Making Space For Us: Behind Our 2019 Residency
From March to September each year, BBATX curates a monthly residency highlighting the work of 10 to 15, Texas-based women and nonbinary visual and musical artists. Beyond the monthly features from March to September, resident artists work with the BBATX team and its collaborators to produce site-specific commissions and exhibitions within our programming. Throughout their residency year, artists are challenged to apply their skills and expertise towards community issues, too. And by design, each of the public programs, developed by our residents, also serve as a resource for their audience to learn about a range of artistic processes, approaches and sustainable methods.
~ In this blog post, #BBATX 2019 committee member and board member Xochi Solis looks back on our 2019 residency and her contributions as the program’s lead curator.
HOW IS THE RESIDENCY CURATED?
Actively seeking artists and artist duos who work visually—with sound, or some combination of both—The Residency program is curated internally by the #BBATX volunteer programming committee. Our committee steers the selection process focusing on Central Texas artists whose creative vision aligns with the values of our organization and who we believe are positioned for advancement in their field.
This year, as part of our dedication to create a more impactful year together, we began curating in February with an in-person studio visit. We met with resident artists to discuss their aspirations for the year and their practice as a whole. Some artists were shifting gears from one career into a new one—others wanted a more public space to showcase specific aspects of their craft. Each artist’s ambition was considered carefully and our committee members tracked their progress to make sure we were doing what we could to help share their work and process with our community. (Throughout the year the #BBATX blog has featured written interviews between committee members and resident artists that dive deeper into their practice. These blog posts remain as a permanent archive of our engagement with, and work done by, our chosen artists during their time with us.)
WHAT DID THE 2019 RESIDENCY LOOK LIKE?
In 2019, More than 3000 people attended our monthly residency series, and we funded $8,000 in commissions and performances.
This was our second year ever producing The Residency, and it was the first time we were able to invest more time and money into helping each resident artist meet their annual goals. We continued what we started in 2018—a monthly party celebrating the work of women and nonbinary artists and DJs—by setting up each of our artists with featured performances at the LINE Hotel, but we also made a commitment to go further. We wanted to create more opportunities for financial gain and public exposure, while also giving our resident artists access to our vast and varied network.
So, this year, our approach was different. We kept each artist in the loop with monthly updates and opportunities to learn alongside us at any of our educational programs, like our quarterly community meet-ups, workshops and panel series. And our 2019 cohort were also given first dibs to artistic commissions for our shop, BABES FEST and craftHER Market. Funded by our organization, these commissions included the creation of soundtracks and mixes, unique and helpful way-finding signage, poster artwork, stage designs that beautifully hung behind panelists and performers alike and limited edition prints to celebrate milestones in the organization’s development. Beyond these paid opportunities, three of our artists also had the chance to debut and exhibit their work within Austin’s Elisabet Ney Museum.
On a personal level, it has been a joy to witness how much they have learned about themselves and the essential place they have within our ever-changing city. The development of The Residency program reflects the organization’s growth to better serve and connect women and nonbinary creatives in Austin, Texas and we look forward to nurturing the next year’s cohort in 2020.
MEET OUR 2019 ARTIST COHORT.
Working with #BBATX has given me the confidence to put myself out there professionally and begin to offer my DJ stylings to a much wider audience!
— Amanda Vaughn, DJ and researcher
Through the residency, I learned more about the women and nonbinary community here in Austin. Through craftHER Market, I discovered that there is a very supportive community for women and nonbinary makers’ work. I also learned about the historical Elisabet Ney Museum through the Meet Her Hands series. The residency has been a very interesting and educational experience of discovering what’s always been and what the future can hold.
— Tsz Kam, multidisciplinary studio artist
Being part of the DJ residency program with #BBATX truly helped me not only grow as an artist, but as a business this year. I am so grateful for the multiple opportunities they provided for me and the community they have fostered that comes out and supports these events! I grew my audience, played in venues I've always wanted to play in (the pool at the Line Hotel), pushed my boundaries with what I could do DJing-wise, met incredible people, and have some awesome collaborations in the works! Through this program I had and (will have) gotten booked out for multiple gigs (weddings, parties, openings). I also met incredible artists who I not only bought works from, but are also now my friends (Jinni J and Indigleaux).
— Cassandra Shankman AKA DJ CASS&RA, DJ and composer
I was so honored to participate in the #BBATX 2019 Residency I had heard about the organization’s events and had always wanted to be involved. My premier as a resident artist at the LINE Hotel was FANTASTIC, too. There's nothing more special than community dancing to my beats! It was another nod to my purpose to spread Deep House to Austin, Texas. DJing at BABES FEST was the cherry on top, and I'm so thankful that I recorded to share my set with the people. Thank you again for letting me be part of the team and I hope to contribute to future events!
— Shani Hebert, DJ and house music curator
The residency was a great experience for Double Trouble! We loved meeting the fellow residents and really appreciated the financial support and exposure that being residents gave us through the gigs we played. (This coming week we are playing the Austin Central Library Annual fundraiser, and we were discovered through being featured on the residency website!)
— Erin Gentry & Lynn Metcalf, DJ duo Double Trouble
I am beyond appreciative of having all the opportunities that have come from being part of the residency. I feel like I have gained more confidence in my abilities, and I have loved getting to know more local artists.
— Leika
Learn more about all of 14 artists in our 2019 Residency here.
GET INVOLVED WITH THE RESIDENCY.
The Residency 2020 will be announced on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2020). The monthly series will return in April 2020 at the LINE Hotel. Click here to sign up for email updates and notifications or you can always check back at bossbabes.org/residency.
Want to become a Residency partner? Head to bossbabes.org/partners and learn more.