ACRE
ACRE’s Residency Program takes place every summer in the Driftless region of Wisconsin. Set on 1,000 acres of wetland, hills, and farmland, the residency hosts artists who live and work in a communal setting that includes expansive work spaces, kitchen serving three meals per day, performance stage, wood shop, art and tech facility, and sound, fiber, screenprinting, metalwork, and ceramics studios. Residents are encouraged to balance their time between producing work, contemplating their practice, and engaging with the community. The Visiting Artist program invites established artists to conduct studio visits and present lectures and other experimental programs. Studio staff also offer demos and in-depth workshops to residents. Each year ACRE welcomes approximately 60 emerging, often underrepresented, artists of all disciplines to attend one of three 14-day residency sessions. Residents are selected through a rigorous review process by respected panelists who work in the visual arts from Chicago and across the country.
ACRE practices a participatory leadership structure that enriches our operations and programs, by inviting participants to become key decision-makers for the organization, facilitating community-centered evaluation, soliciting feedback, and practicing a shared dedication to making iterative improvements. Every artist who has participated in the residency is invited to return as staff, serve on a committee, and ultimately direct the future of the organization.
Residency Program Information
Residency Program Summary
Application Information
Subsidized $50/day residency fee, totaling $700 per 14-day session.
To qualify for a Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
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All applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
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Apply to the ACRE Residency Program by program deadline.
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Indicate eligibility for Scholarship and complete the financial aid section on the ACRE application form.
Scholarships are not guaranteed.
Visit our Scholarships page for more information on special scholarship opportunities.
Accessibility
ACRE is committed to being open and accessible to all artists. We are eager to work with you directly to ensure we will be able to meet your needs.
The residency is located on a 1000-acre farm in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region. Living, dining, and studio spaces are communal.
The residency is comprised of several main buildings and several outbuildings located around the residency property. Residents regularly travel between buildings for meals, to use facilities, or participate in workshops, performances, or other activities during the session.
While the main buildings are wheelchair accessible, the property's terrain and some of the farm structures and outbuildings may not be accessible to everyone. Specifically, a communal studio area and the looms for our fibers department are located on the second floor of a building with no elevator.
Each facility is managed by a volunteer artist tech who is able, to the best of their ability, to help with studio activities and projects that may require physical assistance. There is a volunteer staff person “on-call” at all times to provide assistance to residents including shuttles around campus, assistance with basic navigation, and emergency assistance if necessary.
All of our sleeping accommodations and the majority of our facilities are ground-floor accessible. The majority of the common areas including our dining hall/kitchen, main lodge, and library are wheelchair accessible.
We are prepared to produce or facilitate accommodations such as large print materials, wheelchair ramps, travel assistance, adjusted or private sleeping accommodations, and any other actions that our volunteer staff are reasonably able to fulfill.
Service animals can be accommodated on a case by case basis. All service animals must have up to date paperwork and a current vet check and flea treatment.
Environmental Irritants and Allergies Notice:
ACRE’s location is a rural farm, which means that there is increased exposure to the ample flora and fauna on our campus, including in our many open air buildings. In addition, a farm dog and a number of farm cats live on the property. Along with potential animal dander, those with moderate to severe allergies should be prepared to encounter insects, plants and grasses.
The buildings at ACRE are constructed with a majority of recycled materials, primarily constructed with salvaged wood. When in combination with humid summer conditions some building spaces can become musty and may be uncomfortable for guests with strong sensitivities to dust and odors. Every room is cleaned before each session and has access to fresh air via screened windows. Additional cleaning supplies are available to use at any time.
We work with each artist to discuss one on one how we can best work together to ensure that their time at ACRE is a full experience. This is an opportunity to set expectations, discuss needs, and open communication. We aim to make necessary material changes to the space in advance and address needs as they arise in the moment.
While the main buildings are wheelchair accessible, the property's terrain and some of the farm structures and outbuildings may not be accessible to everyone. Specifically, a communal studio area and the looms for our fibers department are located on the second floor of a building with no elevator.
Housing & Accomodation
Most residents stay in the sprawling Steuben Lodge, which houses around 30 people and contains a large central area that includes a library with limited wireless internet, breakfast area, computers, printers and scanners for everyone’s use.
The lodge contains 12 two-story rooms that can sleep two-three at a time, each with its own bathroom and kitchenette. Each room opens onto a porch that can be used for outdoor studio space.
All of our sleeping accommodations and the majority of our facilities are ground-floor accessible. The majority of the common areas including our dining hall/kitchen, main lodge, and library are wheelchair accessible.
All common restrooms and a selection of private restrooms within sleeping accommodations are wheelchair accessible. Additionally, all common restrooms are gender-inclusive.
**If you are interested in learning more about ACRE's COVID protocols and how we are safely operating, please email info@acreresidency.org for an informational document.**
Studio & Facilities
ACRE Residency Program Informational Brochure
The majority of ACRE studio facilities are outdoors or partially outdoors and communal. The facilities, equipment, and tools have been purchased, donated, gathered, and/or built over time by the evolving and rotating community that produces the residency each year. The residency staff are volunteers who are alumni of the program. These artists manage, maintain, operate, and curate the residency's technical areas, kitchen, and programming. The staff changes each session and each year. Each area has a basic (or introductory) set of tools and materials in addition to more specialized tools and materials depending on the expertise and experience of the artists who have contributed to the department over the year and during each session. This model produces opportunities to collaborate, exchange, and experiment with new materials and processes. Artists seeking "state of the art" facilities for finished production may find our offerings limiting or insufficient for their needs.