The Material Institute has opened applications for its Recording Artist Residency program, a year-long initiative aimed at enhancing the creative and professional development of musical artists from New Orleans. This cost-free program provides selected independent artists with the opportunity to create a body of work and develop their skills through various activities and resources.

The residency program includes recording an EP of original material, vocal and performance instruction, professional development workshops, creating a studio performance video and performing at a showcase concert. Workshops and talks will cover essential industry topics such as album art, social media, booking and management.

Applications for the program are due by June 16th at midnight. The top-ranking applicants will be invited for interviews, and selected artists will be notified by June 25th. An orientation session is scheduled for July 2, 2024, from 6–8 p.m.

The Recording Artist Residency requires a commitment of approximately 15 hours per week. This includes weekly one-hour vocal lessons (if desired), bi-weekly eight-hour recording sessions and three to eight hours of workshops and talks per month. Participation in all residency activities, except vocal lessons, is mandatory.

The program is open to emerging local musicians of all genres who have original material to record and promote. Emerging artists are defined as those with limited opportunities to create a project. Priority is given to native New Orleanians.

The selection committee will evaluate applicants based on their demonstrated investment, the quality of their music and the feasibility of their EP proposal. The artist’s commitment to engaging with development opportunities and creating their EP project, as reflected in their application, will be a key factor. Creativity and originality in the music are highly regarded, with the focus on musical content rather than recording quality.

A committee of music educators, musicians and engineers will review and rank all applications. Top contenders will be invited for interviews to provide additional information for final decisions. The committee aims to create a musically diverse group, fostering collaboration across genres, including rappers, singers, songwriters, beat makers and instrumentalists.

For more information and to apply, interested artists can visit the Material Institute’s website.

Material Institute