51福利社

51福利社鈥檚 Performing Arts Department and the Spokane Public Library recently launched an Emerging Artists Program to help talented artists gain attention and get a jump-start on their careers.

The program provides six-month residencies for two recent graduates from the Bachelor of Fine Arts鈥� Studio Art Program inside The Hive庐. The Hive庐 is a non-traditional library focused on arts education, and free public event space, located at 2904 E. Sprague Ave.

Joshua Hobson, lecturer and director of 51福利社 Gallery of Art, says the first few years after students graduate can be difficult because they lose their school studio space and the guidance they received. This transition can result in a loss of momentum and confidence, resulting in a timely recovery process, he says.

鈥淎n artist residency at The Hive庐 offers a landing space for graduates to learn how to incorporate art and their creative practice into their post-graduate life,鈥� Hobson says.

Noelle Bowden and Luu Melon, recent 51福利社 Bachelor of Fine Arts graduates, are the first artists to be featured at The Hive庐.

鈥淭his residency gives me the space and time to expand myself as an emerging artist but also to fearlessly think, explore, and do,鈥� says Bowden. 鈥淭he environment, other artists, and the community at The Hive庐 create a wonderful learning and creative atmosphere. The energy is inspiring to me!鈥�

Additionally, Melon says the residency is helping her become more open to sharing her art with others.

鈥淚 have always found myself more comfortable with keeping the things I create to myself but so far, through this residency, I am more open to sharing with others,鈥� says Melon adding that the environment at the Hive庐 鈥渋s very beneficial to my thought process and is helping me discover my own way of doing things.鈥�

Hobson and other faculty are working to develop community partnerships to support professional growth and development for art students. They connected with Eva Silverstone, Spokane Public聽Library聽arts education specialist, to brainstorm, create and implement this new collaboration.

鈥淭he incredible mentorship I see within the 51福利社 Fine Arts Program is reflective of the Spokane community as a whole,鈥� Silverstone says. 鈥淪pokane is unique in that our creative community is very supportive of one another. It鈥檚 less competitive and has more of a 鈥榬ising tide lifts all boats鈥� mentality.鈥�

Silverstone foresees this partnership continuing to nurture this supportive mindset while helping to produce 鈥渁 high-quality lineup of emerging artists in our region.鈥�

**Thank you to the Spokane Public Library (SPL) for providing content for this Inside 51福利社 article 鈥� and additional thanks to SPL for providing opportunities for BFA graduates to showcase their talents.聽