, our expert panel of judges will review each application and shortlist artists who meet all preliminary criteria. The selection criteria includes:

Quality & Artistic Merit of Work Samples
Innovation/Originality of Artist's Work/ Use of Medium & Materials
Demonstrated Ability to Engage with Community
Scope & Potential Impact of Artist's Work within our Community

Next, shortlisted artists will be required to undergo a background screening before moving forward in the final selection round. Finalists and all applying artists will then be notified by December 16th, 2020.

HOW CAN ARTISTS ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY?

We celebrate how approaches to community-engaged art-making can be as varied as urban interventions, guerrilla architecture, curatorial work, public art, project-based community practice, interactive/innovative media, and performance. Artists who are interested in applying are encouraged to think about how their practice can interact and collaborate with community members and neighborhood public spaces in order to effectively engage our culturally diverse audiences and stimulate social transformation and community building.

Can I host an exhibition, performance, workshop, or event of some kind while in residence at Zócalo?

Absolutely. We are committed to supporting our residents’ creative experimentation, professional growth, and public engagement with our community by offering free spaces to host events and free marketing of these events to help foster interest and attendance of events. In order to best execute these kinds of events, we require residents to submit proposals for consideration by the Program Director at least three weeks in advance of the proposed event. The Program Director will evaluate proposals and help residents navigate project developments.

PET & FAMILY FRIENDLY?

Yes! We love pets & families. Artist-Residents are allowed to live with pets and family members following Texas occupancy law and Zocalo Apartment Community Guidelines:

Children, spouses, family members, and roommates are welcomed with some restrictions. The maximum number of residents permitted to dwell in an apartment may not exceed two (2) persons per bedroom plus a child under the age of 24 months.

1-Year Residency: limits occupants to 4 persons & one child under 24 months.

6-Month Residency: limits occupants to 2 persons & one child under 24 months.

The individuals you choose to live with are not required to be relatives. They can be any individual you choose to room with as long as any person over the age of 18 is able to pass a criminal background screening and comply with all Community Guidelines.

PETS: We love pets! Only dogs, cats, fish, and birds are permitted. No more than 2 pets of any kind are permitted per apartment. Dog breed restrictions apply. ESA and service animals are not considered pets and do not apply to breed or pet restrictions. Please email us for breed restriction specifics.

IS IT REQUIRED TO LIVE IN THE APARTMENTS?

Yes, an important aspect of this residency is about community immersion. Living on campus gives artists an opportunity to be a part of the community as opposed to being a guest simply popping in.

We are seeking artists who will enjoy and benefit from living rent-free. Artist-residents who are selected and accept the residency will be required to live on campus throughout the entire duration of the residency term. The apartments are non-transferrable and cannot be sublet or rented out.

Site visits are welcome and encouraged. To schedule a time to visit Zócalo and speak with our Program Director, please email zairinfo@zocaloliving.com to set up a date.

WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?