The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, has opened a call for its artist-in-residence program. The selected artist will receive a $30,000 stipend, which will cover all costs associated with the proposed project.
Mathieu JN Baptiste’s mural and block party in Houston’s Third Ward
In 2022, the ACLU of Texas debuted its artist residency program with Houston-based artist Mathieu JN Baptiste as its inaugural resident. During his residency, Mr. Baptiste brought awareness to voting rights by empowering historically disenfranchised voters to participate. From 2022 to 2023 he completed a mural and hosted a block party in Houston’s Third Ward, hosted a painting workshop, and created a portable mural in the Gulfton neighborhood. Houston street artist Kill Joy is the current resident and her work is focused on border and immigrant rights. Her projects incorporate a giant puppet and have included a rally in Austin and a performance in El Paso.
Oni K. Blair, ACLU of Texas’ Executive Director, at the opening of Vincent Valdez’ “Just a Dream…”. Image credit: ACLU of Texas
ACLU of Texas’ residency program is one component of a larger arts initiative that the organization is engaged in. In 2022, the nonprofit partnered with The Progressive Forum to host a conversation with Nikole Hannah-Jones, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story. In 2023, the ACLU of Texas partnered with the Houston Public Library and Kindred Stories to host conversations with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America and How to Be an Antiracist. This year, the organization supported the exhibitions Is it Real? Contemporary Artists Address Reproductive Freedom in Dallas and Vincent Valdez: Just a Dream… at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.
The 2025 residency will last from six to ten months, beginning in April 2025. ACLU of Texas seeks projects that address border and immigrants’ rights, criminal justice reform, and free speech and pluralism. Other issues that align with the organization’s mission will also be considered.
The selected artist is expected to attend monthly meetings to develop, implement, and assess the project; conduct their own research to support the project; adhere to the review process with ACLU and incorporate feedback; and publicly promote the project; among other things. Projects will be evaluated based on the artist’s body of work, ability to engage with communities, successfully manage complex projects, and connection to Texas. Applicants do not need to have been born in Texas or currently live in the state, though the project must take place in Texas.
Applications are due Friday, January 31, at 11:59 p.m. CST. Learn more and access the application via the ACLU of Texas website.
