#BlkRenaissance901 Residency Request for Proposal
BlkRenaissance901 is a structured residency and artist incubator designed to support Black Memphis-based artists in developing a fully realized, public-facing creative concept through mentorship, production support, and guided artistic development.

This residency is designed for artists who are ready to think beyond individual presentation and grow as creative producers, curators, collaborators, and community builders. Participants enter a guided process that supports artistic growth, concept development, production planning, and public presentation.

Selected participants will receive a residency stipend, approved production support, mentorship, and structured guidance as they develop a complete public activation. Production support may include approved financial support toward activation expenses, access to Hattiloo resources, and guidance around budgeting, planning, marketing, and execution.

The mentorship component is central to the residency. Participants will be expected to engage in concept development, artistic refinement, production planning, budgeting, audience development, and scheduled check-ins throughout the process. The goal is not only to produce an event, but to help the selected artist strengthen their creative leadership and develop a clearer, stronger, more intentional public experience.

The final activation should be more than a performance or lineup. Applicants should propose a curated experience that celebrates their art form, creates opportunity for other Memphis-based artists, and shows how they can shape a public experience with intention, structure, and cultural value.

This year’s residency cycle follows a defined timeline:

• Application deadline: June 15
• Finalist selection and pitch process: Early July
• Resident announcement: Early July
• Residency period: August through September, 6 to 8 weeks
• Public activation: Scheduled in September

Participants are expected to actively engage throughout the full residency period. This includes mentorship sessions, concept development, planning, budgeting, marketing, audience experience, production preparation, scheduled check-ins, and working sessions.

This program is designed for artists who are ready to move from idea to execution with structure, accountability, mentorship, and support. The strongest applicants will be able to show what they want to create, how they are willing to grow through the process, and how their creative vision can elevate a wider artistic community in Memphis.

  • Applicant Information

    Who you are and how we contact you
  • - -
  • Select One

  • Artist Background

    Share your art form, your current practice, and the Memphis-based artists, audiences, or creative spaces your work is connected to.

  • Concept Proposal

    This program is centered on building a curated public experience, not a performance, concert, open mic, or showcase.
  • Your concept should celebrate your art form and create space for other Memphis-based artists to be seen, supported, or presented. Do not submit a simple lineup, concert, or one-person performance.
  • Describe the flow, atmosphere, audience journey, featured moments, and how the experience will feel curated from start to finish.
  • Explain who else your concept creates opportunity for and how they would be included. This may include musicians, writers, performers, designers, comedians, visual artists, hosts, vendors, or other creative contributors.
  • Tell us what makes this a full creative concept. We are looking for intentional curation, not just a list of people performing.

  • Vision and Purpose

    We are looking for concepts that are intentional and relevant.
  • Connect your idea to a current cultural need, creative gap, audience opportunity, or community conversation.
  • Describe the audience you are trying to reach and what would make this experience meaningful or worth attending.

  • Development and Support Needs

    This residency is structured to support development. Be honest about where you need help.
  • Select all that apply
  • Be specific about budget, staffing, space, marketing, collaborators, technical needs, or planning gaps.

  • Application Materials

  • Describe one past project you worked on.

    Include:
    • Your role
    • Who else was involved
    • Budget (estimated or actual)
    • Timeline
    • Key challenges
    • Outcome (artistic + financial if known)
    • What would you do differently
  • Choose one. We are not only looking for finished ideas. We are looking for artists who can think clearly, respond to structure, and develop a concept through the residency process.

  • Video Submission (Required)

    This helps us understand your voice, clarity, and direction.
  • Please submit a short video that includes:

    • Who you are
    • The art form or creative community your concept centers
    • The public activation you want to create
    • How your concept creates space for other
    • Memphis-based artists
    • Why you are ready for this residency

  • Work Samples

    Show us your work.
  • Share materials that help us understand your artistic voice, creative leadership, or ability to develop a public-facing concept.

  • Program Commitment

    Please review the expectations below before submitting.