Artist in Residence Program at Recology San Francisco

The Artist in Residence Program at Recology San Francisco is a unique art and education program that provides Bay Area artists with access to discarded materials, a stipend, and a large studio space at the Recology Solid Waste Transfer and Recycling Center.

Since 1990, over 100 professional artists and twenty student artists have completed residencies at this one-of-a-kind program and have made art from discarded materials. The studio is located at the San Francisco Solid Waste Transfer and Recycling Center (Recology San Francisco), a 47-acre facility that includes the trash transfer station (where trash goes before being sent to landfill), the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, the Organics Annex, the Public Disposal and Recycling Area ("The Dump"), and other recycling areas. The facility, which is located west of Highway 101 near Candlestick Park, also is home to a three-acre sculpture garden containing work by former artists-in-residence.

During their residencies, artists have scavenging privileges and 24-hour access to the company's well-equipped art studio. Artists speak to elementary school classes and adult tour groups about the experience of working with recycled materials. At the conclusion of their residency, Recology hosts a two-day public exhibition and reception for the artists featuring the artwork made during their residency. When the residency ends, artists contribute artwork to the program's permanent collection and these pieces continue to be shown in off-site exhibitions that promote recycling and reuse.

For additional information:

• Deborah Munk: (415) 330-1415
• Micah Gibson: (415) 330-1414
• Sharon Spain: (415) 330-0747

Artists must first attend a tour of our facility, then complete and submit an application by the listed deadline in order to be eligible for a residency. Public tours, which include visits to the recycling facilities, art studio, and sculpture garden, take place on the third Saturday of each month. To reserve a spot on a tour, call (415) 330-1414. Please do not show up without a reservation! We need to give you directions and other important information, including proper attire for the tour. The tour will be cancelled if it is raining. Children under nine years old are prohibited from attending tours as a safety precaution.

Printable Documents
2014 Artist in Residence Application
The application deadline for residencies that start in 2014 is August 30, 2013. Applications are accepted June 1 - August 30.

Our advisory board, which is composed of former artists-in-residence, arts professionals, environmentalists, and educators, reviews applications in October and selects eight to ten candidates to interview in November. Interviews are scheduled between 12:00 and 5:00 p.m. At that time, finalists must make a short presentation about their work. The board awards between four and eight residencies per year, depending on the number of part-time and full-time residencies allotted.

The board evaluates applications based on the artist's demonstrated commitment to resource conservation and recycling through art, their experience in art education and/or environmental education, how the residency can provide the artist with professional growth, the quality of previous work, and the artist's reputation and references. The board also considers the artist's use of materials and the types of tools available in the studio.

At this time, we only accept applications from local, career-level, professional artists. Students currently enrolled at any university, college, or other educational institution will not be considered. We do not accept applications from artists who reside a driving distance of more than one hour from San Francisco.

http://www.sfrecycling.com/index.php/how-to-apply#application-process