NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORK ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF THE VISUAL ARTISTS NETWORK WITH THE INDUCTION OF 15 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS - 2009
New Orleans, Louisiana – The National Performance Network (NPN) is pleased to announce the launch of the Visual Artists Network (VAN) with the induction of 15 Partner organizations from across the nation. February 6th marks the initiation of the VAN Partnership, pioneers in a network of exhibitors, curators, and visual artists that crosses geographic divides and social boundaries. VAN Partners hail from all corners and coasts of the United States , uniting to bolster opportunities for contemporary visual artists. The VAN Partners are:
• Ashé Cultural Arts Center , New Orleans, LA
• Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia , PA
• Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator, Miami , FL
• DiverseWorks Artspace, Houston , TX
• Galería de la Raza, San Francisco , CA
• Hammonds House Museum, Atlanta , GA
• Legion Arts, Cedar Rapids , IA
• LACE ( Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions), Los Angeles , CA
• MACLA/Movimiento de Arte Cultura Latino Americana, San Jose , CA
• PICA (Portland Institute for Contemporary Art), Portland , OR
• Project Row Houses, Houston , TX
• Real Arts Ways, Hartford , CT
• Space One Eleven, Birmingham , AL
• Spaces, Cleveland , OH
• Women & Their Work, Austin , TX
Patterned after NPN's model program for performing artists, VAN was launched following a successful pilot project in 2007. The formal establishment of the Visual Artists Network is made possible by the generous support of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Joan Mitchell Foundation, both of which have committed three-year awards to this project. Selected through a rigorous application process, the VAN Partners join the network for the life of their organizations, thus guaranteeing them subsidy support and services as long as their work and commitment to the network's values remain current. VAN is committed to long-term relationships among its constituents and such security is vital, particularly in this climate of economic hardship where public and private dollars are shrinking.
In 2009, the work of the Visual Artists Network will manifest through the VAN Exhibition Residency Program and national convenings. Through VAN, visual artists have the opportunity to travel in the United States and exhibit their work in a one or two-week long residency. Distinct as a touring residency program, VAN Exhibition Residencies emphasize touring and community engagement to support artists in overcoming economic barriers and geographic isolation with the chance to connect with peers and audiences outside of their studios and home communities. Exhibiting organizations, the VAN Partners, select artists through their own curatorial processes; NPN does not take part in the selection of artists nor does it have a roster of artists. What VAN does provide are subsidies for compensating artists through a standard contract and fee structure to ensure equitable and productive relationships between the host organization and the artist-in-residence.
The VAN Residency contract and fee provide a clear terrain for planning and production, thus allowing for deep engagement among the artist, the presenter, and the community. Beyond the exhibition of work, VAN Partners and artists are engaged in host communities through activities such as collective art-making, studio workshops, master classes, lectures, demonstrations, community meetings, and public installations of temporary and permanent works of art.
Complementing the VAN Exhibition Residency Program is the annual convening of the VAN Partners and artists – providing them with a forum for building and strengthening relationships, advancing their professional development, and connecting with what's going on creatively around the country. These forums also serve as a platform for expanding touring and creative opportunities for artists by connecting them and their work with curators, organizers and other artists across disciplines.
For more information about the Visual Artists Network, please visit www.npnweb.org to download the 2007 VAN pilot catalogue and the 2009 NPN Directory, which include VAN Partner profiles.
The Visual Artists Network is made possible through the generous support of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Joan Mitchell Foundation, and the Nathan Cummings Foundation as well as through matching contributions from the VAN Partner organizations.
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