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Event History
This is the third year WVU Libraries has hosted an artist in residence. Each year we pick a different collection to focus on: from feminist archives to environmental collections, to now: Labor, Industry, and Communities.
What Makes this event different?
Direct Archival Integration: Rather than focusing solely on independent studio time, this program requires dedicated, hands-on research within the specialized collections at the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC), including primary union records, company town archives, and oral histories. Focus on Working-Class Heritage: The theme, Common Threads: Industry, Labor & Community, challenges artists to reframe regional working-class history, industrial impact, and marginalized or underrepresented Appalachian narratives through contemporary creative practices. Broad Interdisciplinary Scope: It welcomes creators across non-traditional and traditional disciplines alike, ranging from visual art and performance to creative writing, dance, book arts, digital media, and cultural heritage work. Full Artist Autonomy: Artists retain complete ownership of all original works created during or inspired by the residency. Built-in Campus & Community Engagement: The residency concludes with a public presentation and a dedicated exhibition display at the WVU Downtown Library, offering immediate visibility across an academic and regional audience. Past winners have received recognition in their respective fields from film festivals to awards and book publications.
Copyright Policy
Artists retain complete ownership of all original works created during or inspired by the residency.
WVU Libraries’ Art in the Libraries Program is now accepting applications for the 2027 Artist in Residence (AIR) Program, centered on the theme Common Threads: Industry, Labor & Community.
The residency connects contemporary artists with the extensive Industry, Labor, and Community collections housed at the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC). Creatives across visual art, writing, dance, performance, book arts, digital media, and cultural heritage are invited to dive into union records, company town archives, oral histories, and community papers to develop transformative projects that honor, reframe, and elevate West Virginia’s diverse working-class heritage and cultural identity.
Residency Highlights & Support
Funding & Awards: Selected artist receives a $1,000 honorarium, funding for supply costs, and travel, lodging, and per diem reimbursements.
Duration: A 5- to 7-day residency in Morgantown, W.Va., during March or April 2027, featuring a minimum of 2 full days dedicated to archival research at the WVRHC.
Public Engagement: The residency culminates in an exhibition/project display at the WVU Downtown Library and a 20-minute public presentation or collaborative program.
Rights: The artist retains full ownership of all original artwork created during the program.
Eligibility & Application Details
The AIR program is open to all U.S. and Canadian-based artists and creators ages 18 and older. Preference is given to WVU alumni and applicants focusing on underrepresented narratives, local working-class history, or the human impact of regional industry.
Application Deadline: November 30, 2026
Requirements: Applicants must submit a single PDF containing an Abstract, Statement of Interest, Budget & Timeline, Artist Statement, 2-page CV/Resume, and 5–10 Work Samples.(visit https://exhibits.lib.wvu.edu/art-opportunities/industry-labor-and-community-air-artist-in-residency for details)
Questions?: Email Sally Brown at sally.brown1@mail.wvu.edu.
