Introducing IBé Crawley, our 2026-27 Riccio Resident
In 2018 the Frank Riccio Artist-in-Residency was established by Virginia Humanities to support the work and public programming of a visiting book artist to our studio and community in Charlottesville. Virginia Book Arts is proud to announce the 2026-27 Frank Riccio Artist-in-Resident, IBé Crawley, the fourth artist to be awarded this residency.
More about the Frank Riccio Residency:
Virginia Book Arts (VBA), in partnership with Virginia Center for the Book, a program of Virginia Humanities, invites a Virginia artist whose practice includes book arts to apply for the Frank Riccio Artist-in-Residence. The residency is offered bi-annually beginning in Spring 2026 and directed by VBA with a grant from the Frank Riccio Fund, administered by VA Center for the Book.
The artist will receive a stipend and scheduled studio time at VBA to undertake a new project over the course of a calendar year. A portion of the residency will be spent on the studio premises.
Upon accepting the invitation to apply, the candidate will propose a project to develop and complete at Virginia Book Arts over the course of a calendar year, and consider how to engage the public and the book arts community around the work. The artist will agree to participate in public programs or workshops for youth and adults, and include plans to share the produced work at venues that showcase the vibrancy of the book arts in Virginia.
VBA may work to bring in a participating partner to further support a resident’s project and host community outreach.
Application to be a Frank Riccio Artist-in-Residence is by invitation only. We will post more about the selection process soon.
Learn more about Frank Riccio and the Frank Riccio Fund.
Applying to be a Frank Riccio Artist-in-Residence
Selection and Application Process
An ad hoc committee of Virginia Book Arts (VBA) will meet biannually to select and invite a Virginia book artist to apply for the Riccio Residency. The committee will request that the artist review the application prerequisites below, submit a project proposal in writing, and meet with committee members to establish goals, benchmarks and a residency time line.
The committee will present the proposal to the VBA Steering Committee and grant-making staff at VA Center for the Book for approval, then draft a memorandum of understanding for the artist and a member of the VBA Executive Committee to sign.
Eligibility
The recipient must live a commuting distance from the VBA studio and agree to work a portion of the time on the studio premise.
Parameters
The project should include some aspect of the book arts (e.g., book binding, printmaking, letterpress printing, illustrating, paper making, book artistry) that incorporates traditional methods and mediums or that explores new techniques and materials – or both. Our definition of “book” is wide and we welcome a participating artist’s unique approach and perspective.
Application Components
- Contact information
- Artist’s bio (up to 200 words)
- Artist’s CV
- Project Narrative (up to 500 words) including anticipated interface with VBA members, the content of one public program for youth and one for adults, and a plan for how project work will be produced and exhibited or distributed.
- Supporting Materials (digital uploads of sketches, photos, etc.)
- Project Locations (in Virginia, including the VBA studio in downtown Charlottesville)
- Project Timeline/Schedule (within a calendar year), negotiable depending on the project
- Project Budget beyond honorarium (not to exceed $1,000 in materials)
Criteria for selection:
- Proposed work showcases a high-level of craft, creativity, innovation or unique approach
- Candidate includes plans to engage the public and book arts community creatively
- Candidate has meaningful experience teaching or mentoring youth and adults
The Frank Riccio Fund
In 2018, the VA Center for the Book—a program of Virginia Humanities – established the Frank Riccio Fund to support programming around a visiting book artist: the Frank Riccio Artist-in-Residence.
The Riccio Artist-in-Residency honors the memory of artist and Book Arts Program co-founder Frank Riccio. The eponymous award recognizes Frank’s legacy as a talented practitioner and educator, and carries on his generous support for the work of book artists in Virginia’s creative community.
The fund continues to accept donations to secure the residency as an endowed and recurring opportunity. While the Center has reached its initial funding goal of $100,000, gifts of any size are welcome and should be made through Virginia Humanities.
About Frank Riccio
Frank began his career as an illustrator in high school in Bridgeport, Connecticut, then studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. After moving to Charlottesville, he spent 19 years painting and working as a commercial illustrator. His work appeared in Gourmet and Sports Illustrated magazines. He also illustrated books, including The Little Soul and the Earth in collaboration with inspirational series author Neal Donald Walsch, and several children’s books, including Johnny Appleseed and The Spirited Alphabet.
Frank was an active volunteer for WTJU (UVA’s community radio station) and a gifted and committed member artist in the Book Arts Program at Virginia Center for the Book, contributing to annual collaborative projects and broadsides. He died in 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer.