The Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum are looking for artists to apply to the 2021 Native Artist Residency program.  The 2021 Alaska Native Artist Residency Program starts in May and ends in September. Five residency positions are available – all residencies involve working at the museum and include artist salaries of $1,800-$2,000, a $680 food per diem, lodging, and travel to and from Sitka.  All residencies involve creating art in the museum in an open-studio like format.

Residencies are 17 or 19 days long and occur:  May 14th – June 1st ; June 4th – June 20th ; July 10th – July 26th ; July 27th – Aug. 12th ; and Aug. 21st – Sept. 6th.

In 2021, the Museum is offering a higher financial award, food stipend, travel to and from Sitka, and paid time accessing and studying the museum’s exceptional Alaska Native ethnographic and art collection.

Artists may focus on traditional or contemporary Native art forms including but not limited to wood carving, ivory carving, silver engraving, beading, skin, gut and fish skin sewing, drum making, and basket or textile weaving, drumming, and dancing. Outstanding beginners as well as experienced artists are welcome. Artists benefit from utilizing the museum’s collections for research and meeting visitors from around Alaska and the world and local Sitka community members while working in the museum gallery. 

Applications and additional information about the program are available on the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum website at:  https://friendsofsjm.com/narp/ or http://museums.alaska.gov/artist_opportunities.html  You may call (907) 747-8981 and request a packet be emailed or mailed. 

If you have questions about the program or application, please email  Jacqueline.Fernandez-Hamberg@alaska.gov or call (907) 747-8904. If I have your physical address and email address, this letter will be sent to both.  Applications are due Feb. 11th, 2021.