Djerassi Resident Artists Program

The Program maintains our integrity and reputation by funneling every action through the prism of these directives. We respect artists. We believe artists matter. We strive to be a headwater for freedom of expression—a place where art originates. Emerging Los Angeles composer Jeremy Zuckerman said of his residency: I’ve come to realize that while. . . a piece of art may belong to the public, the process belongs to the artist. The process can be an opportunity for self-exploration and improvement not solely in an artist’s discipline but in all facets of his/her life.

 

Poet Alberto Rios writes that artists “do the work no one knew needed to be done.” At Djerassi, we honor the courage it takes to express private passions publicly through dance, writing, music, film, and visual art. The journey, from inspiration to execution, is uncharted territory filled with experiments, decision, revisions and doubts. We offer the gift of time to navigate these journeys.

These creative and intellectual “blue highways” are deepened by the communal nature of Djerassi residencies. All artists arrive and leave as a group—creating deeply connected session cohorts. Many remain friends and artistic collaborators for years.

 

Beyond the time we provide, we are a creative social enterprise. Fearlessness is espoused, risk-taking revered. Resident artists extol the cerebral and spiritual benefits of a Djerassi residency. The high caliber of our artists and the raw inspirational beauty of the rustic ranch setting sparks an intense creative fervor, affectionately referred to by generations of residents as “the Djerassi magic.” The 10-1 ratio of applicants to residents is evident of our long-standing appeal.

 

It is a tense balancing act to reconcile the needs of artists with work necessary to raise resources to support their stays. The timing and nature of public access and community engagement must be compatible with promised time for private reflection. We strive to provide access to the greatest number of artists by scheduling residencies that are 30 days in length over six (6) months of relatively good weather and two (2) project-based winter sessions for alumni. We maximize public access and commercial use between sessions.

 

Since 1979, the Program has provided over 2,200 residencies to a broad diversity of artists from America and the world. At the age of 84, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Henry Brant spent his residency completing a new spatial work and drafting his autobiography. Asked how we might improve the Program, he responded, “Keep it just as it is.”  A challenge in a changing world!

 

Our vision, values and core premises:

• The Djerassi Program is a working retreat for artists.
• The residency experience and artistic process are as important as any work produced.
• Diversity of discipline, ethnicity, age, gender, geography, and aesthetic is vital to the quality of the experience.
• Time in relative isolation with a small group of dedicated peers fosters free expression, creative experimentation and meaningful collaboration.
• Artists are left to work in ways that best suit their own demeanor, methods and styles, without requirements or expectations.
• Risk-taking is encouraged. Failure is an acceptable outcome.
• The artists are trusted.