NOOK’s second chapter will focus on fashion, and the artist will receive funding, workspace access and hands-on mentorship from THIS JANUARYWashington D.C.-based independent ad agency THIS JANUARY has opened its applications again to NOOK, its artist residency program, which invests in one DC-area artist at a time, and offers funding, mentorship, visibility and community. The eight-week program allows individual artists to develop new work and meet mentors across the DC arts ecosystem, and helps them create install-ready work that will join the agency’s collection.
The first NOOK resident was visual artist Parsa Afsharjavan, who developed “Obscurities,” a body of work comprising six sculptural pieces and one functional object. The work emerged through a process of reduction, stripping away excess materially, visually, and conceptually. Each piece sits somewhere between surface and structure, ambiguity and intention, asking to be experienced slowly rather than explained. More about his series here.
This second iteration of NOOK will be focused on fashion, supporting an artist with a unique vision and the ambition to bring it to life. During their time in the residency, the artist will develop a capsule collection from concept to runway, with a still and film shoot produced by the agency.
The selected artist will be mentored by THIS JANUARY’s Co-Founders and CCOs Maggie Winters and Zach Goodwin, along with art mentors from the DC area (TBA).
Here is what the selected artist will receive from NOOK:
- Stipend: $3,000
- Materials: $2,000 materials stipend (artist purchases directly)
- Workspace: Access to THIS JANUARY’s (TJC) office space with a dedicated work area in the open office
- Mentorship: Regular check-ins with Maggie Winters (Co‑Founder & CCO), Zach Goodwin (Co‑Founder & CCO), and the program’s art mentors (TBA).
- Content & Visibility: Content capture with the TJC team, TJC team to post on social and tag the artist at various intervals throughout the process (artist is also encouraged to post and share the residency process)
- Donate one work (install‑ready) to the agency’s collection
Eligibility and who THIS JANUARY is looking for:
- THIS JANUARY’s top criteria for selecting an artist will be finding that impossible-to-define x-factor. The agency doesn’t want anyone letting their perception of the boundaries of “art” or traditional parameters get in the way of applying, as they welcome all insiders, outsiders, and exceptional weirdos.
- All DC or DMV-based artists are welcome to apply (they must live or work in the DC area).
- All disciplines welcome (visual, design, installation, new media, sound, AI/creative tech).
- They also encourage applications from underrepresented artists and practices.
- Additional Criteria:
- Someone with a unique POV.
- Feasibility of this idea or exploration in 8 weeks
- Alignment with space constraints
For those interested in applying, please fill out the application form by Monday, May 25th. The first chosen artist will be notified in early June, and additional applicants may be chosen on a rolling basis thereafter.
