Welcome to the Julia Zagar Residency for Women Artists Application Portal. This application is for the 2024 Residency Cycle.

 

The residency supports contemporary women artists working in the tradition of handcrafting and folk art, with a particular focus on Mexican and South American artisans. Those selected are invited to stay in Philadelphia, engage with the city, and present an exhibition at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. 

 

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) inspires creativity and community engagement by educating the public about folk, mosaic, and visionary art. PMG preserves, interprets, and provides access to Isaiah Zagar’s unique mosaic art environment and his public murals.

 

Please familiarize yourself with Philadelphia's Magic Gardens by visiting https://www.phillymagicgardens.org/ before submitting your application.

 

Aplicación española 

Goals

The goal of this residency is to connect the visiting artist with Philadelphia communities, expand and inspire their artistic practice, and to form a relationship with PMG and the Zagars. The artist will create a body of work influenced by their visit and exhibit this work in the PMG galleries two years after their initial stay. 

On-site Duration

2 weeks in Fall 2024. In addition, the artist will be invited back for exhibition installation, opening reception, and any other programming as needed.

Stipend

First Payment (paid at 2 week stay) - $2,000

Second Payment (paid at end of exhibition) - $1,000

 
Travel Stipend - $1,500

Supply Stipend - $1,000

 

Expectations

• Create a body of work inspired by the artist’s experience at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

• Visit and connect with the PMG, site, staff, Zagar family, other nearby Zagar art environments, the South Philadelphia community, and other local galleries, organizations, museums, and creatives. 

• Solo exhibition in the PMG Galleries with artwork for sale responding to their stay in Philadelphia two years after their initial visit.

 

During the visit we expect the artists to be fully immersed in their residency experience. Please refrain from making any other work or personal commitments during this time. While the PMG staff will be present for the duration of the stay, residents will be encouraged to explore independently. There is no expectation to physically create work during the initial two-week stay as we hope the time will be spent observing, absorbing, and being inspired.

 

Submit application by March 31, 2024. Applicants will be notified by June 1, 2024.