2026 Woodson Art Museum Artist Residency Open Call

Nestled in the heart of Wisconsin, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum opened in 1976 alongside an avian-themed inaugural exhibition that became the world-renowned Birds in Art. From its inception, the Woodson Art Museum has provided Wausau and its surrounding areas with access to exceptional exhibitions celebrating the marriage of nature and art.

Located on the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum campus in Wausau, Wisconsin, the Glass Box Studio provides space and time for artists to experiment, explore, and produce individually developed or collaborative artwork in any medium. The Woodson Art Museum Artist Residency Program will increase community engagement and accessibility to the visual arts in north central Wisconsin by providing opportunities for artists to share their creative processes through outreach, workshops, and programming. 

The Woodson Art Museum Artist Residency will bring visual artists from across the country to the Wausau area annually. Participating artists will be included in community programming developed with Museum staff. The program supports artists by providing a studio space, living space, honorarium, as well as networking and outreach opportunities.  

Each residency is unique. Residencies are organized by Museum staff members and are catered to each artist’s strengths and interests. Artists will be expected to participate in outreach or educational programs over the course of their residency and are given the opportunity to teach hands-on workshops to a variety of audience types. Artists will be expected to keep regular open studio hours for a minimum of two days a week over the course of the residency during the Museum’s open hours so visitors can observe and engage with the resident artist.   

RESIDENCY GOALS

• Support artists’ studio practice, foster growth, and encourage the investigation of creative ideas
• Increase community engagement and accessibility to the visual arts in north central Wisconsin
• Provide support and opportunities for visual artists to advance their studio practice through the creation of an independently developed, collaborative, or site-specific project
• Interact with the Museum’s exhibitions
• Engage with a variety of audiences, including students and adults
• Invitation to engage with audience members experiencing memory loss, low vision, and blindness, or children ages 5 and younger
• HONORARIUM
• Participating artists will receive an honorarium in addition to reimbursement for travel, mileage, and meal expenses. Supplies and materials for workshops, classes, and outreach will be covered by the Woodson Art Museum.
• FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT
• Artists will have 24/7 access to the Museum’s Glass Box Studio throughout the duration of their residency. Artists will have access to the Museum facilities and Museum staff during regular business hours. The Glass Box Studio is equipped with WiFi, work tables, slop sink, basic tools, and materials.
• ACCOMMODATIONS
• Artists will be provided with housing and basic accommodations at a one-bedroom house on the Museum campus.

Applications are reviewed by Museum staff. Successful applicants are those that clearly communicate ideas and demonstrate the ability to accomplish their proposal. All notifications and communications will be sent via email. Application notifications will be sent out on or around October 1, 2025. Top applicants will be contacted to schedule a virtual studio visit before receiving an official residency invitation. 

Learn more and apply here: https://www.lywam.org/artist-resources/

For direct questions about the residency program, application requirements, submission details, or to receive mail-in instructions, please contact Rachel Hausmann-Schall, artist residency and adult program manager, rhausmann@lywam.org or call 715.845.7010.