Sequoia Ascension’s Artist In Residence Program (AIR) awards artist & cultural bearers one year of completely subsidized housing and resources for artistic development. Premodern colonization and current-day gentrification continues to displace Black and Native peoples. Artists and culture bearers (especially full-time gig workers) are among the most vulnerable and impacted. We believe secure housing and resources are crucial to the interpersonal, economic, and artistic development of Black and Native artists. The ARP intends to nurture artists and provide them with an opportunity to create and serve in thriving-mode as opposed to survival-mode.

We are launching this pilot program in 2023 in which we’ll support a cohort of two artists. The artist residency will culminate in an annual Indigenous Peoples Day celebration (IPDC) in which the resident artist will have the opportunity to share their program developments with our community. The ARP is a 12 month program. Over the course of the residency, the chosen artist will receive 12 months of subsidized housing at Sequoia Ascension, Access to Artistic resources (Microphones, Speakers, Camcorders, Yoga Matts, etc). Artistic Development Sessions (101 and community learning sessions).