Where artists fuel community.

A.I.R., which stands for Amplify. Invest. Revitalize., is The Anderson Center for the Arts’ artist residency program. The residency provides artists with space, professional development, opportunities for elevation and engagement, and access to a creative community designed to strengthen their practice and help sustain their careers. The impact extends beyond the artist, positioning their work as a force for cultural preservation and community transformation.

The A.I.R. residency is a nine-month program. Specific dates for each cohort are provided during the application cycle.

No. Selected A.I.R. residents receive FREE studio space for nine months as part of ACA’s investment in their creative and professional development.

A.I.R. is a multidisciplinary artist residency designed for practicing artists who are ready to deepen their creative practice, strengthen the professional foundation of their careers, and actively participate in the residency experience. We welcome artists working across disciplines and are particularly interested in those whose work centers Black stories and experiences and gives voice to the depth, diversity, and complexity of Black life.

A.I.R. welcomes artists working across eligible creative disciplines. Each application cycle will identify the disciplines and types of practices that can be accommodated within ACA’s available residency spaces.

Not necessarily. We are interested in the quality and potential of your creative practice, your commitment to your work, and your readiness to grow. A.I.R. is designed to help artists strengthen both their artistic practice and the professional foundation necessary to sustain a creative career.

Residents are expected to actively use their studio space, participate in professional development opportunities, engage with fellow residents and the ACA creative community, participate in scheduled Open Studio hours, and contribute to public-facing opportunities connected to the residency.

Yes. Engagement beyond the studio is an important part of A.I.R. Monthly Open Studio hours and other public-facing opportunities allow residents to share their work, creative process, and perspectives with others.

A.I.R. residents receive an opportunity to present their work through a fully supported public group exhibition as part of the residency experience. Specific exhibition opportunities and expectations are discussed with each cohort.

Each A.I.R. cohort culminates in a public group exhibition at The Anderson Center for the Arts, giving resident artists an opportunity to present their work together and share their creative practice with a broader audience.

ACA provides each resident with a direct stipend, based on available funding (typically around $4,000). These funds are intended to support the supplies and materials needed to create and prepare work for the exhibition.

ACA also provides curatorial guidance, professional installation support, and collaborative marketing for the exhibition. We provide the installer and work with residents to thoughtfully present the collective exhibition while honoring each artist’s individual voice and body of work.

The exhibition is accompanied by a public reception. ACA covers any moderator honorariums as well as light bites and beverages for the reception, creating an opportunity for artists to engage directly with audiences around their work and creative practice.

Marketing is a shared effort. ACA promotes the exhibition through its communications platforms and networks, while resident artists are expected to actively participate in building awareness and inviting audiences through their own platforms and relationships.

Together, this support allows residents to focus their energy on creating meaningful work, presenting it professionally, and connecting that work to audiences beyond the studio.

Artists are selected through a competitive review process that considers artistic quality and potential, artistic vision, professional growth potential, readiness for the residency, and alignment with the goals of A.I.R. Finalists may also be invited to participate in a conversation with ACA before final selections are made.

Yes. Artists who were not selected for a previous cohort are encouraged to apply again if they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

Applications are currently closed. Join our newsletter to receive the announcement when applications for the 2027 A.I.R. cohort open, along with application deadlines, eligibility requirements, and other important information.