Introducing our newest initiative, the Youth Artist-in-Residence!
Applications are due by May 30, 2025. To apply, please visit https://tinyurl.com/wphyouthartist.
Overview: The Youth Artist-in-Residence Program seeks to provide promising young artists with the resources needed to develop their artistic skills and creativity. This residency aims to support individuals who are passionate about their craft and are eager to share their unique perspectives through their work. Selected artists will be provided with financial support, professional guidance, and opportunities to showcase their creations. Mentorship possibilities exist if the artist is interested. The term of this upcoming residency is June 15 - October 1, 2025.
Eligibility Criteria:
Age Range: Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 18.
Artistic Discipline: Open to artists working in any medium, including visual arts, music, performance arts, literature, culinary and/or digital media.
Passion & Dedication: Applicants should demonstrate a genuine passion for their art form and a commitment to improving their skills.
Portfolio Submission: A portfolio showcasing recent work (a minimum of 5 pieces) that reflect the artist’s style and potential (Please include a brief artist statement).
Community Engagement: A willingness to engage with other artists and the community, contributing to a collaborative and supportive creative environment.
Geographic Location: Applicants must be from the Outer or Lower Cape (Provincetown to Harwich, MA).
Application Process:
Submit the Application Form: Include your personal details and an artist statement.
Portfolio: Submit 5-10 samples of your best work (high-quality images, video/audio files, or links). Feel free to share any additional relevant links to your work.
Letter of Recommendation: A letter from a mentor, teacher, or community leader who can speak to your artistic potential and dedication.
Statement of Intent: Up to a 500-word statement outlining why you are applying for the fellowship, your artistic goals, and how the residency will support your growth.
Selection Criteria:
Artistic Quality: The creativity, originality, and technical skill demonstrated in the portfolio.
Growth Potential: Evidence of the applicant’s dedication to improving their craft and the potential for further artistic development.
Commitment to Community: A demonstrated interest in participating in collaborative projects and sharing knowledge with others.
Alignment with Mission: How the applicant’s artistic vision aligns with the mission of Wellfleet Preservation Hall and the residency's goals of nurturing young talent and supporting diverse voices.
Wellfleet Preservation Hall’s Mission is to create and nurture community connections.
We imagine and generate year-round opportunities for the community to learn, grow, celebrate, and enjoy the Outer Cape, provide experiences for all generations, support economic vitality through the promotion of arts and culture, and protect and preserve the Hall.
Residency Benefits:
Financial Grant: A stipend of $500 to support project development with an additional $250 for materials and professional services (receipts must be submitted).
Public Showcase: Opportunities to present work at exhibitions, performances, and through digital platforms.
Networking Opportunities: Connecting with other artists and professionals in the art world.
Mentorship: The possibility of access to a mentor from the artistic community to guide your creative journey.
Residency Expectations:
Introduction to the Community: The selected artist will join as a guest at a Wellfleet Preservation Hall Fundraising Event and/ or Board Meeting.
Production of New Work: The stipend is intended to create an opportunity and encourage the artist to create new work.
Presentation of Work: The selected artist will share their new work at a single event during the residency. (Mutually agreed upon timing and logistics of this event to be decided together by artist and executive director.)
Reflection: The selected artist will provide a brief end-of-term reflection on their experience and learnings.
Applications are due by May 30, 2025. To apply, please visit https://tinyurl.com/wphyouthartist.
We look forward to seeing your creative vision!
2024 Artist-In-Residence
Alexandra Sesenton
Alexandra Sesenton is a multifaceted musician known for her captivating performances and deep appreciation for a wide range of musical genres and styles. Her music is steeped with a profound sense of storytelling and cultural richness.
Drawing from her classical background, Alexandra has seamlessly integrated elements of roots music, folklore, Americana, and other global genres into her music, creating a rich and diverse sound that is uniquely her own.
Alexandra prides herself on being a multi-genre musician. Her career highlights include performances in opera, blues collectives, traditional folk ensembles, and recital (with a concentration in Balkan and Spanish repertoire). In 2016, she was a recipient of a Fulbright Study/Research grant which she carried out in Belgrade, Serbia. Her time in Belgrade not only expanded her musical horizons but also solidified her commitment to cultural exchange and collaboration.
Growing up in a multicultural household (Balkan and Latin) exposed Alexandra to a wide array of musical styles. This diverse upbringing not only shaped her musical identity but also fueled it her curiosity to explore and incorporate a wide array of musical styles into her own work. Today, Alexandra draws on this rich musical heritage to create music that is both deeply personal and universally resonant, celebrating the beauty of cultural diversity and the power of music to transcend boundaries.
Alex has released two EPs and is in the process of recording her first album. The album is set to be released in early 2025.
Alex received her Master’s of Music degree with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in London. She also holds an Advanced Artist Diploma in vocal pedagogy and sound recording from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Music degree with honors from Mannes College the New School for Music. She is an avid swimmer, yogi, and coffee snob.
Former Musical Artist-in-Residence, 2023
Tianna Esperanza
Tianna Esperanza, who was born and raised on Cape Cod, embodies a depth of talent and heart well beyond years. She recently released her long-awaited BMG debut album, Terror. The album came during Esperanza’s North American run of dates with Mick Flannery. Although her music originally grew from a personal place and focused mainly on her own experiences, Esperanza sees the undeniable link it has to the world around her. She recognizes the importance of using her talent to contribute to furthering the discussion of race relations on a wider scale.
Former Artist-at-Risk, 2023
Fahima Ashori
Fahima Ashori studied painting at the Fine Art Institute in Kabul, Afghanistan. After the fall of Afghanistan, she was brought to Wellfleet in June 2022 with the help of Yo Yo Ma's Silkroad. An oil painter for nearly a decade, she has shown and sold her artwork in Afghanistan and the United States.
