Artist Residency: Aerial Photography & Videography

Description

The South Washington Watershed District (SWWD) seeks a creative fine art aerial photographer and/or aerial videographer to celebrate and document the landscapes, ecosystems, natural resources, and diverse inhabitants that call southern Washington County home. The lengthened term of the artist’s residency is designed to allow exploration throughout the seasons and remove arbitrary timeline limitations from creative project ideas. SWWD is interested in discovering new ways of envisioning, connecting, and valuing its water resources while recognizing different perspectives and ways of knowing. Through this program, SWWD hopes to incorporate unique ideas and views into SWWD programs and projects while promoting and achieving water quality improvement by providing visibility to the watershed and its natural resources.

Residency Term: 12 months (May '25 - April '26)

Stipend: $9,000 ($750/month)

Exhibition: Venue TBD; Fall 2025

Location: South Washington Watershed District, Twin Cities East Metro

Selection Notification: Expected by April, 2025

Artist Responsibilities
The selected artist will be expected to collaborate with SWWD program staff to develop an agreed-upon work plan with specific outcomes for the residency term, including the development of a public artist statement describing the artist’s vision or concept. Brief monthly meetings with staff will provide communication and focus, allowing staff to keep the artist current with ongoing projects and activities underway across the watershed. The artist must keep SWWD staff informed of the status and progress of work so staff can provide the SWWD Board of Managers with a detailed assessment of program successes and suggested future program improvements.

Work Area
In addition to SWWD’s close relationship and intersection with the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, there are a variety of outstanding regional parks to interact with, including Afton State Park, St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, SWWD’s undeveloped Glacial Valley Park, Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific & Natural Area (SNA), and Lost Valley Prairie SNA. SWWD is also home to Carpenter Nature Center and numerous local parks.

The artist will be expected to develop a cohesive portfolio of work from across the watershed over the course of the residency consistent with the approved work plan, culminating in a formal exhibition in the fall/winter of 2025. SWWD staff will assist in securing a regional venue for the exhibition. The artist will also be asked to participate in occasional SWWD community events or meetings (subject to availability). The artist is required to provide their own equipment and workspace.

The selected artist will serve as a contracted consultant to SWWD, not as an employee, and must maintain a commercial general liability insurance policy consistent with statutory and SWWD requirements.

The selected artist must maintain a valid Part 107 Commercial Drone Certificate and aircraft registration throughout the duration of the residency. The selected artist will also maintain knowledge of flight restriction areas, within the boundary of the South Washington watershed.

SWWD Licensing of Images
The artist will retain all ownership and copyright of their work. SWWD will not take any commission on work created or sold during the program term or final exhibition. The artist will be required to execute a licensing agreement allowing SWWD’s use of imagery created during the residency, with proper artist crediting, in digital and printed promotions of SWWD’s work and projects, including on SWWD’s website, www.swwdmn.gov.

Submission Requirements
Application materials must be submitted via email to Abby.Tekiela@swwdmn.gov by the deadline of midnight on Friday, February 14th, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Submittals must include the following:

1. Letter of Interest
- Letter describing interest in the residency, anticipated approach, and contact information. (PDF, 1-page max)

2. Artist Information
- Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume. (PDF, 2 pages max)
- Artist statement. (PDF, 1-page max)

3. Work Samples
- 10 numbered work samples completed within the last three years
(JPG, TIF, MP4, or PDF accepted via email or through shared portfolio folder)
- Include an image inventory list with title, year, medium, and dimensions (PDF)

4. Professional References
- One to three professional references with contact information

5. Certificate and Aircraft Registration
- Provide a photocopy of a valid Part 107 Commercial Drone Certificate and current Aircraft Registration

Questions? Abby Tekiela, SWWD Water Resources Program Coordinator, will serve as the residency coordinator and can be reached by phone at (651) 714-3712 or by email at Abby.Tekiela@swwdmn.gov. There will also be a virtual info session on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, 6:00 - 6:30 PM. Link and details available on our website.