If you haven't peeped the decades-running Master Artists-in-Residence program at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach yet, now's your time.
The program invites Masters from all manner of the arts to provide instruction and guidance for three weeks, during which case their specifically selected students immerse themselves in fine-tuning their craft. Yes, you live there for the duration, which means ponying up $850 for room/board/meals and – here's the priceless part – 24-hour access to their studios and labs. Fucking. Priceless.
It costs $25 to apply to each specific Master, but there's no limit on the programs you can apply to. Keep in mind, it's based on your samples, so make 'em good. Here are 2011's newly named Masters. Check out that Obie award-stacked playwright residence and, as my colleague and spiritual advisor Jessica Bryce Young points out, "Matthew Shipp is huge!" Yes he is. And Rick Lowe ain't exactly chopped liver, either.
RICK LOWE, visual arts
THOMAS SAYERS ELLIS, poetry MATTHEW SHIPP, jazz compositionJUNE 27 – JULY 17
(Application deadline: March 25, 2011)[youtube adS1Ma_Rov0&feature=fvst]
