2025 AiR Application

2025 Mount Auburn Cemetery Artist-in-Residence Application
In 2014, Mount Auburn became the first cemetery in the United States to establish an artist residency program. Each year, the chosen artists are charged with creating an original, site-specific work inspired by an in-depth experience at the Cemetery that conveys a fresh and innovative perspective of Mount Auburn. Take a look at our 2024 artists to get an idea for the range of projects.

The grant must result in a deliverable product, program, or event that is unique to Mount Auburn Cemetery. All projects will be presented to the public (how and when projects are presented is to be determined by the artist and the AiR Program manager).

Eligibility: you must live close enough to the Cemetery (580 Mt. Auburn St. in Cambridge, MA) to immerse yourself in the environment here. We encourage artists of all races, genders, orientations, backgrounds, and experience levels to apply.

Parameters: If your proposal is accepted, you may not make extensive changes to the subject, scale, or scope of your project during your residency. However, minor adjustments will be considered.

For questions, please contact Julie-Anne Whitney, Public Events Producer, at jawhitney@mountauburn.org.

Award amount: $500 - $4,000

Application due date: February 1, 2025

Notification date: March 1, 2025

Project start date: April 1, 2025

End date: March 31, 2026
CONTACT INFORMATION

Please let us know how best to contact you.
Name*

First NameLast Name
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Email*
Artist Website
Artist Instagram Handle/Username
Artist Facebook Page
Other Social Media Site
ARTIST WORK

Please tell us about your work.
Artist Resume/CV*

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Upload a sample of your work (optional)

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Artist Bio, 200 words or less (optional)
ARTIST DEMOGRAPHICS

All of the questions below are optional. Your response will help us to create more inclusive, relevant, and intentional artist programming at Mount Auburn.
What is your age range?

20-30 years old31-40 years old41-50 years old51-60 years old61-70 years old71+ years old
What gender best describes you?

FemaleGenderqueerIntersexMaleNon-BinaryTransgenderPrefer to Self-Describe (write in below)
Self-describe your gender (if applicable)
What are your preferred pronouns? Please check all that apply.

He/Him/HisShe/Her/HersThey/Them/TheirsPrefer to Self-Describe (write in below)
Self-describe your pronouns (if applicable)
What race or ethnicity best describes you?

AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or Latino/a/xIndigenous AmericanMiddle EasternMultiple EthnicitiesWhite or CaucasianPrefer to Self-Describe (write in below)
Self-describe your race or ethnicity (if applicable)
What sexual orientation best describes you?

AsexualBisexualGayHeterosexual or StraightLesbianPansexualQueerPrefer to Self-Describe (write in below)
Self-describe your sexual orientation (if applicable)
What is your disability status? Please check all that apply. "I am a..."

Person who is blind or visually impairedPerson with a chronic illnessPerson with a communication disorder who is unable to speak, or who uses a device to speakPerson with an emotional or behavioral disabilityPerson who is deaf or hard of hearingPerson with an intellectual, cognitive, or developmental disabilityPerson with a learning disabilityPerson with a mental health disabilityPerson with a physical disability or mobility impairmentPerson without a disability
PROJECT PROPOSAL

Please tell us more about your proposed project.
Project Name (if applicable):
Discipline/Media:*
E.g. photography, performing arts, sculpture, visual art, etc.
Please describe your project in detail:*
Your project must relate directly to Mount Auburn (e.g. a play about someone buried here, a song cycle inspired by our landscape, etc.), our Mission (i.e. to comfort the bereaved, to commemorate the dead, etc.), and/or the themes surrounding our work (e.g. death, grief, horticulture, nature, wildlife). What ideas or themes related to Mount Auburn Cemetery will you be exploring?*
If you have created a similar project elsewhere, please describe said project and explain how your Residency project at Mount Auburn would be different.
Most projects are presented at the Cemetery, though we have hosted artworks at local galleries before. Where do you hope your project will take place? If at Mount Auburn, be specific with proposed locations within the Cemetery (e.g. Bigelow Chapel, Asa Gray Garden, a roaming/moving presentation in multiple locations, etc.). If outside of Mount Auburn, please propose possible locations, preferably in Cambridge or Watertown.
When do you expect your project to take place?
E.g. Part one in the summer of 2024 and part two in the winter of 2025; at the end of the residency, in March 2025, etc.
What is the potential audience for your project?
Does your proposed project seek to elevate the often-overlooked stories of marginalized groups in our community?
Please note: this is NOT a requirement in order to be considered.
Do you expect to have any collaborators on your project?
E.g. I am a musician and will need to bring in additional performers (guitarist, vocalist, etc.) when presenting my final project.
What is your proposed budget (including salary/stipend, estimated supplies, fees for collaborators, etc)? Be as detailed as possible. Please note: grant requests may not exceed $4,000. *
If we are not able to provide the requested amount of funding, is your project scalable?
Do you anticipate wanting or needing to work with any Mount Auburn staff in order to complete your project?
e.g. Research, interviews, or shadowing that involves meeting/working with Mount Auburn's archivist, horticulture team, or Cemetery Services team, etc.
Are you willing to work with the Visitor Services team to promote your work by participating in a donor event, special program, panel, or exhibition?

YesNoNot sure
Do you have a personal connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery as a visitor or in relation to a deceased resident. If so, does that connection have anything to do with your proposed project? Please elaborate.
Please note: a personal connection to the Cemetery is NOT required in order to be considered.
What do you hope to achieve by creating work for Mount Auburn Cemetery, and how will you gauge the success of your project?*
Finalists may be contacted for an interview prior to award decisions.

Mount Auburn Cemetery (MAC) retains permission for the use of materials created during, and for, this project and may use images/media of the Grantee’s project in progress and final work to create promotional materials for educational and marketing purposes (advertising materials, social media posts, website posts, and print materials); and in doing so MAC will clearly attribute the artwork to the Grantee. The Grantee will retain all copyrights of their artwork.

Please send any additional application materials to Julie-Anne Whitney, Public Events Producer, at jawhitney@mountauburn.org
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2025 Mount Auburn Cemetery Artist-in-Residence Application

CONTACT INFORMATION

ARTIST WORK

ARTIST DEMOGRAPHICS

PROJECT PROPOSAL