Archiving Altadena (AAIR) OPEN CALL

Overview

Established in 2021, the Activist|Artist-in-Residence (AAIR) program at Pitzer College invites one activist-artist per academic year to promote interdisciplinary platforms of exchange. This year, in response to recent disasters in Altadena, we are pivoting to support an individual focused on archiving Altadena’s past, present, or future. 

The Art Galleries and the Community Engagement Center at Pitzer College invite applications for a 10-month residency focused on community archiving, addressing gaps in contemporary heritage, and exploring underwritten, under-historicized, and under-archived histories and legacies in Altadena. In response to the recent Eaton Fire that has significantly impacted Altadena neighborhoods, this residency seeks to support the documentation, preservation, and sharing of community stories, histories, and experiences, before, during, and after this event. 

This residency critically and creatively engages with these themes across institutional and community spaces, centering the work of community archivists and historians in documenting historically underrepresented narratives. This program embraces diverse approaches to documentation and preservation, which could include visual artists, poets and writers, multimedia documentarians, cultural practitioners, or community historians. 

Background

The Eaton Fire has transformed the physical and social landscape of Altadena, affecting homes, displacing residents, and reshaping community spaces. Beyond the immediate physical destruction, the fire has disrupted personal and collective histories as families have lost heirlooms, photographs, and other tangible connections to their past. As rebuilding efforts continue, there is a critical need to document not only what was lost, but also the resilience and adaptation of the community in response to this event.   

About the Residency

This residency provides workspace, research support, access to archival materials, staff and faculty partnership, and other institutional resources. Residents will have access to the Honnold Mudd Library at The Claremont Colleges and other affiliated archives to support their research.

Deadline and Interviews

Application Deadline: Friday, May 30, 2025

Candidate Interviews: June 23 - 27, 2025

How to Apply

Submit your application, including all required materials, at this link by Friday, May 30, 2025

For questions or additional information, please contact:

Community Engagement Center
Tim Lewis, Program Coordinator: tim_lewis@pitzer.edu

Pitzer College Art Galleries
Christopher Michno, Assistant Director: christopher_michno@pitzer.edu