Visiting Artist

The Center for African & African American Studies Visiting Artist Program is an important contribution to building community – both Black community and the Beloved Community – at the University of Colorado Boulder and beyond. Each year the CAAAS Visiting Artist Program brings artists to the CAAAS community and broader campus community to provide one-time, short-stay, or co-sponsored performances, art exhibitions, film screenings, poetry readings, new media initiatives, guest lectureships, and workshops, as well as other art-related events and programs. CAAAS Visiting Artists are professional artists who have demonstrated a record of artistic excellence in one or more of the six different artistic areas in which CU has major degree programs: Music, Theatre, Dance, Fine Arts, Film Studies, and Creative Writing (with special emphasis on poetry and storytelling à la Djali / Griot—traditional West African oral historians, folklorists, storytellers, poets, musicians, and praise singers). What makes the CAAAS Visiting Artist Program distinct in comparison to other CU visiting artist programs is the fact that it was created by the CAAAS Founder and Director, Reiland Rabaka, specifically for the purpose of supporting professional artists – both established and emerging artists – whose work draws on the abundant aesthetic cultures and vibrant artistic traditions of Africa and the African diaspora. CAAAS Visiting Artists’ stipends (honorariums) vary depending on the scale and scope of the creative work and/or co-sponsorship funding. The CAAAS strongly encourages artists interested in applying to the Center’s Visiting Artist Program to make frequent appearances at major CAAAS events, programs, lecture series, panel discussions, art exhibitions, and/or film screenings. These occasions provide important opportunities to interact with the students, staff, faculty, alumni, artists, activists, and allies of the CAAAS and Denver/Boulder CAAAS community partners. The CAAAS Visiting Artist Program is open to all artists – including non-Black artists – whose work draws from, and contributes to, the dynamic artistic traditions and majestic aesthetic cultures of Africa and the African diaspora.

Award Amount: Varies depending on the scale and scope of the creative work and/or co-sponsorship funding.

Call for Applications: Opens September 1 and Closes April 1 annually.

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit items 1-5 below in a single .pdf to caaas@colorado.edu. Make “CAAAS Visiting Artist Program Application” the email subject line when submitting application materials. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

  1. Cover Letter: (double-spaced, 12-point font, one page or less). A brief statement on why the CAAAS Visiting Artist Program would make a significant difference for the guest artist’s artistic development and creative work, as well as the special contributions the visiting artist’s artistry could potentially make to the CAAAS’s efforts to build community on the Boulder campus and throughout the Denver/Boulder metropolitan area.
  2. Artist Statement: (double-spaced, 12-point font, one page or less) A clear and concise statement that explains the visiting artist’s artistic vision, the themes they explore, and the goals for their visit. Highlight what makes their work unique and how it aligns with the CAAAS’s mission and the CAAAS Visiting Artist Program’s focus.
  3. Portfolio: A curated collection of the guest artist’s best work, demonstrating their skills, range, and artistic style. Include high-quality images, videos, teasers, trailers, or websites of the guest artist’s work and ensure they are well-presented.
  4. Résumé/Curriculum Vitae: A professional document that highlights the guest artist’s artistic experience, including their education, exhibitions, awards, and any relevant professional experience.
  5. Contact Information: Ensure the guest artist’s contact information (email, phone, website) is clearly visible and up to date.

Expectations

  1. Provide the CAAAS with a 100-to-150-word professional biography and press photo for the CAAAS Visiting Artist Program webpage.
  2. CAAAS Visiting Artists who work with collaborators are required to pay their collaborators (if applicable) out of their CAAAS Visiting Artist Program stipend.
  3. Acknowledgment of the Center for African & African American Studies (The CAAAS | The Cause) is required for all performances, exhibitions, publications, screenings, and promotional materials funded by the CAAAS. Use this language for credit: “This project was supported, in part, by a grant from the Center for African & African American Studies (The CAAAS | The Cause) at the University of Colorado Boulder.”

Questions: Questions about the CAAAS Visiting Artist Program should be sent to caaas@colorado.edu.