The Contemporary Jewish Museum Announces Artist Studios at The CJM, a New Residency for Bay Area Artists

Tuesday, December 1, 2020 (San Francisco, CA) – The Contemporary Jewish Museum (The CJM) is excited to announce Artist Studios at The CJM, a new artist residency program designed to support Bay Area-based artists in need of studio space as a result of financial hardship or conditions surrounding COVID-19. The program will host two individuals for a five-month period, from March 4 to August 8, 2021. Recipients will be granted daytime use of a private studio space (public health and safety mandates permitting), a $1,000 honorarium, and access to The CJM’s educational resources in the Helen Diller Institute. The new program reflects The CJM’s ongoing commitment to sustain the rich and diverse culture of the Bay Area arts community, and to provide a platform for artists to engage in dialogue both with one another and the public.  

Artists working in a variety of media—including painting, drawing, photography, digital media, multimedia, sound, writing/poetry, installation, performance, sculpture, textile, and social practice—are encouraged to apply. This opportunity is designed specifically for emerging local artists in need of workspace. Applications can be accessed at thecjm.org/learn_resources/631 and are due January 4, 2021. The selected artists will be announced at the end of January 2021. Program dates may be subject to change due to conditions dictated by closures due to COVID-19.

“We are hopeful that Artist Studios at The CJM will offer some relief for our artistic community during this incredibly challenging time,” said Senior Curator Heidi Rabben. “As an art Museum, our mission is not only to provide compelling art experiences for visitors, but also to be a vibrant part of the cultural fabric of this city. At a time when artists are losing studio space and income, it is imperative that we help in some way. We are looking forward to hosting artists at The Museum, and to connect them with resources and our audiences, both online and onsite.”

Artist Studios at The CJM does not come with any stipulations to complete a body of work, allowing those selected the time and space to engage in their creative process as best suits their needs. Participating artists will be invited to collaborate with The CJM to develop talks and educational programs designed to engage The CJM community.

About The Contemporary Jewish Museum

For over thirty years, The Contemporary Jewish Museum has engaged audiences and artists in exploring contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas. In 2008 The Museum opened a new building designed by internationally-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, providing a lively center where people of all ages and backgrounds can gather to experience art, share diverse perspectives, and engage in hands-on activities. Inspired by the Hebrew phrase L’Chaim (“To Life”), the building is a physical embodiment of The CJM’s mission to bring together tradition and innovation in an exploration of the Jewish experience in the twenty-first century.

Major support for The Contemporary Jewish Museum is generously provided by Bank of America; The Covenant Foundation; Craig Newmark Philanthropies; Suzanne and Elliott Felson; Gaia Fund; Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation; Grants for the Arts; Walter & Elise Haas Fund; Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund; Jim Joseph Foundation; Maribelle and Stephen Leavitt; The Bernard Osher Foundation; John Pritzker Family Fund; Dorothy R. Saxe; and Seiger Family Foundation.

Major support for The CJM Helen Diller Institute is generously provided by The Helen Diller Family Foundation.