FAWC Newsletter // January 2024

As epic storms hit Provincetown in January, the Fine Arts Work Center remains open and vibrant during the cold winter months. 

We are starting the new year with lots of energy, inspired by the creativity and warmth of our resident artists and writers. Tonight, we will celebrate the group exhibition of our 2023-2024 Visual Art Fellows at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM), and we will soon see each other again at 24 Pearl Street for our February FAWC Friday!

Last week, we also announced the launch of our 2024 Summer Workshop Program catalog and look forward to opening registration on Wednesday, January 24. Our screens came alive last night listening to the powerful writing of our featured 24PearlStreet Online Writing Program faculty members during Wilder Words.

As our programs continue to thrive, we are also pushing forward new strategic priorities. Generous support from the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative will help us invest in a renewable energy-powered battery backup. We'll all soon sleep more soundly knowing there is a space on site where we can stay safe and warm during future storms. Finally, we are excited to share the active projects and stories from our current and past Fellows. This newsletter is packed with information about what has been happening at the Work Center. Wishing you a warm and supportive year ahead.

Past Fellow Spotlight // Lavaughan Jenkins

"My favorite days were waking up in the morning, making a cup of coffee, and walking down to the beach, especially after it snowed. The sea sparkles. It's super magical," said Lavaughan Jenkins.

Lauvaughan Jenkins, 2021-2022 Visual Arts Fellow, was featured in "The Magic of Artist Residencies" published in Issue 11 of the Boston Art Review.

Read More

Program Highlights // Winter Season Updates

Upcoming Sprint Workshops

with Carmen Maria Machado

and Melissa Febos

Our Sprint workshops at 24PearlStreet online writing program are a fast-paced, generative environment that will move you closer to your writing goals. Workshops are three hours long, and this winter session includes Stories that Stand Still with Carmen Maria Machado and The Art of Navel Gazing with Melissa Febos.

Welcome to our 2024 Summer Workshop Program

This year, we're thrilled to offer 65 visual arts and creative writing workshops over nine weeks with outstanding instructors, including esteemed faculty members and new faces. In addition to the catalog being available for viewing, you can also learn more about the exciting highlights of our 2024 Summer Workshop Program. We can't wait to see you in P-Town this Summer!

Upcoming Events

Fellows' Group Exhibition at PAAM

Opening Reception: Friday, January 19, 2024, at 6 PM

Submit-a-thon! with M.P. Carver (Virtual)

Thursday, February 1, 2024, from 6 - 9 PM

February FAWC Friday with Philip Hoare and Arghavan Khosravi

Friday, February 2, 2024, from 5- 9 PM

Social Media for Writers with Elizabeth Cayouette (Virtual)

Thursday, February 22, 2024, from 6 - 8 PM

Student Open Mic Night with Melissa Studdard (Virtual)

Thursday, March 28, 2024, from 6 - 8 PM

Creative Corner // Fellows Engaging Community

Second-year Visual Arts Fellow Tinja Ruusuvuori is working on a unique project called "Radio of Uncertainty," a collaborative neighborhood radio station without a specific name or schedule. Ruusuvuori sees the beauty in ambiguity, especially in times of change. The project aims to view confusion as a gateway to curiosity. Check out the feature in Artscope Magazine by Laura Shabott: "Radio Of Uncertainty: Tinja Ruusuvuori Sound Echoes At Provincetown's FAWC."

Do you have a love story? Visual Arts Fellow Miguel Braceli is creating a community-based art project called "Map of Love." He is looking for love stories in Provincetown to create a large-scale map highlighting places people fell in love. The aim is to immortalize these stories and learn from various experiences. You can read more about "Map of Love" here.

Behind the Scenes // Frankenthaler Climate Initiative Grant

With support from the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative, we are implementing a new battery back up system for our administrative offices, library, and artist lounge. Powered by our solar panels, this will offer WiFi, device charging, and a warm workspace to our artists and writers in residence while allowing staff to keep operations running during power outages. The supported areas include a kitchen with a refrigerator, cooktop, microwave, and public restroom.

Our 2023-26 Strategic Plan focuses on investing in the sustainability of our artists' living and work spaces, and planning for potential service interruptions, natural disasters, and emergencies.

This new system is an exciting next step in our effort to protect our artist community from the effects of climate change. It will provide a central location for our residents and guests to gather, work, keep warm, store perishables, or charge electronics during power outages.