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Artist in Residence

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Bringing Art to Life in Your Library

Through Creative Collaborations: Artist in Residence, Cumberland County Public Library is proud to launch a rotating artist in residence program that will travel to all eight library locations over the course of eight months. This program brings live art-making into our libraries and opens up new opportunities for community engagement with the creative process.

Call for Proposals!

Applications are now open for artists to apply for our next year of residencies. Three residence options are open for application: General Artist in Residence (for any visual artist), Muralist in Residence, and Poet in Residence. All proposals are due by September 30, 2026 at 2 p.m.

What Is the Artist in Residence Program?

The Artist in Residence program invites local artists to create and work directly inside our library locations. Library customers of all ages will be able to observe the artistic process, ask questions, and engage through open studio hours and hands-on art programs.

Each artist residency includes:

  • A dedicated creative workspace in a library
  • Open studio hours, where customers can drop in and observe
  • A series of free, public art programs for youth and adults
  • A culminating exhibit of the artist’s work at the end of the residency
  • A lasting contribution to the library’s Special Collections Archive

Community Impact

In its second year, Creative Collaborations will offer:

  • 640 hours of open studio time hosted at Headquarters Library, allowing patrons to observe the artistic process, ask questions and engage with the artist outside of scheduled programming.
  • 30 new art programs for children, teens and adults
  • Collaborations with local high schools in Cumberland County, including:
    • Classroom art supplies
    • Artist visits and mentorship
    • Enrichment materials for art educators

     

For more information, check out what happened in Year One!

Resources

Weaving Stories: Essential Reads for Textile Art Enthusiasts

Curated book list by Year 1 Artist in Residence, Kia Love

Textile Arts: A Comprehensive Unit of Study

Curated open education resource for Cumberland County Schools by Year 1 Artist in Residence, Kia Love

Thank You to Our Partners

 

Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County Logo
Methodist University Logo
Cumberland County Schools Logo
Capitol Encore Logo
Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library Logo

This program was supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-260837-OLS-26).

Contact Us

For questions regarding the Creative Collaborations program, please email us Email us. (creativecollaborations@cumberlandcountync.gov).

  • Contact Information

    Phone: 910-483-7727
    Headquarters Library:

    300 Maiden Lane
    Fayetteville, NC 28301

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    Fax: 910-486-5372
    Email:
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    Director: Heather Hall

    Contact Information

    Phone: 910-483-7727
    Fax: 910-486-5372
    Email:
    email_envelope
    Director: Heather Hall
    Headquarters Library:

    300 Maiden Lane
    Fayetteville, NC 28301

    Visit our Instagram.   Visit our Facebook.   YouTube icon.