The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Vacheron Constantin Artisan Residency

• Duration: 18 months, beginning in late March 2025 and concluding in August 2026
• Artisans-in-residence travel to New York City to engage with The Met collection, experts, and various audiences through the Museum’s public programs.
• Artisans-in-residence travel to Geneva, Switzerland to engage with Vacheron Constantin master craftspeople, processes, and practices.
• By the end of the residency, each artisan produces a new, one-of-a-kind, handmade or partially handmade, single artistic creation of exceptional aesthetic and technical value that revives, reimagines, or reinterprets traditional knowledge. The work will be included in a public presentation at The Met. The artisan retains ownership of the work, including intellectual property rights in the creation. The Met shall have a nonexclusive license to reproduce the work for noncommercial purposes. Vacheron Constantin shall have an option right to purchase the work from the artist. Any use of the name or trademarks of The Met or Vacheron Constantin in connection with the creation will be subject to prior approval.
• The Met provides each artisan with resources and financial support to facilitate the development and delivery of their artistic creation. Each artisan receives a $30,000 stipend as well as up to $30,000 to produce their culminating work of art. In addition, they receive a stipend towards travel and housing/lodging in New York City and Geneva, Switzerland, as needed.

Structure

• Phase 1: Research (3 months)
  Each artisan-in-residence engages in in-depth electronic research about the Museum, drawing inspiration from The Met collection, archives, and exhibitions. They visit Vacheron Constantin headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, to draw inspiration and learn from the innovation and artistry of the Vacheron Constantin craftspeople. This phase provides the foundation for each artisan’s culminating work of art. Throughout this period, they receive critical feedback and remote mentorship from staff, peers, and experts.
  
• Phase 2: Creation and Production (12 months)
  During this phase, each artisan submits detailed proposals and budgets, and transitions from research to the production of their culminating work of art. The piece should embody a balance between traditional craft preservation and innovation. Met staff serve as project managers, providing logistical and material support to help ensure the successful realization of the artisan's vision.
  
• Phase 3: Community Engagement and Public Programming (3 months)
  Artisans visit The Met to participate in workshops, public programs, and community events. These activities offer opportunities for the artisans to share their process, engage with the public, and contribute to the Museum’s broader public programming. The residency culminates in a public presentation of the culminating works of art at The Met.

Communication and Participation

Artisans-in-residence must commit to the following:

• Attendance at an in-person or virtual orientation in late March 2025
• Monthly virtual or in-person meetings with Met staff related to the research and development of the culminating project
• Quarterly in-person or virtual residency cohort meetings
• Attendance at in-person and virtual meetings, which may involve meeting with departmental teams from The Met and Vacheron Constantin, and other artists and individuals from various fields
• Availability for and participation in film documentation of the creative process throughout the residency period. Artisans participating in the residency grant The Met and Vacheron Constantin the right to use their name, likeness, and voice in photographs and film promoting The Met, Vacheron Constantin, and the residency.
• Occasional review of residency-related web content
• Procure their own tools, materials, workplace, and regular living arrangements in their country of residence
• Regular email correspondence (averaging about 1x/week; more during the planning stages of a program or project)

Engagement and Programming

Artisans-in-residence may contribute to various educational and public programs. Examples include:

• Participation in public programs presented by The Met, including conversations, interviews, or panel discussions
• Collaborations with other organizations, including festival celebrations, heritage months, or other special events, as deemed appropriate in conversation with The Met's Education staff

To apply you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be an accomplished artisan working in wood, metal, clay, glass, bookbinding, printmaking, furniture, paper, leather, fibers, textiles, jewelry, instrument making, or another artisanal craft
• Be an individual artisan. Collectives will not be considered.
• Demonstrate a commitment to preserving artisanal craft practices and traditional knowledge
• Not be enrolled in any degree-seeking program at the time of the residency
• Not be committed to a concurrent residency or fellowship
• Have US work authorization or be eligible for sponsorship as a J-1 Exchange Visitor under applicable US visa regulations
• Be able and eligible to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, based on applicable Swiss visa regulations

This residency is open to US and international candidates. Visa application support is available for eligible artisans on a case-by-case basis.

Application deadline extended to Monday, January 13, 2025, 11:59 pm ET

All applications must be submitted in English via the online application portal. Incomplete applications, those submitted via means other than the online application portal, or after the deadline, will not be considered.

Invitation to interview: Late February 2025

Finalists receive an email invitation for a virtual interview with The Met and Vacheron Constantin staff.

Mid-March 2025

Selected artisans-in-residence are notified.

Late March 2025

The residency begins with an in-person or virtual orientation.