Art Farm artist residency and application information

You can view a slide show of examples of past residents’ achievements, here. It is a very small sampling of the many hundreds works of art created, which does not begin to include poems, short stories, videos and music. Somewhere in the future a more comprehensive survey will be online. As part of a residency, one piece of art, chosen jointly by the director and the artist, is donated to Art Farm for its permanent collection, for writers, it can be a written copy or acknowledgement of Art Farm in published material: performers can donate a video, etc. These donated works document a physical history of Art Farm.

There are fourteen studios, which might be called, 'permanent': The Granary, Lone Pine-West, District 62 (formerly a rural schoolhouse), Pig Pottery (ceramics), Muffin, Burning Bridge, the Poets Barracks, Sophie's Coop, The Thinking Hut, The Victoria Suites 1 and 2, The Bell Barn, and The Barn Loft. This list ignores the numerous ephemeral on-demand studio spaces created each year to meet a variety of needs, as well as using any empty room. Most studios are 400-500 square feet in size, with a few near 600 square feet. All studios, excluding The Thinking Hut, have 110-volt electrical power, with 220-volt in some; and four studios have plumbing (sink only, but one is a live-in with kitchette and bath). If studios feel too small, you can choose to work outside of them or in the 15 surrounding acres for environmental/permanent sculpture, interactive performances, or temporary installations. Depending on the season of your residency, 15 acres (summer) expands to 60 acres (fall).

Art Farm’s artist residency program is for professionals, emerging or established, in all areas of the arts, humanities, and areas related: offering accommodations and studio space to pursue their art in exchange for a contribution of labor of 12 hours per week to help renovate and maintain Art Farm’s buildings and grounds as well as other projects, suited to skills and temperament.

All who apply need to be self-motivated and resourceful. Art Farm’s location is semi-isolated and rural and because of this condition, cooperation, social tolerance and an ability to share tasks is helpful.

Residencies are available between 1 June and 1 November (a residency can be of any duration within these months), with accommodations available for up to twelve residents at one time: collaborators, families, and couples are welcome to apply.

Art Farm supports families/partners with children offering studio and living space consisting of kitchen, bath, sitting and dining, private bedrooms. Rooms in the main barn complex and the two-story farmhouse are available options.

When applying, consider that it might take a little time to adjust to the environment, particularly if you are new to Nebraska, and if you are planning a large outdoor project, the weather may not always be your cooperative companion. A note to families: this is not an urban park, but a real farm with biting insects, feral animals, dirt, construction projects, and large machines. Finally, pets cannot come with you.

Move your mouse or finger over any image to the right for a general description or click on one of the drop down links above for a photographic tour of what you can expect, and what is requested in return from you. If any questions remain, send an email to, af@artfarmnebraska.org

Residents have free accommodations choices in three buildings. One is a furnished, 100+ year old two-story farmhouse with three bedrooms, the second house named, Victoria, still under renovation, with six bedrooms, depending on the renovation project underway. The third accommodations center is on the second floor the main barn complex (also under renovation) and has three bedrooms, with a furnished communal space. In each building, residents have private bedrooms while sharing a bathroom, sitting room, and kitchen. All kitchens are fully equipped and each location has laundry facilities

Bedrooms range from penthouse to basic cabin in their appointments: some have panoramic views; some have no windows at all. Two sets of sheets, blankets, towels and pillows are in each bedroom.

You will need to have enough money to cover your daily living expenses and your transportation cost for shopping, but usually there are enough cars for ride and fuel sharing, helping in keeping costs low. An organic vegetable garden is available for everyone to harvest from without charge.

There is wireless Internet access in the barn complex, Victoria and some studios, but not in the farmhouse.

Art Farm operates on a labor-intensive principle and requests a contribution of labor 12 hours weekly. Initially for each resident, this is during weekday mornings, based on weather conditions and the project, but as you become familiar with the general organization and schedule of Art Farm, you may choose working times, at any time during the day, better suited to your personal preference. As maintenance is a constant activity, most projects include general construction, deconstruction and carpentry, grounds maintenance, with some fund raising projects and office work. There are scores of projects happening in every building and you are may pick from whichever one matches your temperament or interest. If you wish to learn construction skills, this could be your chance to pick up a little knowledge about renovation, studio improvements, building dismantling, salvaging and material reuse.

'Facilities' is used here as a wide net covering machinery, equipment, materials, and the general technical advice offered by Art Farm in the areas of metalworking, woodworking, letterpress printing, engineering, earthmoving, and ceramics, complete with an assortment of metal scrap, electronics, paper, timber/logs, on site clay, etc., and abundance of organic materials: tractors, loaders, wagons and pickup truck etc. are accessible for moving and lifting heavy materials. Intern assistance is available on a per need basis. If you need a specific tool, machine, or material, just send an email to check if it exists at Art Farm.