Estudio Aire

As a result of Blocks of Care and incorporating local artist feedback on needs and support for community and career development, Arts Connection created the Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program at the Garcia Center for the Arts. Led by Program Director Yulissa Mendoza, this work is now taking shape as Estudio Aire - a play on words for Artist-in-Residence Studio, or AIR Studio. Air in Spanish is aire which means air, breath, or vibe, and Estudio Aire offers artists a place to breathe, work, and create a culminating project with mentoring, tools, and funding.  Estudio Aire is the only local and regional Artist-in-Residence program designed to provide career and community connections for local and regional artists within a  fully self-contained studio that is free to use for an entire month at no cost to selected artists. All artists are provided a supplies stipend, are supported to learn technical skills, and provided project mentoring to offer a free culminating community happening, exhibition, or experience centered around their artistic or cultural practice.

Arts Connection supports this program with dedicated staff and fundraises to pay for rent, artist stipends, and supplies to keep the program entirely free. Estudio Aire meets emerging and mid-career artists where they are in their professional development, and provides all selected artists with customized professional and career development support and training, free use of materials in the studio, and access to an ever-evolving network and community of artists in the region – who become part of the program cohort. The 2022 cohort comprised 8 artists, producing 10 happenings and serving 35 youth and 174 community members.