Soomaal Artist Residencies
Soomaal House of Art (Soomaal) proposes an 8-month art residency project focused on supporting 4 contemporary Somali-American artists to create new work for a culminating exhibition. The artists will complete an 8-month long residency encompassing programs to share artists' work with the community through a group exhibition, artist talk, workshop at local schools, and webinar conversations with community members.
2022-2023 Cultural Heritage and Community Identity Grants - Spring 2022
Soomaal and 4 artists-in-residence will host or participate in 4 events total:
1 webinar with community members
Measurables = 4 artists will share about their work for in-person plus online event. On average, 300 participants will engage with webinar online and 80 participants will engage in-person.
1 workshop at local schools (Ubah Medical Academy, Twin Cities International School)
Measurables = 4 artists will share about their work and teach skills to students for in-person event. On average, 50 students and 5 adults (teachers, admin) will engage with workshop.
1 artist talk event
Measurables = 4 artists will share about their work for in-person event. On average, 400 participants will engage with artist talk via social media. On average, 80 participants will engage with artist talk in person.
1 final exhibition
Measurables = 4 artists will present their work for in-person exhibition. On average, 800 participants will engage with exhibition online or via social media. On average, 300 participants will engage with exhibition in person.
The Development Director (DD) will be responsible for conducting evaluations of artists-in-residence. DD will lead the design and administration of pre- and post-assessments, collating responses, and reporting outcomes. Artists will be surveyed via Google Forms and partake in data-collecting forums with the DD. Pre- and post-assessments of artists will collect demographics and measure knowledge gained through the program, as well as qualitative changes in attitudes, interests and aspirations for their future. These assessments will be administered at the beginning, middle and end of the residency.
In our evaluation, we will assess these characteristics:
Artists detail their hopes and expectations for the residency
Artists share feedback on what is working well for the residency program
Artists share what can make the residency better
Artists share how they have learned or grown during residency
The evaluation plan will include formative and summative assessments. Formative evaluation will be used to determine any changes that need to be made during the project. In this way, the Soomaal team will learn from artists' input and adapt the program as needed. In addition, a final, summative evaluation will assess achievement of project outcomes. This information will be used to inform what Soomaal will do next in its residencies. Outcomes and final report will be shared with Soomaal funders and partners.
Pre-and post-assessments will evaluate the achievement of the following outcomes:
100% will report they grew as an artist during the residency
100% will report they developed new networking connections with artists and/or organizations
100% will be able to identify how the residency has propelled them forward in their career
Starting October 2022, the Soomaal leadership team - consisting of Khadijah Muse, Kaamil A. Haider and Mohamud Mumin - have selected 4 artists to part of the residency program. The artists are listed below.
Aragti Wadaag: Soomaal Residency Program
Jowhara Sheikh Omar, 2022/2023 Drawing, painting and sculptureAesha Mohamed, 2022/2023 Poetry, painting and videoHamza Noor, 2022/2023 Illustration, graphic design and photographyMohamed Sheikh, 2022/2023 Narrative and documentary filmmaking
The artists have beieng monthly with each other and the Curator and workshop ideas/concepts for the projects. Each artist has been working on creating their own artistic protofoliese with the support of Soomaal staff and mentors. Each Artist presented their learning process with the Soomaal artists community in hopes passing on what they have learned with other emerging artists.
The goals of the residency(1) to give artists time to reflect, plan and create in a supportive, nourishing environment(2) to equip them to know skills and knowledge that will be of use to them well beyond their time in the residency(3) to expand artists networks via relationships-buiding with mentors, local schools and community membe
; As a result of the funding provided through this grant, the Soomaal House of Art has made significant progress in achieving its project goals. The project, which began in October 2022, focused on supporting four contemporary Somali-American artists through an 8-month art residency program, culminating in a group exhibition in 2023. The following outcomes have been achieved:
Artist Selection and Residency Initiation: The Soomaal leadership team, consisting of Khadijah Muse, Kaamil A. Haider, and Mohamud Mumin, successfully selected and initiated the residency program for four talented Somali-American artists. The selected artists and their respective artistic disciplines are as follows:Jowhara Sheikh Omar, 2022/2023 Drawing, painting, and sculpture.Aesha Mohamed, 2022/2023 Poetry, painting, and video.Hamza Noor, 2022/2023 Illustration, graphic design, and photography.Mohamed Sheikh, 2022/2023 Narrative and documentary filmmaking.Monthly Collaboration and Mentorship: The selected artists have actively engaged in monthly collaborative sessions with each other, the Curator, and the Soomaal team to workshop ideas and concepts for their projects. They have received mentorship, guidance, and support from Soomaal staff to develop their artistic portfolios.Knowledge Sharing: Each artist has shared their learning process with the Soomaal artist community, contributing to knowledge sharing among emerging artists. This collaborative environment has not only supported individual artistic growth but has also fostered a sense of community and mentorship among artists.Artistic Growth and Network Expansion: The residency program has been successful in providing artists with the time, space, and support to reflect, plan, and create in a nourishing environment. It has equipped them with valuable skills and knowledge that will have a lasting impact on their careers. Furthermore, the artists have expanded their networks through relationships with mentors, local schools, and community members.
The achievement of these outcomes has been measured through ongoing assessments, feedback from the artists, and the tangible progress made in their artistic work. The Soomaal team has continuously engaged with the artists to ensure that the goals of the residency are being met. For the residency program each artist pursued projects that were challenging and have experimented in media that they have not used in their artmaking practice. For instance, Aesha Mohamed who is primarily a painter worked on a photographic portrait series while Jowhara Sheikh Omar has in the past used drawing and painting but explored abstract sculpture during her time in the program. Hamza Noor, who is primarily an illustrator, incorporated photography in his final exhibited works, finally, Mohamed Sheikh who is a filmmaker who often is the principal director on his films explored screenwriting in his final work he wrote and directed a short film.
McKnight Foundation - Rent/Facilities
MRAC - Lights for the gallery
; Soomaal House of Art Board of DirectorsZahra Muse, Chair - Visual Artist and Art OrganizerKaamil A. Haider, Vice-Chair and Secretary - Visual Artist, Art Organizer and ArchivistMohamud Mumin, Treasurer - Visual Artist and Teaching ArtistAdan Dirie, Member - PoetAbdi Roble, Member - Community Archivist and Documentary Photographer