Miami’s Fountainhead Residency, a 13-year-old arts organization dedicated to elevating the voices, visibility, and value of artists, is experimenting with its power to shape the future. Beginning in 2022, Fountainhead will host thematic residencies each month, addressing subjects like climate change and sustainability, immigration, technology, social justice, and more. These thematic residencies are intended to create a common discursive thread between artists while making it easy for anyone to connect with the ideas they’re fomenting in their work.
Fountainhead, whose alumni network includes established names like Derrick Adams, Sable Elyse Smith, and Gabriel Chaile as well as emerging artists recently reviewed in Hyperallergic such as Tschabalala Self, believes that this shift can bring about important new work and fruitful conversations.
“Moving towards this more focused approach allows us to elevate artists’ voices and the valuable role they play in shifting perspectives and shaping the future,” says Kathryn Mikesell, the co-founder and executive director of Fountainhead. “We’re excited to engage both new and familiar audiences around ideas and opportunities for change.”
Since its founding in 2008, Fountainhead has focused on providing time, space, and valuable connections for its artists-in-residence, creating ties with a local cultural community that’s only seen accelerated growth over the last 10 years. Beyond their alumni network’s international success, many former residents frequently return to Miami to exhibit in the city’s major museums and galleries.
Invited to apply via nomination by alumni, applications for 2022 were reviewed by ARTNOIR founder Danny Baez, artists Nanette Carter and Mark Thomas Gibson (who recently won the 2021 Pew Fellowship), Perez Art Museum Miami chief curator Rene Morales, Prospect 5 co-curator Diana Nawi, and critic Monica Uszerowicz. Selected artists will be announced in November 2021.
To learn more about the program, visit fountainheadarts.org.
