The Rocky Neck Art Colony

Connecting Creativity and Community

  • 2016 Jana Matusz, Mia Cross, Phoebe Potts, Howard Sherman, DA/T Julie Graham

2024 GAR Artists  | How to Apply

About the Goetemann Artist Residency

Rocky Neck is known for its exceptional geographic beauty, its unique and penetrating light,
a rich cultural history and a spirited, committed, and supportive community.

The Goetemann Artist Residency (GAR) program was created to inspire artists from near and far to invigorate the community of longstanding artists and art lovers who live on Cape Ann. Each chosen Artist in Residence is provided a private live-work studio space and apartment. The artists live and work within the culturally rich, Rocky Neck Artists Community, located in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Each resident gives an opening and closing talk at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center, either at their studio or the 1623 Studios media center in downtown Gloucester.

History

Notable artists including Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Frank Duveneck and Childe Hassam, lived and worked on Rocky Neck in the 19th and early 20th centuries and inspired the Cape Ann style of American Impressionism, a critically important contribution to American art history.

Alongside these were modernists Stuart Davis, Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, Nell Blaine and Mark Rothko who came to Cape Ann and were charmed by the landscape and working waterfront and found a community of artists which continues to thrive here today.

In 2011 colony members and supportive friends joined forces to raise funds and purchase the former Christian Science Church at 6 Wonson St. Construction began immediately and included restoring the beautiful wooden floors and the picturesque windows which flood the rooms with light. Handicapped accommodations were added providing access for all. The restored building was renamed The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck at a community-wide celebration.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony has developed and expanded since that time. A full-time Director was hired to oversee the nonprofit organization’s operations.

The recent purchase and renovation of a nearby wharf area signals another major improvement for the community. 

  • The Goetemann Artist Residency was organized in 2005 by Rocky Neck artist, Gordon Goetemann.
  • The Distinguished Artist/Teacher Invitational was initiated in 2007 and the Gloucester Artist Invitational was initiated in 2015 by Rocky Neck artist, Ruth Mordecai.
  • The Installation/Environmental Artist was initiated in 2017 by artist and current Rocky Neck Art Colony President, Kathleen Gerdon Archer.

About the Program: (2021 update)

Although the regular season of Goetemann Artist Residency had been deferred, the Environmental/Installation, Artist in Residence 2021 application will be open. All other applicants accepted for 2020 will be in residence for the 2021 season.

There are four distinct residencies: the Distinguished Artist-Teacher, the Gloucester Invitational, Environmental/Installation,  the Artists in Residence where three artists are chosen from a national and international pool of applicants. See Residency Overview for more info.

Distinguished Artist-Teacher

Invitational The Distinguished Artist-Teacher Invitational receives an honorarium and is provided a live-work studio for seven days. The selected artist, who is invited by our residency committee, begins a week-long stay by presenting a lecture at the Cape Ann Museum www.capeannmuseum.org The artist’s lecture is followed by a highly anticipated multi-day workshop.

Gloucester Invitational, Artist in Residence

This invitational was created specifically for a talented Gloucester artist to live and work for one month at the designated Rocky Neck studio and apartment.

Artists in Residence

Each year three artists are selected for a one-month stay at the designated Rocky Neck studio and apartment. These artists are juried by a panel of distinguished professionals in the field of fine arts.

Environmental/Installation, Artist in Residence

The Environmental/Installation artist is selected via jury. Artists are encouraged to work outdoors and develop their ideas and concepts pertaining to the region concurrently working on a “site-specific” installation located at the Ocean Alliance Center on Rocky Neck. This residency has made art both visible and accessible to the public. Artists are encouraged to engage the public and draw attention to questions and challenges posed by environmental policies, politics, and/or social change. Each artist is provided the designated live/work studio and apartment on Rocky Neck.

The Goetemann Artist Residency is an all volunteer, not for profit endeavor. All contributions are gratefully accepted and help maintain our continued presence on Rocky Neck in Gloucester.

Application

For details about the application process, see How to Apply.

Goetemann Artist Residency Alumni

Goetemann Artist Residency Distinguished Artist-Teacher Invitational Recipients

Goetemann Artist Residency Gloucester Invitational Artist Recipients

Goetemann Artist Residency Alumni

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Rocky Neck Art Colony*
6 Wonson Street • Gloucester, MA 01930
info@rockyneckartcolony.org

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Mailing Address
Rocky Neck Art Colony*
PO Box 1451 • Gloucester, MA 01931

The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck*
6 Wonson Street • Gloucester, MA 01930
Open: Fri - Sun, Noon-5pm
Phone: 978-515-7004

The Cove Gallery
37 Rocky Neck Avenue • Gloucester, MA 01930
Closed for the season

Salted Cod Arthouse & RNAC Salted Cod Artists Gallery
53 Rocky Neck Avenue • Gloucester, MA 01930
Open Wed - Fri, 3pm-10pm; Sat & Sun 11:30am-10pm

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*Wheelchair Accessible