Founded by artists for artists in 1998, Locust Projects is Miami’s longest running nonprofit alternative art space. We produce, present, and nurture ambitious and experimental new art and the exchange of ideas through commissioned exhibitions and projects, artist residencies, summer art intensives for teens, and public programs on contemporary art and curatorial practice. As a leading incubator of new art and ideas, Locust Projects emphasizes boundary-pushing creative endeavors, risk-taking and experimentation by local, national and international artists. We invest in South Florida’s arts community by providing artists with project grants and empower creative careers by supporting the administrative work of being an artist through an onsite artist resource hub and access to pro bono legal services.
Opportunity: LAB MFA - Summer Residency and Exhibition
Application Deadline: midnight EST March 29th, 2024
Eligibility: Artists currently enrolled in MFA studio art programs in the U.S. during spring 2024
*first, second or third year students can apply
*Residency opportunity dates: May 27th - June 13th, 2024
*Artists can stay as long as they wish during Residency opportunity period as long as their installation is completed by June 13th and they are present for any committed public programs. Note residence second bedroom may be occupied by another artist at some point during this time period.
Exhibition dates: June 13- July 6, 2024
Opportunity Description:
Locust Projects, Miami’s longest-running alternative art space, invites graduate-level artists to submit project proposals for an exhibition in our 625 sq ft Project Room during the summer of 2024. Exhibition proposals should reflect an expansion of an artist’s practice in conceptual scope, scale, or media. Proposals can reflect new work that will be created for the exhibition that has never been presented before or work created on site. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate exceptionally unique methods, processes, or concepts, particularly those that could not be presented in a traditional gallery setting with an emphasis on site-specificity and installation. Artists addressing social justice issues including race, identity, gender parity, basic needs, climate change, environmental advocacy, and more, through their projects are encouraged. To see past examples of past LAB MFA and past Project Room installations, please see Past Exhibitions at locustprojects.org
We accept proposals from artists working in any media and artists can apply as individuals or two-person collaboratives presenting a singular project. Special consideration will be given to artists who are presenting work that is directly related to their MFA studies or artists who have never realized a solo exhibition previously. Please keep in mind, we are not a traditional gallery space. If the exhibition could easily be presented in a traditional gallery setting or could be realized without the support of our organization, it is unlikely for us to consider your proposal. We are not a commercial gallery, we do not offer artist representation.
All artists must be currently enrolled in an MFA program during the spring of 2024 to apply for the LAB MFA program. Locust Projects provides an artist stipend of $1,500, production budget up to $1,750. Production Costs may include (but are not limited to): production/fabrication, equipment rental, materials, specialized lighting, professional/technical support, public programs and activations and related participant fees based upon W.A.G.E. fee calculations, artist travel above and beyond the provided stipend, installation/construction labor above and beyond the provided preparator assistance, shipping, disposal, and any other costs required to realize and de-install the Project beyond basic infrastructure and artist fees provided by Locust Projects. Basic infrastructure provided includes: access to existing AV equipment, tools, and supplies as available, in addition to up to 20 hours of preparator/contract labor assistance during the install/de-install period.
Selected artists are also eligible for a $500 stipend towards travel costs to and from Miami (for artists from outside of the area), and free accommodations at Locust Projects’ furnished residence house located in Miami’s Design District starting May 27th and available through July 6th. The residence may house multiple artists concurrently in individual bedrooms in a 2 bedroom/1 bath house. Selected artists will commit to the creation of a public program which consists of a conversation, performance, collaboration or other program presented in conjunction with their project and residency. Cross-disciplinary collaborations with other Miami-based organizations or individuals is encouraged. The exhibition will open with a public reception in June.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS. Please provide the following information in Submittable.
- Artist resume or CV. Please include artist contact information.
- Project proposal (250 word max.)
- Draft floorplan/rendering of proposed project - see attached PDF for floor plan and images
- Artist Statement - (max. 150 words); can also be a 1 min video submission
- Images: 4 images of recent/ related work with captions accompanying all images. Up to 3 Video links can be submitted for video based works. 5 minutes maximum will be reviewed.
- Letter of recommendation from a current professor (This can be emailed directly to submissions@locustprojects.org or attached in the application)
Please send questions to submissions@locustprojects.org.
Grant opportunity for Miami-based artists.
ABOUT WAVEMAKER GRANTS
WaveMaker at Locust Projects supports Miami’s visionary artists with incubator grants for innovative projects that are shared with the public in unconventional spaces.
Since 2015, WaveMaker has awarded $570,000 in funding to 114 of Miami’s visionary artists. Grantees receive up to $6,000 each in three categories: New Work / Projects, Long-Haul Projects, and Research & Development + Implementation. In the spirit of Locust Projects’ artist-driven mission, WaveMakers experiment and take risks, creating innovative work that is shared with the public in unconventional spaces.
WaveMaker is made possible by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts' Regional Regranting Program, a network of 32 regranting partners across the country. Founded in 2015 by the former nonprofit Cannonball, WaveMaker has been administered by Locust Projects, Miami’s longest running nonprofit alternative art space, since 2017.
Please review all available info at www.wavemakergrants.org before submitting.
Deadline is April 1, 2024 at 11:59pm.
