industry, labor, and community artist in residency

Program Call for Applicants: AIR 2027 

Common Threads: Industry, Labor & Community 

The Artist in Residence Program is an initiative developed by the Art in the Libraries Program at WVU Libraries. Building on previous residencies, the 2027 cycle connects artists with the rich Industry, Labor, and Community Collections held at the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC) to inspire new creative work and public engagement. By focusing on collections that document local enterprise, working-class history, union organization, community life, and the human story behind West Virginia’s industrial footprint, this residency supports artistic interpretations that honor and reframe the state's cultural identity. 

Through project-based awards, the 2027 WVU Libraries’ AIR invites artists to delve into these archival collections, ranging from union records and company town archives to oral histories and grassroots community papers, to create visual works, installations, publications, performances, or other interpretive expressions. The goal is to spark dialogue around place, labor, solidarity, and heritage while activating archival material for broader audiences.

Participants will publicly share their work through small exhibitions, talks, or collaborative projects at WVU Libraries or on online platforms. Through this residency, the AIR Program seeks to breathe new life into archival materials and support artists who explore the intersection of industry, labor, community, and art in West Virginia. 

Program Goals 

• To engage creatives with the rich industry, labor, and community archival materials housed within the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC).  

• To support a contemporary artist with an honorarium, travel support, and a meaningful residency experience.  

• To foster engagement with WVU students, faculty, staff, and the broader community through dynamic creative programming related to labor history and community resilience.

To promote and build upon the labor and community collections at WVRHC by: 

• Enhancing public understanding and engagement with the WVRHC and WVU Libraries, aligning with the university’s land-grant mission. 

• Enriching teaching, learning, and research at WVU as well as in regional, national, and international communities interested in labor movement histories and working-class culture.  

• Expanding awareness, scope, and representation of West Virginia’s diverse workforce and community histories in archival collections.

To promote and build upon the Art in the Libraries Program by:  

• Encouraging discovery, innovation, and sustainability through interdisciplinary artistic practices.  

• Modeling diversity, equity, and inclusion in artistic endeavors focused on labor, social identity, and community themes.  

• Demonstrating the collaborative potential of art, archives, students, scholars, and communities in fostering reflection, dialogue, and activism within WVU Libraries.

Timeline (2026–2027 Cycle) 

January 2027 - Travel plans coordinated with Art in the Libraries and WVRHC administration 

February 2027 - Funds delivered to artist for materials purchasing 

March or April 2027 - Residency: 5–7 day stay in Morgantown including a minimum of 2 days exploring WVRHC archives 

April 2027 - Public program and exhibition launch, with promotion coordinated by WVU Libraries 

Guidelines for Artist in Residence 

1. Commit to the AIR residency for five working days. 

2. Spend at least 2 full days in the West Virginia & Regional History Center examining the Industry, Labor, and Community collections. 

3. Follow all guidelines and procedures for researchers using WVRHC collections and respect open hours. 

4. Create a work in response to research in the WVRHC (e.g., an exhibit utilizing archival materials or reproductions, original artwork inspired by or collaging documents/oral histories, a labor history publication, or another experimental creation) by the agreed-upon deadline. 

5. Deliver a 20-minute community presentation discussing process, creation, and creative intention. 

6. Attend optional engagement lunches or dinners with WVRHC stakeholders and community members.