(Note: past fellows include writers from Australia and Latin America, not just USA and Europe. We are hoping the residency is open to all writers regardless of nationality.)
Deadline: 15 October 2010
What is the Dora Maar House?
In 1997 a friend of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, purchased the former residence of Dora Maar, Pablo Picasso’s mistress from 1936 to 1945. In a five-year effort, the owner rehabilitated and updated this spacious eighteenth-century, four-story stone residence in the village of Ménerbes in the Luberon region of Provence. Her goal was to make it a retreat for scholars, artists, and writers, where they could work undisturbed on their research, art, or writing for one to three months.
In 2006 the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, was asked to direct this project, now known as The Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House. Here outstanding midcareer professionals are offered fellowships that enable them to reside in the Dora Maar House and focus on the creative aspects of their work.
What does a Brown Foundation Fellowship at the Dora Maar House offer?
• one to three months in residence at the Dora Maar House.
• a private bedroom and bath, and a study or studio in which to work
• expenses paid for round-trip travel from a fellow’s home to the Dora Maar House
• a grant based upon the length of stay at Dora Maar House What does the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston ask of Brown Foundation Fellows?
• that they enjoy the opportunities this remarkable residence offers
• that they use their time well
• that they are friendly to the citizens of Ménerbes and that they participate in one public presentation for them
• that they donate to Dora Maar House one drawing, publication, or other work created during the residency
• that they offer suggestions on how the museum can improve the residency experience
• and, should a publication result from the fellowship, that The Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House be recognized in the acknowledgements
Who is eligible to apply for a Brown Foundation Fellowship at the Dora Maar House?
Outstanding mid-career professionals in the arts or the humanities are encouraged to apply for residencies from The Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House.
About the Fellowship
Things you should know about the Brown Foundation Fellows program and the Dora Maar House
• The Fellowship program is made possible through a grant from the Brown Foundation, Inc., in Houston, Texas.
• There is no fee to apply for a fellowship.
• The Museum of Fine Arts Houston will provide for the fellow’s travel expenses to and from the house at the beginning and at the end of the residency as well as
reasonable shipping costs for materials, i.e., books, research materials, art materials, etc.
• There is a fellow’s grant provided to fellows for living expenses, the equivalent of $50 US dollars a day.
• Fellows have the use of a large fully-equipped communal kitchen for their meals. There is no meal service.
• Each fellow will have a private bedroom, bathroom and studio. Each bedroom has one king-sized bed. Fellows are expected to keep shared spaces orderly. Dora Maar
staff maintains the residence and changes the bed linens and sheets weekly. However, staff is not expected to do personal services, such as laundry.
• Fellows can bring their own car or rent a car at their own expense. Transportation can occasionally be provided for trips to the market and medical emergencies, but fellows should understand that daily transportation needs will be largely their own responsibility.
• Calls within France can be made on Dora Maar House telephones, but international calls cannot be made from there. Fellows who need it will be provided with a cell
phone and 35€ worth of phone units. Additional units can be purchased by fellows themselves for use during their stay.
• Though it may be tempting to share Dora Maar House with your loved ones and pets, fellowships are times of intense concentration and focus. For the sake of your
time, as well as that of others in the house, we ask that Fellows come to the Dora Maar House alone.
• The Dora Maar House is a non-smoking environment
• Applicants should be aware that medical facilities are limited within Ménerbes. There is a village doctor, but the nearest hospital is 20 km away. If you require routine visits to a doctor or have some medical condition that could require emergency care, please inform the director of your special needs in advance of your arrival.
• US Fellows will be required to show proof of international medical and medical evacuations insurance before tickets will be issued or stipends awarded. Such
policies can be purchased for the duration of the Fellowship period. EU fellows must show proof health coverage.
• Proof that a fellow has all the necessary documents, such as an up-to-date passport, valid health insurance, and any required visas, must be given to the MFAH staff at least two-months prior to the residency date, and must be provided before any tickets will be issued or stipends awarded.
Admissions Deadlines
There will be two admission cycles each year.
• Applications for fellowships beginning on February 1 or later and ending no later than June 30 are due on or before October 15.
• Applications for fellowships beginning on July 1 or later and ending no later than December 15 are due on or before March 15.
• Applicants will be notified no later than one month after the deadline.
Application Checklist:
• Competed application form
• Curriculum vitae (no more than three pages)
• Project Description stating what you would like to accomplish during the residency.
• Community Participation Description stating what you would like to offer the Ménerbes community during the Residency. (i.e. presentation, workshop, reading, or performance).
• Two professional references (letters to be sent directly to Fellows Program)
• Samples of your work. Please see application for detailed instructions.
• Photo copy of your valid passport, for non-EU candidates; a photocopy of your I.D. papers for French or EU candidates
• Proof of any necessary visas, where applicable Applications that are not complete by their due date will not be considered
The selection process:
• Applications will be reviewed by the Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the director of Dora Maar House and the assistant Dora Maar House director with the ultimate decision for acceptance being made by the museum’s Director.
• You will receive a response to your application on or before December 1 for the spring cycle and April 15 for the summer/fall cycle
• Please note that there will be more applicants than there will be spaces available and that some applicants will not be accepted.
• Information on the progress of an application will not
Some of the criteria that will be considered in the review process are:
• Quality of the project
• Space available in Dora Maar House during the time requested
• Fellowship funding availability
• The applicant’s ability to work independently and to live in a small community of fellows
• The applicant’s ability to represent the Fellows program well
• The applicant’s ability to speak French or willingness to take some French classes
• The dynamics of the residents occupying Dora Maar House at any given time
Questions?
If you would like to learn more about the Dora Maar House or have any questions about the program, go to Dora Maar House at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston website,
www.mfah.org/doramaarhouse or email the Dora Maar House Brown Foundation Fellows Residency
More information here.