There is no application fee. Locust Projects is committed to making WaveMaker Grants accessible to all applicants. Should you need any accommodations or assistance to complete your application, please reach out to programs@locustprojects.org.
Join us for the first WaveMaker VIRTUAL INFO SESSION of the year on Tuesday, January 16th, at 7pm via ZOOM. Learn about the next cycle of WaveMaker Grants for Miami-Dade artists and how you can apply for up to $6,000 in one of three categories: New Work / Projects, Long-Haul Projects, and R&D + Implementation.
Eligibility:
Visual artists, curators, arts writers, cultural organizers, collectives, collaborators, and artist-run spaces at all career stages who reside in Miami-Dade County are encouraged to apply.
If you have received a WaveMaker Grant in the past 5 years you are ineligible to apply in 2023 unless you are a current R+D recipient.
Film, performance, dance, music, and other projects that fall outside a strict definition of visual art are eligible. However, visual art must be the leading component.
If applying as a group, the collaboration can be long-standing or initiated specifically for this project. Please identify one participant to serve as the lead contact. The lead contact and majority of participants must reside in Miami-Dade County.
Non-profit organizations and LLCs established for commercial enterprise are not eligible.
All projects must engage or be shared with the public in unconventional spaces in Miami-Dade County. This may include exhibitions, performances, events, lectures, workshops, screenings, readings, publications, residencies, programming at artist-run-spaces, online projects, etc. Projects can not be presented at art museums or commercial galleries. Projects that support inclusion, diversity, equity, and access are strongly encouraged.
Selection Criteria:
All proposals will be considered based on criteria including but not limited to:
- Overall idea, vision, and artistic innovation
- Relevance to the local social, cultural, and/or geographic context
- Accessibility of the project to the public outside of a museum or gallery
- Capacity of the applicant to realize the project on time and within budget
- Potential impact on the local community, the arts and culture landscape, and/or the artist’s growth
Build the World You Imagine!
2024 Locust Art Builders (LAB): Summer Art Intensive for Teens.
Students will meet in person at Locust Projects with take home activities and field trips.
APPLICATION OPENS: March 16, 2024
DEADLINE: Friday, May 24, 2024 | Acceptance letters sent by May 31, 2024
LAB 2024 INTENSIVE: June 18 - July 20, 2024 | Tuesdays – Fridays | 10am - 2pm
OPENING RECEPTION FOR FRIENDS & FAMILY: Saturday, July 20 | 6-8pm
About Locust Art Builders (LAB): Now in its 14th year, LAB is a unique summer art intensive for high school students with an interest in art, design, and exploring creative careers. 30 students will be selected from across Miami-Dade County to learn from professional artists in a dynamic program on-site this summer. They will dive right into the creative, and practical, aspects of completing a collaborative full-scale exhibition at Locust Projects!
LAB is FREE for all students.
- Students will be provided with free lunch daily.
- Students may request a transportation stipend to assist with travel to and from Locust Projects.
- Students will receive a Builder Box with art supplies and more as well as an artist edition shirt.
- Students may be able to receive community service hours for their participation; please ask your school for details.
Want to learn more about what makes LAB so special? See this video created by past LAB students!
What's on the application?
- WHY IS LAB FOR YOU? Express your interest in LAB via text or video. We'd love to know what you want to learn this summer and why you are a good fit for this opportunity!
- SHOW US YOUR CREATIVE SIDE: Share up to 8 recently completed art works, designs, or projects. You can upload photos of your work or show us your work in a short video!
- IMAGE CAPTION SHEET: Please include a PDF with the title, media, date, and a brief description of each art work.
- OPTIONAL: Letter of recommendation from a teacher, mentor, or advisor.
FAQs
Who is eligible? Students currently enrolled in public or private high schools in Miami-Dade County. Students must have completed at least one year of high school by June 2023. Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders as well as graduating 12th graders are all eligible to apply.
Who is not eligible? Students who are in middle school, entering ninth grade in the fall, or who graduated in 2022 or prior.
Can I apply if I am not sure I want to go to art school? Of course! LAB is the perfect place to explore your interest in art or design, learn how to make things using new skills and tools, and learn all about careers in the arts. Whether or not you go to art school, LAB can help you gain confidence and learn how to problem solve creatively.
Can I work on my personal projects as part of LAB? While some activities will involve working independently, working collaboratively with other young artists is a crucial part of LAB. Most projects, and the final exhibition, are produced as a team. Personal art practices often feed into this final result, but it is important that applicants understand that they will also be required to work closely with other young artists during LAB. If you are not open to working collaboratively as part of a team, this program might not be the right fit for you.
Can PDFs include links? Yes, they may include links to websites, video hosting services like YouTube or Vimeo, as well as links to galleries, previous exhibitions, and/or past reviews, if applicable.
Can I submit my application without using the online submission system Submittable? Unfortunately, no. All submissions must be submitted through Submittable. Submittable accounts are free. If you need assistance completing your application, please let us know by reaching out to programs@locustprojects.org. We're happy to help!
Who can I speak to if I have more questions? For more info, please contact: programs@locustprojects.org or 305.576.8570. Locust Projects is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. If you need support to participate in LAB, please let us know.
PLEASE NOTE: This application is ONLY for Cycle 11 (2024) Research & Development category WaveMaker grantees requesting Implementation funds. Please do not complete this form unless you have been invited to do so.