Gist Yarn opened in 2017 as a little yarn shop with a big idea: inspire a growing community of weavers with quality weaving yarn, fresh pattern designs, and a warm and welcoming spot to find your weaving home.

Since then, we’ve grown to a team of 7 fiber enthusiasts proud to contribute to a thriving textile industry by working with fiber farmers, spinning mills, dyehouses, weaving teachers, pattern designers, and brick-and-mortar yarn shops.

One of the ways that we foster community is through the Weave Podcast. The Weave Podcast brings together weavers and makers, farmers and mill owners, loom manufacturers, textile artists, and sustainability experts, to tell the stories of the threads that bind us together. 

The more we recorded and shared these stories, the more we realized the need to continue to encourage and support weavers to engage their communities in fiber art practices. Because of this, LaChaun Moore, our Director of Partnerships and Collaborations, dreamed up and developed our WEAVE Artist in Residency program, which we proudly launched in 2022. To see last year's selected artists click here.

Our WEAVE Artist in Residency program is a 12-week long remote residency that aims to support weavers and fiber enthusiasts who engage in community-based fiber practices. Each participant will receive a $1,500.00 cash stipend to use with no restrictions, and a $1,500.00 materials budget to shop for materials on the Gist Yarn website. We will select four Artists in Residence in 2024. 

Artists’ proposed projects are not limited to using Gist Yarn products but should include them. All projects must be focused on weaving, but can also incorporate other fiber mediums such as knitting, macrame, and mixed media. This is a remote residency that is limited to US-based weavers. We ask each Artist in Residence to commit to at least 4 hrs a week or 50 hours total over the course of 12 weeks to work on their proposed residency project.

We intend to document the process with photography and/or video depending on the artist’s preference. Artists in Residence will be asked to complete: at least (but not limited to) one blog post and podcast episode, to share with the Gist Yarn community. 

Who We Want To Support

This residency does not require expertise or previous weaving experience. It does require a sincere interest and investment of time into the art of weaving. We want to support weavers who are creating community in interesting ways, and we look forward to hearing from you. 

Important Dates

• Applications Open: January 19, 2024
• Applications Close: February 20, 2024 
• Notification of Application Status will be sent by March 20, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions 

How many Artists in Residence will you be selecting? 

In 2024, we will select four artists through this open process.

How will you decide who to select?

We will be considering the following when evaluating applications:

• When reading your project, we want to feel excited and inspired by your proposal. We are more interested in how you are creating community, rather than having an elaborate project plan. 
• We are interested in hearing creative ideas for how you will engage with your community. We view engaging with the community expansively, and we are open to many different ways artists have of proposing to do that, particularly because we are in the midst of a pandemic. For example, an art piece created and left in a park for people to interact with is a way of engaging a community with a fiber arts practice. Another example could be a virtual gallery show or an open studio. We encourage you to develop and propose ideas that will feel safe and comfortable for you and your community. 
• We will look for how well you articulate your project plan. Feel free to use the upload option on your proposal to upload a sketch or project diagram. 
• One of the goals of this residency is to broaden the span of the weaving community to be inclusive of communities that aren’t often represented in weaving. If you are a person who feels unrepresented in weaving communities, we strongly encourage you to apply. 

What stipend will the Artists in Residence receive?

Each Artist in Residence will receive a $1,500 cash stipend and a $1,500 gift card to spend on materials on the Gist Yarn website. In addition to the cash and materials stipends, artist will have access to a $450.00 media budget to document the process.

What other benefits will the Artists in Residence receive?

We will consider you a part of our team while you are in this program. You will have access to mentoring by LaChaun Moore, a contemporary artist, ethnographic fiber researcher, and farmer. In addition, you are welcome to reach out to other members of our team for mentoring or guidance - we have a lot of areas covered between us, from social media marketing to financial management for small businesses, to writing and publishing weaving patterns. 

You will also be able to access our platforms to promote your own work as an artist. We will share your work on our website and social media platforms, tagging and linking to you directly. 

What Time of Year does WEAVE residency take place? 

WEAVE residency lasts 12 weeks. We will host one artist per quarter. Artist will  select between April-June, July-September, October-December, and January-March (of the following year). 

Do I need to be an established artist / have gone to art school / have a large social media following to apply for this Artist in Residency program?

Nope! We understand there are many societal barriers to becoming or being perceived as an established artist. We know that people in every different phase of their lives as artists have gifts to offer their communities. We are open to applications from people of all experience levels who have a great idea they are looking for support to develop. 

Do I need to be a US citizen / Green Card holder to participate in this program?

This is a remote residency available to people who currently live in the United States, and we will be sending materials to US addresses. You do not need to be a US citizen / Green Card holder to participate. 

Are there any age restrictions?

Yes, Artists applying must be at least 18 years of age. 

Do you allow applications from student's and degree seeking individuals?

Yes, we accept applications from students and degree seeking individuals. 

How is the Artist in Residency program funded?

The Artist in Residency program is funded from a portion of the proceeds from yarn and weaving equipment sold on the Gist Yarn website. If you are one of our customers, YOU are part of supporting our Artists in Residence to engage their communities in fiber art practices. Thank you! 

How To Apply

If you feel like you are a good candidate for this residency, please fill out and submit your application here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXhtNX9es-6qbAr4gMnaVdfVTCorg45LuAm6XGM64ZFwk2Pg/viewform?usp=sf_link

 For any further questions, please reach out to artists@gistyarn.com.