About the Goetemann Artist Residency

The Goetemann Artist Residency (GAR) was organized in 2005 by renowned artist, teacher, and Rocky Neck resident, Gordon Goetemann, to benefit the artists who live and work in Gloucester. Originally called the Artist Residency Program, it was renamed in his honor in 2010.

Together with his wife, the artist Judith Steele Goetemann, they envisioned a program that would invite artists to share their methodology and creative ideas with the Rocky Neck Art Colony and the community at large. That initial foundation led to the program that we are so proud of today.

The residency now offers three distinct programs annually: The Distinguished Artist–Teacher Invitational, initiated in 2007; the Gloucester Artist Award (originally known as the Gloucester Artist Invitational), started in 2015 by Rocky Neck artist, Ruth Mordecai; and the Installation/Environmental Artist, started in 2017 by artist and past Rocky Neck Art Colony President, Kathleen Gerdon-Archer.

The Distinguished Artist–Teacher
The Distinguished Artist–Teacher is by invitation of the residency committee. The selected artist receives an honorarium and is provided with housing for one week. The residency opens with a presentation by the Distinguished Artist/Teacher at the Cape Ann Museum, and is followed by a multi-day workshop at Montserrat College of Art (open to the public).

The Goetemann Gloucester Artist Award
The Gloucester Artist Award, granted by the residency committee to a talented Gloucester artist comes with a stipend. The artist is required to give an opening talk at the start of their month-long residency and to open their studio to the public at various times during the month. The residency concludes with an informal closing talk at the artist’s studio.

The Environmental/Installation Artist in Residence
The Environmental/Installation Artist Residency is offered by GAR in partnership with Ocean Alliance. The artist, selected via jury, works out of doors or in the research library at Ocean Alliance for the duration of the month-long residency. Artists are provided with housing and a stipend and are required to offer an opening talk at the Cultural Center and closing talk at Ocean Alliance.