Language:
English
Founded:
2020
Duration:
3 months
Paid by host:

A monthly stipend of of $1,000, plus airfare or reimbursement for other travel to and from Des Moines. Stipends are adjusted according to the agreed residency duration. Accommodation is also provided, as well as studio space.

Application guidelines:

The Alex Brown Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2024 artist residency program. Applications will be accepted from artists working in any medium. No application fee will be charged. We will be accepting applications until March 15, 2023, for residencies beginning January 1 of 2024. If you are interested in participating, complete the form below and compile your application materials into a single PDF, including:

  • Statement of purpose (700 words or less)
  • Portfolio of 12-20 images
  • Resume or C.V.

Fill out the form here.

Deadline:
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Alex Brown Foundation

Alex Brown Foundation

View of one of the studios for artists at the AiR Alex Brown Foundation
Description

The Alex Brown Foundation and Residency program was established in 2020 with the aim of providing artists with an opportunity to focus entirely on their work in a comfortable environment in a city consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S.

The aim of the residency is to provide emerging and established artists of exceptional merit with an experience of the working conditions that artist Alex Brown (1966-2019) found in Des Moines, IA—the ability to make the work you want to make, free from the daily influence of being immersed in a major metropolitan scene but without the isolation of a rural residency, in an exceptional studio environment and a relaxed and pleasant living environment.

There are four 3-month residency terms in 2024:

  • January 1 – March 28
  • April 1 – June 27
  • July 1 – September 26
  • October 1 – December 27

Choose a term to be in residence for no less than 8 weeks, or for as long as two consecutive terms (6 months.)

 

Studio Information

The 1400-square foot studio space at Mainframe Studios, a renovated 1970s telecommunications building in downtown Des Moines operated on a 501(c)(3) nonprofit basis, provides a permanent affordable workspace to artists of all disciplines. Originally built out to Alex’s specifications, this spacious and quiet studio has great natural light from a northern exposure, in a secure facility occupied by local artists and designers.

Mainframe Studios has recently installed building-wide improvements including an Air Purification system that proactively attacks airborne contaminants and better humidity controls. Mainframe also houses its very own art store, The Blok, to aid artists creative endeavors.

Accommodation Information

The foundation provides a fully furnished one bedroom apartment situated in a quiet centrally located neighborhood, just a 3-minute drive and a 14-minute walk from the studio.

Location

For a city of its size and regionally rooted culture, Des Moines has a remarkably strong arts community. At the root is the Des Moines Art Center, a world-class institution with a remarkable collection and diverse program housed in tremendous facilities with wings by Eero Saarinen, I.M. Pei, and Richard Meier. The main Art Center facility is complemented by other public art throughout the city, most notably the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden at the west end of downtown, and by a rich municipal architectural heritage. In recent years, the city has become an increasingly attractive permanent base for artists, with a wide array of outstanding and affordable studio space and housing.

Contact information

900 Keosauqua Way
Mainframe Studios
Des Moines, IA 50309
United States

Phone
+1 515-883-2626
Website
https://alexbrownfoundation.org/