Welcome to the Indigo Arts Alliance Art Residency. We are delighted that you are participating in one of our vital programs which is to provide a space to build global communities by bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds of the African Diaspora to engage in their creative process, participate in arts enrichment programs and to serve as both mentors and mentees. We exist to provide you space and time to focus on, and further develop your craft. The handbook provides some essential information regarding your stay in Portland during your residency. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can make your time here even more creative and productive.
Myron M. Beasley, Ph.D
IAA Residency Chair
Daniel Minter
IAA Artist Director
Residency Program
In addition to its remarkable natural beauty and Maine’s history for being a haven for national and international artists, the IAA Residency will provide flexible and dynamic studio space and an opportunity to connect with Portland’s creative community. In recognition of the continued lack of support for Black artists world-wide, the IAA residency is an occasion to give back in dialogue and exchange between artists of African descent and other underrepresented communities of color.
IAA Residency is open to a panoply of creative production. Foremost, we serve our communities by providing exposure and access to national and international professional artists. The residency aims to create an occasion for artists of African descent working in a variety of disciplines to build and engage with the Maine community through mentoring regional emerging Black artists. By connecting the invited artists to local artists of color, we help our artist community through working opportunities, critical feedback, relationship building, and increased awareness of creative practices and institutions.
The core imperative of IAA program is to establish a robust and dynamic experience through creative production and intellectual engagement.
The unique factor of the IAA residency is mentoring. We believe firmly that mentoring of artists and underrepresented artists, in particular, is essential to creative development and growth. We consider mentoring to be a generative dialogic exchange between and among artists. We define mentoring broadly and thus can be achieved through a variety of actions including a one on one dyadic approach (pairings established through conversation with IAA staff and the artists) to workshop intensives for distinct communities of color in the state of Maine and other public presentations. We do suggest that public talks given by visiting artists at IAA be given an additional stipend. We aim to provide a space for Black artists to engage in robust discussions and interrogations of art and art making that would inspire and affirm. There is not one selection process for selecting mentees however it will be a result of conversations between the visiting artist and the residency committee.
It is essential for the organization to develop a plan of documentation of the residency program. Documenting the visiting artists helps archive our history and will also provide information (data) for fundraising opportunities. Items included in such a plan might consist of requiring the artists to participate in audio (video) recorded interview, visual documentation of art actions, and others. The archive will also be placed on IAA’s website.
The Studio Space
The IAA space is an arts incubator with generous workspace and modern facilities enabling the creative work of visual artists, performance artists, music composition and creative writing. The resident will have 24-hour access to a flexible private 3000 square feet studio space in the new 4,000 square ft. facility. The studio space contains basic furnishings, a projector and wifi and can be easily transformed for work needs and public engagement. The studio was purposely designed to be adjustable to oblige art making. IAA through collaborations with other creative/art spaces could accommodate unique equipment needs. The facility also includes a kitchen.
Arrival & Departure
While IAA will cover your travel, it will be the responsibility of the artists to make travel arrangements. We would expect that the artists to forward specific arrival times with IAA and housing location.
IAA is located at 60 Cove St. Portland, ME
IAA is located in Portland which is 2.5 hours from Boston and 5 hours from New York City
*Major Airlines serve the Portland International Jetport (PWM)
*Amtrak links Portland and Boston
*Bus service to Portland provided by Greyhound Bus Lines
*Hourly shuttles between Portland and Boston (Logan Airport and South Station ) by Concord Bus Lines.
Shipping & Mailing information
Plan ahead if you require materials for specialized techniques that may not be available in Portland, Maine. You may bring supplies with you or ship supplies from mail order sources; please make sure your packages do not arrive more than one week before your arrival.
By US Post Office
Your Name
c/o IAA
PO Box 3652
Portland, ME 04104
By UPS, FedEX, or other commercial delivery service:
Your Name
c/o IAA
20 Cove St
Portland, ME 04104
You can also have item sent to your housing location in Maine.
Emergency Information
Emergency: 911
Non-emergency: 207-874-8400
Hospitals
Maine Medical Center
22 Bramhall St
(207) 662-0111
Mercy Hospital – Fore River Campus
175 Fore River Pkwy
(207) 879-3000
Portland Fire Department
380 Congress St
(207) 874-8400
Portland Police Department
109 Middle Street
207-874-8479
Policies & Procedures
Indigo Arts Alliance is an artists’ community committed to nurturing and supporting the creative spirit. This mission can be realized only in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect, and any actions that diminish such an atmosphere will neither be condoned nor tolerated. As such, IAA reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission/terminate a residency-in-progress if it is determined that an individual’s behavior does or may jeopardize the quality of experience for other residents, our collaborations with affiliate organizations, or our community relations. *
DRUG-FREE/ALCOHOL POLICY
It is the policy of the Indigo Arts Center is a drug-free environment.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY
Indigo Arts Alliance will not tolerate sexual harassment of or by members of its community. Sexual harassment is illegal and is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Any reports of sexual harassment should be directed to the Director of Indigo Arts Alliance.
SAFETY & SECURITY
Although it is generally safe here in Portland, Maine, crime can take place just like anyplace else. Please maintain awareness of your surroundings and lock up studio facilities when finished.
Art Supplies and Local Services
The Art Mart
517 Congress St.
207.775.4244
Artist & Craftsman Supply Portland
540 Deering
207.253.7724
PortFiber
50 Cove St.
207.780.1345
Portland Pottery Inc
118 Washington Ave
(207) 772-4334
Art Galleries
Cove Street Arts
67 Cove Street
(207).772-2693
Greenhut Galleries
146 Middle Street
(207).772.2693
Able Baker Contemporary
29 Forest Avenue
(917).545.6235
Speedwell Projects
630 Forest Avenue
(207).805.1835
Cultural and Educational
University of Southern Maine
96 Falmouth St, Portland, ME 04103
Maine College of Art
522 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
Portland Public Library
5 Monument Way, Portland, ME 04101
Portland Museum of Art
7 Congress Square, Portland, ME 04101
Space Gallery
538 Congress Street
(207).828.5607
Creative Portland
84 Free Street
(207).370.4784
Laundry
Squeaky Clean Laundromat
64 Washington Ave
(207) 761-4355
Lookin Good Laundromat
292 Congress St
(207) 772-6676
Liliana’s Laundry
111 Congress St
(207) 772-3444
Places of Worship
First Parish in Portland, ME Unitarian Universalist
425 Congress St
Portland
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
307 Congress St
Portland
First Assembly of God
243 Cumberland Ave
Portland
Temple Beth El
Conservative Synagogue
400 Deering Ave
Portland
Green Memorial AME Zion Church
Methodist Church
46 Sheridan St
Portland
Omar Mosque
Back Cove
978 Washington Ave
(207) 741-2117
Maine Muslim Community Center
118 Anderson St
(207) 797-6626
Post office
United States Postal Service
125 Forest Ave
(800) 275-8777
Thrift Stores
Material Objects
500 Congress St # 1
(207) 774-1241
Find
16 Free St
(207) 699-4285
Haberdashery Resale Clothing Co.
615 Congress St
(207) 747-4153
Rentals: Car/ Bike/Skies/Snowshoes/Kayaks
CycleMania Bicycle Shop
65 Cove St
(207) 774-2933
Portland Gear Hub Bike School
Non-Profit Organization
85 Anderson St
(207) 553-4360
Gorham Bike & Ski Bicycle Shop
693 Congress St
(207) 773-1700