Popps Packing is an artist-led nonprofit arts organization on the Hamtramck/Detroit border. Since 2014, our international residency program has welcomed more than 100 artists from across the United States and around the world. We invite emerging and established visual artists working across a range of studio-based practices to apply for our 2027 residency. Artists receive live/work studio space, access to our workshops and private and public gardens, technical and professional support, and connections with local artists, galleries, and cultural institutions.
We're curious about the many reasons artists are drawn to the Detroit area, whether through family histories, the materiality and impact of its industrial past, or the city's rich musical legacies and their influence around the world. Hamtramck and Detroit are shaped by generations of migration, diverse languages, and varied cultural histories. We love seeing how artists from different places and backgrounds engage with the histories, communities, and ongoing changes of this place, bringing their own experiences and perspectives. We encourage experimentation and curiosity. We're here for the journey.
Artists are invited to share their work or ideas through a public exchange of their choosing, whether an open studio, discussion, dinner, performance, or something entirely different. We're open to different ways of presenting work, and equally open to the possibility that it may not need to be presented at all.
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
TO APPLY: Email poppspacking@gmail and include the following:
- ‘Studio Residency’ in the subject header
- Name
- Preferred pronouns
- Contact info, including email address and phone #
- Where are you from?
- A link to a website or other online platform where your work can be viewed.
- PDF attachments of work samples( details below)
- Resume, CV, brief bio
- Preferred dates for your residency, and potentially alternate dates
- Motivation for visiting Detroit/ Hamtramck and what are you looking forward to exploring?
- A brief description of any proposed projects that you would like to work on while in residence
PDF PORTFOLIO GUIDELINES:
File Size: 10 MB maximum
Naming: ‘Collaborative or Full Name_(year)residency ’
Work samples should include CV/Resume and one of the following submissions:
STILL IMAGES: up to 10 still images (JPEG, max 1200 pixels on any side). Each image should have a caption of 200 characters or less that includes title, date created, medium and any other information that informs the work
TIME-BASED: URLs to specific work on host sites (Vimeo, YouTube, Soundcloud, etc.). Each URL should have a caption of 200 characters or less, which provides parameters to limit reviewers experience to approx. 5 min of work and gives context to the piece.
TEXT: 3 pages. Each text piece should include a contextual summary of
200 characters or less.
FOR COLLABORATIVE APPLICATIONS:
If you intend to do only collaborative projects, apply using one application with all names and samples of your past collaborative projects. If you intend to mix personal projects with collaborative projects, apply individually.
- Cost: $850-$1000/ Month utilities included payment for the full residency term can be paid upfront or on the 1st of each month if staying for multiple months.
Resident is responsible for all travel and living expenses and materials for their project. Popps' volunteer staff will support when possible.
Residency Details:
- Duration: 1- 3 month, Starting March 2027
- The space accommodates 2 resident artists at one time
- Accommodation: Resident artists will be provided with a private bedroom within a 2 bedroom loft-style studio. In this communal living arrangement, you will have access to shared kitchen, bathroom, and studio spaces. Please note that the Popps Residency functions as a studio space 1st and may not offer the cozy comforts of a home atmosphere. The private bedrooms are comfortable and well-maintained, but the overall ambiance is that of a concrete loft-style warehouse.
- Cost: $850-$1000/ Month utilities included payment for the full residency term can be paid upfront or on the 1st of each month if staying for multiple months.
Popps Packing does not offer funding at this time.