2024 GLEAN Call for Artists

GLEAN is a juried residency program that selects five artists from the Portland area (Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties) to access the Metro Central transfer station to glean materials for creating art. The program provides studio visits, marketing support, a $2,000 stipend, group critiques with GLEAN artists and partners, and culminates in an exhibition. One residency position is reserved for a student currently enrolled in an art program at a local college or university.

Selected artists will have five months to glean materials from the Metro Central transfer station. Each artist must create a minimum of eight pieces available for sale at the exhibition, with 95% of each piece made from gleaned materials. Artists receive a $2,000 stipend upon successfully completing the program and 80% commission from sales of their work at the exhibition. Recology will retain one piece from each artist for its permanent collection; Metro will retain one piece to be publicly displayed for two years. Artists must attend a required safety training on November 4, 2024, and be available for monthly check-ins. Studio space is not provided.

Applicants must be residents of Multnomah, Washington, or Clackamas County. Work samples should include 4-6 images and up to 1 video. Applicants must submit work samples, bio, CV/resume, proposal, and questionnaire. This year, one of the five artists will be selected for exceptional craft skill in their portfolio through the Rainmaker Craft Initiative, which defines craft as an exceptional level of skill and experimentation with materials. The residency runs November 2024 through March 2025.