Apply for Hillyer’s Artist in Residence Program! Info Session October 1

Application deadline: October 15, 2026 - Apply for the residency

Hillyer Art Library and Smith Office for the Arts (SOFA) invite current juniors and seniors with a minor or major in Studio Art to apply for its pilot Artist-in-Residence program!

The residency is designed to connect the art library’s collection and Smith College Librarians as research and thought partners, and provides space for research as a creative process. As Artist-In-Residence, the selected candidate will collaborate with Libraries’ Visual Arts Librarian on targeted collection development relating to their project, as well as conduct research in subject areas relevant to their practice and work. The residency will culminate in a public facing art project in Hillyer Art Library that will be displayed April through May.

The selected Artist-in-Residence will receive institutional and financial support, including:

• A total stipend of $1,000 for materials and labor (split into two payments of $500, one allocation in December, and one in April).
• A reserved research carrel in Hillyer Art Library for both the Fall and Spring semesters.
• Research mentorship and guidance from Smith College Librarians.
• An opportunity to discuss their research and creative process through a curated book talk, public workshop or library intervention.
• Dedicated exhibition space within Hillyer Art Library, along with marketing and communications support.
• An opening reception.

The application deadline is October 15 at midnight, and the chosen Artist-in-Residence will be announced at the end of October.

Apply for the Artist-in-Residence Program

Note: The chosen Artist-in-Residence is not strictly bound to this initial proposal and may evolve their concept during the residency.

See below for application requirements and timeline:

Submission Materials

• Artist statement (250 word limit) 
• Brief proposal outlining the research concept (250 word limit )
• Preliminary bibliography consisting of five resources (books, articles, research materials) for project proposal
• 3 images of previous artwork from applicant portfolio
• One faculty recommendation — due October 15 at midnight
  • Faculty can submit a recommendation on the applicant’s behalf via the Faculty recommendation form
  • Please email the link to your faculty well in advance of the October 15 deadline.

Timeline

Fall Semester: Research & Development

• Complete 2–3 research consultations with a Smith College Librarian.
• Formulate and submit a finalized one-page proposal for the Spring exhibition/installation. This proposal will need to be reviewed and approved by the Dean of the Libraries before moving forward with the creation of the exhibition / installation in April.
• Disbursement of the first half of the stipend in December.

Spring Semester: Public Program and Exhibition

• Deliver one informal talk or public program that is open to the campus community.
• Final exhibition (on display from April–May).
• Disbursement of the remaining half of the stipend in April.

Contact

Anna Helgeson, Visual Arts and Humanities Librarian: ahelgeson@smith.edu