artists in residence
why we believe in the textile arts The Textile Arts Center (TAC) is a NYC-based resource facility dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of textiles through creative educational programs for children and adults. At TAC, we aspire to unify the textile community and advocate for the handmade by providing accessible, skills-based classes that reinvigorate engagement with traditional crafts. Techniques like weaving, sewing, and embroidery are practical, connective, and process-driven – common denominators for designers and artisans as well as everyday people around the world. Because these activities are so widely used, they help to foster community and bring creativity back into our daily lives. They are part of our collective history and vital to our ongoing expressions of design, art, and culture.
At TAC, we appreciate the unique values of textile arts and want to expand opportunities for new practitioners to engage with the medium. Participatory learning is the foundation of our model and enables students from all backgrounds to make meaningful contributions to a growing community of fiber artists. Workshops, courses, events, and special programs at TAC allow professionals and novices alike to explore their creative ingenuity through handcrafts processes. By engaging with groups ranging from newcomers to experts, we increase the positive social impact of textile arts and nurture innovations and leadership in the field.
TAC equips emerging artists and designers with the skills they need to articulate their practices and contribute to their communities. As a resource for professional development, TAC offers a rigorous Artists in Residence (AIR) program combining interdisciplinary learning with a deep focus on technical and business capacity development. We believe that an artist is best able to advocate for her work and maximize her creative value when she understands her business, how to scale services, and operate self-sufficiently. The AIR program empowers participants to steward their own careers. Over the course of nine months, six artists and designers dive into a full curriculum underscored by continuous critical dialogue. Ongoing conversations allow residents to foster greater consciousness within their practices and center their work. Residents study weaving, knitting, and surface design, along with textile history, modern craft theory, and business administration.
social impact program artists in residence Through balanced examination of historical and topical practices, our residents develop contemporary works with a solid understanding of our common artistic heritage. Structured weekly seminars are moderated by some of today’s leading business and textile innovators. At AIR, students are able to advance and elevate their work, actively pursue their career ambitions, and share their knowledge outside of the studio walls. We view our residents as ambassadors helping to connect a wider audience with the process of making. Residents take their skills into the world. They partner with childhood education programs both at TAC and within the greater Brooklyn and Manhattan area to teach new generations about the creative potential of textile arts. AIR residents give lectures, volunteer, and design products. They learn from one another at the AIR studio in order to share their future with others. Their outreach and concerted artistic development culminates in a group exhibition hosted by TAC, which showcases and promotes residents’ work at both a regional and national level through additional catalogue materials.
what do our alumni think?
Denise Maroney is an educator and entrepreneur who runs a free, arts youth program to
teach textile skills to young underprivileged, Palestinian, Armenian and Lebanese designers living in Beirut, Lebanon. Prior to joining AIR, Denise worked as a costume designer and used the program to facilitate a career transition. “AIR provided extraordinary networking opportunities, classes and a unique space with equipment for artists to use. The program provides access to several communities of textile related artists, which is integral for anyone in a career transition…I acquired a lot of practical textile skills, I learned a lot of textile related history/ information, and I got over a fear of “producing work. The skills I learned at AIR allowed me to teach students back in Beirut.”
Tali Weinberg is a renowned textile artist who fuses the languages of text and textiles to
investigate the politics of gender, labor, home, and economy. “AIR allowed me to develop my own art practice, teach, write, curate. AIR helped me bridge professional gaps by giving me the opportunity to work towards a show over 6 months and to use the space to curate my first exhibition. I met an amazing community of people who remain friends and colleagues to this day.”
Stacy Baek is an art educator whose experience at AIR helped her flesh-out her career goals.
“My exposure to TAC’s early childhood education program made me realize that I could combine my fine arts training with teaching and pursue both careers in tandem.”
Lucia Cuba is a social scientist and fashion designer
“Being part of the TAC has been a great opportunity for me to learn, share and develop a strong relationship with fiber arts, crafts, but more importantly with an inspiring community of creators. The TAC residency program has allowed me to broaden my own practice as a fashion designer and a social researcher: Today I am more aware of how fibers — and the craftsmanship behind them — can inform and be part of the foundation of my works.”
Kate Parvenski is a fine artist and emerging designer
“I made the decision early on in the cycle to actively pursue a more design-orientated path. Since then, we’ve had access to a number of professional development opportunities, including regular visits from art and design professionals, along with classes on social media marketing, branding, building a website, and grantwriting. While the residency has allowed me the creative space to focus on developing my work, it’s also given me the practical foundation from which to build my business. With just two weeks left in the program, I know I’ll be leaving with a powerful network and all of the tools I need to move forward in establishing my own company.”
residency outcomes The Artists in Residence at TAC is one of the nation’s leading emerging artists programs. Since 2010, AIR has graduated over twenty five practitioners whose work is now galvanizing the fashion, fine arts, and design industries. Our alumni are involved in a broad range of arts activities, including: • • • • • • •
arts education women’s international development social activism fashion and tech entrepreneurship fine arts regional makers movements local community development initiatives.
100% of our residents have re-engaged with their craft as a direct result of our program. They’ve strengthened their career through a deeper understanding of their vocation and greater involvement with the global textile arts community.
air sponsorship engagement In a rapidly modernizing society, textile arts help to ground us, connect us to our human heritage, and teach us creative problem solving skills. At the Textile Arts Center, we want to introduce craft practices to new generations to expand the ambit of innovation in this field. Through leadership training at AIR, we are able to do this while amplifying the impact of our services. The selection process for our residents is merit based, but we need additional funding to ensure that students of all socio-economic backgrounds can participate. We are seeking sponsorship to support the ongoing development of our residents’ creative capacity, which increases social return on investment of our programming and allows AIR to expand its reach and community engagement. Sponsors and partners may engage with AIR in a range of ways, including: • Brand partnerships - includes product and event collaborations and/or material donations • Media partnership - includes promotional and PR materials highlighting AIR residency • Monetary sponsorship - suggested funding packages on next page
*All levels will receive acknowledgement in materials.
FRIEND Up to $1000
Will fund regular studio materials including fabrics, inks, dyes and yarns, and provide subsidies for visiting critics . You will receive acknowledgement in our promotional materials.
PATRON $1000 +
Provides equipment and industrial materials including sewing machines and looms. Will subsidize visits by guest teachers and notable critics, and fund a community lecture series. You will receive acknowledgement in our promotional materials and tickets to our September gala.
SPONSOR $6,000 +
Provides the above as well as scholorship funding for residents, money towards career and capacity development field trips, marketing efforts on behalf of residents, and outreach programs for the local NYC community.
PARTNER $12,000 +
Provides the above as well as full merit scholarships for residents, community programming and partnerships between residents and other organizations/companies.
The textile arts center welcomes our partners to our thriving creative textile community.
505 carroll street | brooklyn ny 11215