DRBU Artist Residency

Residency Overview:

The DRBU Artist Residency is a three-week program that provides an opportunity for an artist of any medium to explore and deepen their practice within a contemplative framework that emphasizes process and inquiry over production. In addition, the artist-in-residence will develop and implement a curriculum for high school students participating in DRBU’s Summer Program in Contemplative Philosophy that introduces students to the art-making process as a ground for exploration and self-discovery.

Key Features:

  1. Contemplative Environment: The artist-in-residence will live on site at DRBU’s Sudhana Center campus in Ukiah, California. They will be provided with room & board, as well as a studio in which to develop their practice, giving them the time and space to unplug from daily life and immerse themselves in a community dedicated to inquiry and contemplation. 
  2. Embodied Practice: While in residence, the artist has the opportunity to participate in the community life and offerings of DRBU’s Summer Program in Contemplative Philosophy, including contemplative exercise workshops. The aim is for these exercises to inform the artist’s process, and to deepen the dialogue between arts and embodied contemplative practice. 
  3. Social Engagement: The artist-in-residence will work with the directors of the Summer Program to develop and implement a curriculum for high school students that provides arts-based instruction rooted in a contemplative framework. Teaching is a core part of the residency as it emphasizes education, dialogue, and social engagement as essential to a contemplative arts practice. 
  4. Process-Oriented Approach: In addition to teaching, the artist will use their time in residency to develop an artwork. This work should be conceived of and created entirely during the residency. The purpose of this is to emphasize process and exploration and to give the artist-in-residency the opportunity to begin a fresh artistic inquiry within the context of the residency. At the end of the residency, the artist will deliver an artist’s talk on their work and their process. 

At this time, the residency is not open to applications from the general public and is offered by invitation only.