Bemis 2024: Artists & Curators Residency (USA)

Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts is now accepting applications from:

1. International curators for its 2024-2025 Curator-in-Residence Program. Beginning May 2024, the successful candidate will participate in an 18-month fully subsidized live/work residency as part of Bemis Center’s acclaimed Artist-in-Residence Program. They will originate and present one exhibition and related public programs inclusive of local, national and international artists. The Curator-in-Residence will have space and freedom to work on research and curatorial projects independent of their exhibition at Bemis.

Competitive applicants will possess a strong knowledge of national and international contemporary art and a genuine interest in researching and responding to cultural production in Omaha and the region. The Curator-in-Residence will also serve as a professional resource for local artists and arts professionals and as an ambassador of Bemis Center in the community. They will be an integral member of Bemis Center’s Artist-in-Residence Program, stimulating intellectual discourse surrounding contemporary art practice through studio visits, knowledge-sharing workshops, and other organized programs with fellow artists-in-residence.

Working closely with the curatorial team, the Curator-in-Residence will be involved in all curatorial and administrative aspects of organizing one exhibition after the conclusion of the residency. The exhibition will be original, conceptually rigorous, and exemplify the true breadth and experimentation currently defining contemporary art. The exhibition dates are tentatively scheduled for December 2025-April 2026.

The CIR will be responsible for research, artist relations, exhibition design and installation, writing/editing of scholarly texts and didactics, budgeting, conceptualizing and leading exhibition-related public programs, and tours.

The Curator-in-Residence studio is for single occupancy only; Bemis Center is unable to accommodate partners, children, and pets.

Eligibility: Residency opportunities are open to national and international arts professionals 21+ years of age, showing a strong professional working history. Students enrolled in an academic program during the time of requested residency are not eligible to apply.

Complete details about this opportunity can be found at bemiscenter.org/apply. Apply here.

Applicants who have experience working in alternative art spaces, challenge conventional exhibition formats and are invested in social justice and community-centred programming are strongly encouraged to apply.

2. International artists for an artists-in-residence. The selected artists enjoy generous-sized, private live/work studios complete with a kitchen and bathroom, a $1,250 USD monthly stipend and a $750 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. Selected artists are responsible for organizing travel to Omaha to attend the residency. Artists-in-residence have 24-hour access to extensive installation and production spaces and the Okada Sculpture & Ceramics Facility, a 9,000-square-foot industrial space used for large-scale sculpture fabrication; and a Sound Studio for rehearsing and recording. This is an independently-driven, process-based residency in a communal environment, fostering creative growth, experimentation, and supportive exchange. There are no expectations placed on residents to create or promise an exhibition in our first-floor galleries. Artists who are interested in applying to any 2024 open call opportunity (Jan–April, May–August, or September–November) will be required to submit a separate application and application fee for each designated session. In the event an artist is selected for more than one session, the artist will select one session to attend.

Deadline for both open calls: 11:59 pm CST | August 1, 2023

There is a $40 application fee. Submission of applications is only accepted online at bemis.slideroom.com.

Bemis Center welcomes internationally based arts professionals to apply. Proficiency in English is required for international curators. Upon notification of acceptance to the residency, the selected individual will be responsible for preparing and submitting the required personal employment visa materials by November 2023. A J-1 visa is recommended. For more information on the J-1 visa, please visit this website. Please note that the Bemis Center cannot provide visas, nor can it sponsor international applicants. All international artists in the residency program must secure their own visas prior to their arrival. Please visit the USCIS website for more information. Bemis Center will provide appropriate documentation and materials to supplement the visa application process. Due to the current state of temporary, immigrant travel policies to the United States, we are unable to guarantee approval. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. As an international call, Bemis Center strives to support applicants from any country.