The SPACES World Artists Program (SWAP) is a residency that supports international, U.S. and local artists in the development of new ideas, while facilitating opportunities to collaborate with audiences in Northeast Ohio. Founded in 2002 to foster cultural exchange, SWAP has served 50 cultural producers from around the world.
In September 2015 SWAP radically expanded to include a dedicated residency for art writers, in an effort to increase critical dialogue focused on Cleveland’s vibrant art scene. Art writers who demonstrated a commitment to generating rigorous cultural journalism were invited to participate in the SWAP residency for a concentrated 4-week period of interaction, research, and writing.
SPACES helped advance residents’ visions by connecting them to resources, tools, and communities. Specifically, SPACES provided the SWAP Art Writers-in-Residence travel to/from Cleveland; assistance with travel around the city; housing accommodations; honoraria; and support from SPACES staff in developing institutional partnerships, connecting with the Cleveland cultural scene, and other residency-related activities.
SWAP Art Writers-in-Residence and their culminating texts include:
Morgan Meis (2015)
The Smart Set, “How To Remain Human” (7/15/2015)
Jillian Steinhauer (2016)
The Guardian, “The Cleveland Artists Waiting for Donald Trump” (7/16/16)
Hyperallergic, “A Life in Activism and Comics: An Interview with Joyce Brabner” (7/15/16)
Hyperallergic, “The Sinuous Lines of Influence Between Eva Hesse and Sol LeWitt” (7/27/16)
Pacific Standard, “The Fine Art of Thin Ice” (12/10/18)
Katherine Cooper (2017)
Cleveland is for Lovers (6/13 – 7/10/17)
Bean Gilsdorf (2018)
SFMOMA Open Space, “With Regard to Cleveland” (9/27/18)
Arthopper, “Bean Gilsdorf: Art Writing + Cleveland” (August 2018)
Sarah Rose Sharp (2019)
Abortion Story: Cleveland (August 2019)
Darren Jones (2020)
New Art Examiner, “Cleveland, OH and the American Industrial Artland” (May/June 2021)