Artist in Residence

NEW POSITION - ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Common Weal Community Arts Inc., in partnership with the North Central Community Association, is seeking a multidisciplinary community-minded Artist in Residence for one year, starting in September of 2008. The Artist in Residence will spend 50% of the allotted time responding to the community's needs for development in the arts and for the remainder of the time, will pursue his/ her own independent art practice. The artist will be paid a salary of $30,000, plus benefits.

The purpose of this Artist in Residence program is to create new opportunities for the community of North Central Regina that will help facilitate, encourage and increase artistic and cultural involvement, development, diversity and identity. The Artist in Residence will use community art as a tool for social development and to share the collective voice and stories of community members.

The community that the Residency project will focus on will be the North Central area of Regina. North Central is an area with a high level of individuals and families (47%) who are considered to be low income. Half of all of the properties are rental properties and there is a lot of movement in the neighbourhood. A large percentage of the community members are Aboriginal. In the past few years, this area has been discriminated, targeted and was recently deemed "Canada's Worst Neighbourhood" by MacLean's Magazine. What aren't properly represented are the community's involvement, diversity, and cultural history of this community. The North Central Community Organization being one such facility. By working together with the community of North Central Regina to enhance the quality of life by representing, promoting, developing partnerships and unifying the community and its image through effective communication, programs and services, this agency has become the representation of the strength of the community.

The successful applicant:

- Can demonstrate a mature level of achievement in their discipline, will have an established career in the arts, and an understanding of community arts.
- Experience working with both traditional and contemporary art practices. Knowledge of Aboriginal art practices an asset.
- Can work both independently and collectively, and with a variety of age groups and artistic skills.
- Will have excellent communication skills.
- Will be sensitive to community dynamics: social, cultural, and economic.
- Will be able to facilitate and respond to the needs of community by working collectively with other artists and community members.
- Experience working with a variety of artistic practices and techniques.
- Valid drivers license and access to vehicle.

We encourage artists from aboriginal and diverse cultural and creative backgrounds to apply. Deadline for applications is August 25, 2008. Applications should include a current CV/ resume, examples of past creative work, three references, and an example of a community-based arts project created by the applicant.

Common Weal Community Arts links artists and communities to animate long term and positive social change. Common Weal facilitates the production of participatory arts projects, based on creating partnerships between communities and artists, through a philosophy of inclusion and cooperation, and in order to create opportunities and choices for individuals and communities.

For more information please contact Carey at 306-780-9442 or ac@commonweal-arts.com.

Please send applications to:
Common Weal Community Arts Inc.
2431-8th Avenue, Regina
Sask., S4R 5J7.

Common Weal gratefully acknowledges the support it receives from its volunteers, partner organizations, and co-sponsors and funders - the City of Regina, SaskCulture, SaskLotteries, the Saskatchewan Arts Board, the Community Initiatives Fund, and the North Central Community Association.