Artist House

Situated on a secluded part of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland campus, the Artist House was established in 2003 as a residency program for artists, art historians, critics, curators and writers with both emerging and established careers. The program offers them the time and space to create new work, and to develop programming in which they share their work and expertise with the campus and local communities. Initially founded, programmed and sponsored by the Departments of Art & Art History and English, it is now fully housed within and programmed by the Art Department. From its first year of programming, SMCM alumni have been an important part of the programming, and each year alums return to the campus to share their life and professional experience after graduation with current students. Each academic year, 8-12 residencies that typically range from 1-4 weeks are sponsored for artists, art historians, curators and critics.

The Artist House provides a retreat environment for 2-3 residents at a time. Two of the resident fellows are provided with a private bedroom and a separate office or studio workspace on the property. There is also one small bedroom on the first floor without an associated office or studio space. Residents share bathroom and kitchen facilities plus living room, dining room, screened porch and peaceful grounds. Residents are responsible for travel arrangements and expenses, and purchase and cook their own food. Residents have access to all of the College’s amenities. Modest honorariums are offered in exchange for interaction with students in classes, lectures and workshops.

There are three types of residencies: full semester, short term, and CoLab. All residencies are by invitation only.

In partnership with Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and initiated in Fall 2014, a recent MFA graduate is competitively selected through a formal application process guided by the SMCM Office of Human Resources to be in residence in the Artist House and teach one course in exchange for adjunct pay. These fellows also provide additional programming by offering professional practice workshops, class visits and participate in the life of the department.

This is an interdisciplinary program through which a SMCM faculty member from any department or program at College can invite their research or collaborative partner to be in residence to facilitate new and ongoing work.

Each academic year, the faculty of the Art & Art History Department develop a program of visiting artists, art historians, curators and critics. In addition to time and space to create new work while in in residence at the Artist House, resident fellows also provide arts programming that may include; public lectures and workshops, class visits, and open studios.