Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) is excited to announce the creation of an opportunity for an Artist-in-Residence to join our organization for twelve (12) months. This residency harnesses the power of art to inspire civic dialogue and explore themes of access to justice. LCR’s residency is inspired by creative interventions, such as Bryan Stevenson’s leadership at the Equal Justice Initiative, which has produced powerful work exploring the legacy of slavery. The residency also builds on LCR’s long-standing commitment to empowering communities through legal advocacy. The Artist-in-Residence will collaborate with LCR over 12 months to develop impactful, thought-provoking art projects that reflect and amplify LCR’s life-changing work advancing justice and equality. LCR welcomes various artistic disciplines and storytelling methods—visual art, mixed media, public installations, and other forms are all encouraged. The residency will focus on creating art that: • Elevates the lived experiences, strengths, struggles, and stories of people on the ground, especially in historically marginalized communities, under-resourced neighborhoods, and low-income zip codes. • Highlights the perspectives and experiences of people who are denied access to justice or who are impacted by injustice, including individuals who have experienced discrimination or survived hate-based violence. • Engages the public in critical dialogues about the importance of access to justice and eradicating all forms of discrimination and hate. Themes: At its heart, this residency recognizes that art can repair what law or policy alone cannot— offering texture, color, and connection to the frayed threads of our social fabric. The residency is rooted in the understanding that cultural production is a critical form of advocacy. LCR encourages artistic work that amplifies advocacy, particularly by exploring challenges related to racial, social, or health-related inequities. Potential themes include: • Challenging racism and discrimination in all its forms. • Celebrating strength, resilience, and community power. • Connecting history to the present by exposing how historical injustices shape contemporary challenges. • Fostering action to create a future rooted in inspiring visions of community engagement, shared belonging, and justice in all forms. • Promoting healing, unity, and thriving futures. Goals and Deliverables: The residency will focus on creating and producing art that challenges social inequities, inspires public engagement, provokes conversations, and mobilizes communities. During the 12-month residency, the artist will produce at least four projects (one major project on a quarterly basis), which will be determined in collaboration with LCR. The creative work product should align with the spirit of LCR’s mission and the residency’s goals. Possible projects may include: • Special, unique, or limited-edition artwork and prints focused on social justice themes. • Murals that reflect the resilience, power, and vibrancy of LCR’s clients. • Youth-engaged or community-engaged installations (such as pop-up booths or tabling setups) for outreach events. • Interactive workshops or art-based community dialogues that address key themes of shared humanity. • Site-specific works created for LCR’s community events or special events, helping to expand the tapestry of justice. • Exhibition(s) or other creative work that inspires social change, sparks discussion, shapes public discourse, and catalyzes community connection. These projects will serve as both creative expressions and advocacy tools, reflecting the artist’s unique vision while advancing LCR’s mission. Residency Period, Compensation, Space, and Support: The residency is twelve (12) months. Ideally, starting in June 2025. The residency is hybrid, with the artist working both remotely and on-site at LCR’s office in Boston. The artist may attend monthly in-person meetings with LCR staff to stay informed about current, ongoing, and upcoming initiatives. LCR will provide a $25,000 stipend (paid in quarterly installments). LCR will also provide opportunities for visibility through its existing events and robust network. Ownership: The artist will retain full ownership of the work they create as part of the residency and will grant LCR a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, publish, and display the work in connection with its mission, including for educational and promotional purposes. Selection Process and Criteria: The ideal artist will have: • A strong portfolio showcasing mastery in one or more media. • A distinct and compelling style. • An understanding of how art can build solidarity, shift narratives, and support broader movements for systemic change. • An understanding of LCR’s client communities, including immigrants, people of color, low-income individuals, and those building small businesses. A Selection Committee will select the artist-in-residence based on artistic merit, creativity, and alignment with the residency’s goals of confronting social justice issues and fostering public dialogue. The residency is open to artists of all experience levels, and artists in the early to middle stages of their careers are encouraged to apply. Application Process: Interested artists should send a Letter of Interest to justice@lawyersforcivilrights.org describing the work they propose to undertake during the residency. If selected, the proposal should be realistic and feasible in scope and scale. Projects across all media and styles are welcome. Applications should include the following components: • Letter of Interest containing concept and proposal (no more than two pages); • Resume; and • Digital portfolio (submitted in a single PDF or hyperlink) highlighting original works and demonstrating artistic style and quality. Submissions are strongly encouraged by May 2, 2025. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.