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The Temple University Rome Visiting Artist (VA) Residency program creates a robust research residency for visual artists to embed themselves and their practice in the TUR printmaking area. The goal is to enrich and enhance the wider studio community at Temple University Rome through interaction and exchange between students and leaders in the field of contemporary art. 

About the Residency

The visiting artist (VA) program provides a wonderful opportunity for emerging and mid-career artists who demonstrate a significant exhibition record/record of creative research. The residency has its home base in the Temple Rome printmaking area, and is particularly suited for artists whose works will benefit from access to printmaking processes and equipment, including artists exploring new directions and innovative approaches to making prints and/or considering the role of printed images in contemporary art and culture.

The selected visiting artist actively develops their proposed project in the printmaking lab at TUR. It is expected that most of their work will take place in the studio and make use of its equipment and spaces. Part of the advantage of hosting a visiting artist is that students can share space with a practicing visual artist. Such an arrangement provides students with a rare opportunity to see how an artist develops significant/complex creative research. The advantage for the artist is that they will have access to the printmaking lab equipment, the vibrant learning community at Temple Rome, and of course the rich cultural setting of Rome in which to develop their work. 

Visiting artists contribute to building a thriving creative atmosphere within the Temple Rome art community in the following ways:

• a public lecture for the TUR art community.

• a technical demonstration of a process vital to their creative research.

• studio visits for GRADUATE and advanced UNDERGRADUATE students.

The public lecture is a platform for introducing the VA to the wider Temple Rome art community.  It is a key opportunity for opening up interdisciplinary dialogue between art students studying at TU Rome. A technical demonstration (workshop or tutorial) allows the VA to share their working process with interested students and faculty. Studio visits are a platform for direct conversation in which students benefit from the VA’s experience and point of view. Such efforts contribute to the diversity of conversation in the studio art atmosphere; on a practical level they expand institutional knowledge and strengthen technical studio capabilities. The printmaking faculty, graduate studio assistant, and any dedicated work-study candidates can provide support, within reason, to the visiting artist during their tenure.

Temple University Rome is committed to the continuous improvement of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on its campus and encourages applications from people of diverse backgrounds. 

Duration of the Residency

The visiting artist residency is a one-month experience. Temple Rome will host one VA  per academic semester. The VA residency will begin during the second week of Temple Rome’s academic calendar. The Fall VA will run from the first week of October through the first week of November; the Spring VA from the first week of February through the first week of March. Short-term, project-based residencies will also be considered based on the relevance and feasibility of the proposed project (not to exceed one per semester in addition to the VA).

Expenses and Funding

During the residency period, the selected VA will have full access to the Temple Rome printmaking facilities with the support of our printmaking faculty member, Devin Kovach. We kindly ask that you make your travel plans independently. Although we are unable to offer monetary support, Temple Rome faculty and staff will be happy to share knowledge and experience to locate affordable accommodation, provide travel information, and ensure that your stay is as comfortable and economic as possible. 

Studio Use and Materials

All artists working in the Temple Rome Printmaking lab will need to complete a short safety orientation with Prof. Kovach at the outset of their residency period. Artists are expected to uphold the studio best practices throughout the duration of their tenure. 

Selected artists should supply their own matrix materials for etching and lithography.  The TUR printmaking studio uses zinc plates, Toyobo photo-polymer plates, and aluminum lithography plates. VAs may use TUR’s monotype plates and silkscreen frames.

Temple Rome will provide process chemicals for zinc plate etching, aluminum plate lithography, Toyobo plate photo etching, silkscreen, and RISOgraph printing.

A base stock of newsprint, print paper, and printing inks will be made available for image proofing.

For final editions or elaborate finishing, VA artists are expected to supply their own materials and cover the expenses.

Selected artists can reach out to Prof. Kovach to coordinate materials in advance of the start of their residency period.

Criteria for Selection

Artists should be able to make a compelling case for why Rome, and specifically Temple Rome, would be the ideal setting in which to develop their new work. Successful proposals establish a meaningful connection to the context of Rome as a place where the contemporary and the ancient are mingled. Of critical importance will be the way that the VA proposes to reveal new ways of interpreting this Roman narrative through their proposed project.

How to Apply

Applications must include an artist’s statement (max. 1000 words), a project abstract (max. 1000 words), and a portfolio of digital images (not to exceed 20 images), organized into a single pdf document. The deadline to apply for Fall 2022 has passed. Spring 2023 dates and deadlines will be announced soon.

A committee composed of between 3 and 5 people will include Temple Rome art faculty, the Director of Tyler in Rome, the TUR chief academic officer, and 1-2 additional voices as needed. The selection committee receives applications once a year, in mid-June, for both Fall and Spring residencies. Candidates are invited to indicate their preferred residency period (whether Fall or Spring). These preferences will be taken into account during the selection process.