Open Call for Bemis Center Artist-in-Residence

Mar. 28, 2020

Applications for Bemis Center’s 2021 artist-in-residence program are now open. For nearly four decades, Bemis Center’s core mission has been to provide artists from around the world dedicated time, space and resources to conduct research and to create new work across conceptual, material, performative and social practices. The independently-driven atmosphere and communal environment encourage creative growth, experimentation, confrontation of challenges and cultivation of new ideas. To date, nearly 900 artists have participated in the residency program.

Massa Lemu, Bemis 2019 Artist-in-Residence // Photo by Colin Conce

Bemis offers artists-in-residence technical guidance, access to interns and an established network of resources. Participants have the opportunity to create networks, collaborate and share their work with fellow artists-in-residence, organisational partners and the public.

Bemis Center’s campus in Omaha, Nebraska accommodates a broad range of artistic activity. Selected artists-in-residence enjoy private live/work studios complete with a kitchen and bathroom and have 24-hour access to expansive installation and production spaces within Bemis Center’s 110,000 square foot main facility and the Okada Sculpture & Ceramics Facility, a 9,000 square foot large-scale sculpture fabrication space and workshop. A Bemis residency also includes complimentary laundry facilities, utilities, wifi and access to an on-site research library.

U.S.-based artists-in-residence receive a 1,000 USD monthly stipend and an additional $750 USD travel stipend. Due to the limitations of B2 visas (touring/visiting), international artists-in-residence are eligible to receive reimbursement of qualified expenses, such as airfare, ground transportation and meals.

Bemis residency opportunities are open to national and international artists 21+ years of age showing a strong professional working history. A variety of disciplines are accepted including, but not limited to, visual arts, media/new genre, performance, architecture, film/video, literature, interdisciplinary arts, music composition and choreography.