Montalvo Art Center Announces 2023 Lucas Artist Fellows

Carnatic violinist Sruti Sarathy and Venezuelan pianist Edward Simon are among the recipients in the music and composition category

Formed in 2004, the Montalvo Art Center’s Sally and Don Lucas Artists Residency Program (LAP) in California, provides studio spaces for emerging, mid-career, and established creatives in visual arts, literary arts, music and composition, and performing arts.

This year, the organizations’ annual Lucas Artists Fellowship held the first open call in over ten years — selecting 65 artists out of 370 candidates — 30 in visual arts, 19 in literary arts, and 16 in music, composition, and performing arts.

The 2023 fellows in the field of music and composition are Carnatic violinist-composer Sruti Sarathy, jazz pianist-composer Edward Simon, experimental/electro-acoustic duo Southeast of Rain, and trumpeter/vocalist Fîdel Kılıç, 

Others in that category include jazz musician Mark de Clive-Lowe, singer-songwriter Lauren Adams, music professor Patricia Alessandrini, experimental media artist Alexa Burrell, and composers Mark Winges and Carolyn Yarnell.

The fellows will receive a residency of three months, which can be used at their discretion over a three-year period — from October 2023 through to 2026. They will also have access to the Montalvo Art Center’s grounds and facilities.

The Lucas Artists Fellows are chosen through a two-tiered nomination and juried process. For the full list of 2023 LAP fellows, click here.

“The LAP is at the heart of our mission to enrich the lives of all people through the arts, and is recognized internationally as a formidable creative incubator,” said Montalvo’s executive director Angela McConnell. “As we strategically focus on expanding access to all aspects of Montalvo, we are excited to offer this fantastic opportunity to deserving artists so close to home.”

“It is a huge privilege and honor to be amongst this group of distinguished artists, and I am grateful for the recognition of my work,” said 2023 recipient Edward Simon. “I want to thank the panel at Montalvo Arts Center and the Lucas Artist Program for their unwavering support and belief in my vision. This fellowship is a significant milestone in my music career, and I am excited to see where this journey will take me.

“As always, my music is driven by a passion for creativity, innovation, and authenticity, and I will continue to work hard to serve my fans musically,” Simon added. “Thank you for your continued support and for being a part of this amazing journey with me.”

Created in 1939, Montalvo Arts Center is home to America’s third oldest residency program. Designed as a hybrid model, the LAP supports the development of new work, while offering opportunities to share ideas and projects through public programming and partnerships.