Deadline: 15 October 2010
What is the Dora Maar House?
In 1997 a friend of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, purchased the former residence of Dora Maar, Pablo Picasso’s mistress from 1936 to 1945. In a five-year effort, the owner rehabilitated and updated this spacious eighteenth-century, four-story stone residence in the village of Ménerbes in the Luberon region of Provence. Her goal was to make it a retreat for scholars, artists, and writers, where they could work undisturbed on their research, art, or writing for one to three months.
In 2006 the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, was asked to direct this project, now known as The Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House. Here outstanding midcareer professionals are offered fellowships that enable them to reside in the Dora Maar House and focus on the creative aspects of their work.
What does a Brown Foundation Fellowship at the Dora Maar House offer?
• one to three months in residence at the Dora Maar House.
• a private bedroom and bath, and a study or studio in which to work
• expenses paid for round-trip travel from a fellow’s home to the Dora Maar House
• a grant based upon the length of stay at Dora Maar House What does the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston ask of Brown Foundation Fellows?
• that they enjoy the opportunities this remarkable residence offers
• that they use their time well
• that they are friendly to the citizens of Ménerbes and that they participate in one public presentation for them
• that they donate to Dora Maar House one drawing, publication, or other work created during the residency
• that they offer suggestions on how the museum can improve the residency experience
• and, should a publication result from the fellowship, that The Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House be recognized in the acknowledgements
Who is eligible to apply for a Brown Foundation Fellowship at the Dora Maar House?
Outstanding mid-career professionals in the arts or the humanities are encouraged to apply for residencies from The Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House.
About the Fellowship
Things you should know about the Brown Foundation Fellows program and the Dora Maar House
• The Fellowship program is made possible through a grant from the Brown Foundation, Inc., in Houston, Texas.
• There is no fee to apply for a fellowship.
• The Museum of Fine Arts Houston will provide for the fellow’s travel expenses to and from the house at the beginning and at the end of the residency as well as
reasonable shipping costs for materials, i.e., books, research materials, art materials, etc.
• There is a fellow’s grant provided to fellows for living expenses, the equivalent of $50 US dollars a day.
• Fellows have the use of a large fully-equipped communal kitchen for their meals. There is no meal service.
• Each fellow will have a private bedroom, bathroom and studio. Each bedroom has one king-sized bed. Fellows are expected to keep shared spaces orderly. Dora Maar
staff maintains the residence and changes the bed linens and sheets weekly. However, staff is not expected to do personal services, such as laundry.
• Fellows can bring their own car or rent a car at their own expense. Transportation can occasionally be provided for trips to the market and medical emergencies, but fellows should understand that daily transportation needs will be largely their own responsibility.
• Calls within France can be made on Dora Maar House telephones, but international calls cannot be made from there. Fellows who need it will be provided with a cell
phone and 35€ worth of phone units. Additional units can be purchased by fellows themselves for use during their stay.
• Though it may be tempting to share Dora Maar House with your loved ones and pets, fellowships are times of intense concentration and focus. For the sake of your
time, as well as that of others in the house, we ask that Fellows come to the Dora Maar House alone.
• The Dora Maar House is a non-smoking environment
• Applicants should be aware that medical facilities are limited within Ménerbes. There is a village doctor, but the nearest hospital is 20 km away. If you require routine visits to a doctor or have some medical condition that could require emergency care, please inform the director of your special needs in advance of your arrival.
• US Fellows will be required to show proof of international medical and medical evacuations insurance before tickets will be issued or stipends awarded. Such
policies can be purchased for the duration of the Fellowship period. EU fellows must show proof health coverage.
• Proof that a fellow has all the necessary documents, such as an up-to-date passport, valid health insurance, and any required visas, must be given to the MFAH staff at least two-months prior to the residency date, and must be provided before any tickets will be issued or stipends awarded.
Admissions Deadlines
There will be two admission cycles each year.
• Applications for fellowships beginning on February 1 or later and ending no later than June 30 are due on or before October 15.
• Applications for fellowships beginning on July 1 or later and ending no later than December 15 are due on or before March 15.
• Applicants will be notified no later than one month after the deadline.
Application Checklist:
• Competed application form
• Curriculum vitae (no more than three pages)
• Project Description stating what you would like to accomplish during the residency.
• Community Participation Description stating what you would like to offer the Ménerbes community during the Residency. (i.e. presentation, workshop, reading, or performance).
• Two professional references (letters to be sent directly to Fellows Program)
• Samples of your work. Please see application for detailed instructions.
• Photo copy of your valid passport, for non-EU candidates; a photocopy of your I.D. papers for French or EU candidates
• Proof of any necessary visas, where applicable Applications that are not complete by their due date will not be considered
The selection process:
• Applications will be reviewed by the Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the director of Dora Maar House and the assistant Dora Maar House director with the ultimate decision for acceptance being made by the museum’s Director.
• You will receive a response to your application on or before December 1 for the spring cycle and April 15 for the summer/fall cycle
• Please note that there will be more applicants than there will be spaces available and that some applicants will not be accepted.
• Information on the progress of an application will not
Some of the criteria that will be considered in the review process are:
• Quality of the project
• Space available in Dora Maar House during the time requested
• Fellowship funding availability
• The applicant’s ability to work independently and to live in a small community of fellows
• The applicant’s ability to represent the Fellows program well
• The applicant’s ability to speak French or willingness to take some French classes
• The dynamics of the residents occupying Dora Maar House at any given time
Questions?
If you would like to learn more about the Dora Maar House or have any questions about the program, go to Dora Maar House at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston website,
www.mfah.org/doramaarhouse or email the Dora Maar House Brown Foundation Fellows Residency
More information here.
