For my winter co-op, I have had the opportunity to engage with artists from all over the world at the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in Brooklyn, New York. ISCP is a non-profit organization that supports local and international artists and curators by providing them with studio space. They also take residents on field trips to various museums and hold public programming to share the work of the residents with the general public.
I am working in two departments of the organization: Communications and Programming. For Communications, I help run the ISCP social media accounts by keeping up to date on what residents and alumni are up to professionally, then I write tweets or Facebook posts to promote their work. My favorite part about working for the Communications department is being a photographer. I take photographs of ISCP’s public events as well as the artists in residence in their studios. I always look forward to these studio visits, as I am able to talk to the artists and capture their work in progress. As an aspiring artist, I am always very excited to talk to established artists about their creative process. Lately, I had been feeling as though the art world was this impenetrable, intimidating community, one which I was not welcome in. These feelings of anxiety have been eased during my time at ISCP because I am able to engage in conversation with artists—who, after all, are people too.
One project I have been working on throughout my time in the Programming department is sending out a monthly list of open call opportunities for artists. This requires lots of time doing research. This particular project has opened my eyes to the many different ways there are to pursue a career in art. I also learned more about what the application process for things like grants and residency programs looks like. I found this helpful, as I hope to one day be submitting applications myself.
Living in New York City never ceases to surprise me. During my time here, I have felt incredibly inspired, humbled, and awed. ISCP has given me the opportunity to meet so many amazing people within the art world and has taught me so much about how to move forward with my personal artistic journey.
