Open AIR

Artist Angela Cieslewitz stands in front of a log cabin, surrounded by tall trees. The cabin is located in the Selway Bitterroot mountains.

Artist Angela Cieslewitz stands in front of a log cabin, surrounded by tall trees. The cabin is located in the Selway Bitterroot mountains.

Actor Bill Bowers is standing on a stage in a historic theater. He is teaching a movement workshop to a group of people of all ages. Bill is holding the arm of one of the participants, while the participant holds his arm to his face, like the trunk of an elephant.

Actor Bill Bowers is standing on a stage in a historic theater. He is teaching a movement workshop to a group of people of all ages. Bill is holding the arm of one of the participants, while the participant holds his arm to his face, like the trunk of an elephant.

Artist-in-Resident Ian Hanesworth sits at a drafting table located in a mezzanine, surrounded by paint cans and art supplies. Ian is using beautiful Japanese woodcarving tools to carefully carve an image of two deer facing each other.

Artist-in-Resident Ian Hanesworth sits at a drafting table located in a mezzanine, surrounded by paint cans and art supplies. Ian is using beautiful Japanese woodcarving tools to carefully carve an image of two deer facing each other.

We see the back of Artist-in-Residence Cait Finley, who is giving a presentation to a crowd of 30 people sitting close to each other in a glass walled room -the MakerSpace of the Missoula Public Library.

We see the back of Artist-in-Residence Cait Finley, who is giving a presentation to a crowd of 30 people sitting close to each other in a glass walled room -the MakerSpace of the Missoula Public Library.

Artist-in-Residence Aaron Jennings sits at an elaborate but aged grand piano. He is smiling while he plays the piano. He is sitting in lavish historical room in the Historic Clark Chateau in Butte, Montana. The walls are cream colored with elaborate paintings and moldings.

Artist-in-Residence Aaron Jennings sits at an elaborate but aged grand piano. He is smiling while he plays the piano. He is sitting in lavish historical room in the Historic Clark Chateau in Butte, Montana. The walls are cream colored with elaborate paintings and moldings.

Artist Jennifer Ogden stands in front of Flathead Lake in Polson, Montana. She is smiling in a wide brimmed hat in front of the beautiful blue summertime water.

Artist Jennifer Ogden stands in front of Flathead Lake in Polson, Montana. She is smiling in a wide brimmed hat in front of the beautiful blue summertime water.

Artist Maria Uhase stands besides a table at Flathead Lake Biological Station in Polson, Montana. The table is packed full of natural objects she has gathered, including branches, driftwood, moss, rocks, and sticks. The table also holds drawings and paintings that Maria made during her residency of the natural objects.

Artist Maria Uhase stands besides a table at Flathead Lake Biological Station in Polson, Montana. The table is packed full of natural objects she has gathered, including branches, driftwood, moss, rocks, and sticks. The table also holds drawings and paintings that Maria made during her residency of the natural objects.

Artist Julynn Wildman sits on the arm of a large leather easy chair, with her feet on the seat. She is looking at a large table next to her. The table is full of shapes that are made of cardboard and tape. There is a dress form next to the table the has a wearable sculpture made out of cardboard that resembles a beetle.

Artist Julynn Wildman sits on the arm of a large leather easy chair, with her feet on the seat. She is looking at a large table next to her. The table is full of shapes that are made of cardboard and tape. There is a dress form next to the table the has a wearable sculpture made out of cardboard that resembles a beetle.

Open AIR

Open AIR is a place-based Artist-in-Residence program that connects artists from all disciplines and origins with culturally, historically, and ecologically significant locations through collaborative partnerships in Montana.

With innovative opportunities available in places such as remote wilderness areas to historically significant sites closer to town, artists can draw inspiration from a regional community dedicated to preserving place, environment, and the arts.

In 2024 Open AIR has four sessions: Spring, Summer, Summer II, and Fall. We have residencies at 13 different sites in Montana, including; Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Wilderness; Flathead Lake Biological Station, Polson; Travelers' Rest State Park, Lolo; Butte, MT; Philipsburg, MT; Hamilton, MT; Clark Fork Coalition, Anaconda, MT In Missoula, Open AIR has residency sites at the Missoula Public Library, Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium, Garden City Harvest, Moon-Randolph Homestead, Home ReSource, and Montana Natural History Center. 

Each residency provides a unique opportunity for artists to be embedded in a site that allows the artist to engage with place, and the communities and resources associated with each site. The residency is free, and housing and a modest stipend are provided. Artists are responsible for transportation and food.

 

Contact

PO Box 8643
Missoula, MT 59807
United States

Year Founded
2019
Context
Urban
Rural
Remote
Residency Structure
Embedded in an arts or cultural organization (including theater + gallery)
Embedded in a museum
Embedded in a science organization or center
Residency program within a government state or municipal partnership
Embedded in a national park or land trust
Associated with a foundation
Embedded in historic site
Residency Program Type
Studio-based (with housing)
Thematic
Community-engaged
Research
Experiential
Residency Length
2 weeks - 6 weeks
Languages
English
Average Number of Artists in Residence at a Time
5
Collaborative Residency
May apply as a team
Discipline
Drawing
Interdisciplinary Arts
Mixed Media
Painting
Printmaking
Sculpture
Visual Arts
Book Arts
Ceramics/Clay Arts/Pottery
Costume/Fashion Design
Digital Fabrication
Fine Metals/Jewelry
Installation Arts
Paper Arts
Textile & Fiber Arts/Weaving
Woodworking
Criticism
Fiction
Journalism
Literary Nonfiction
Literature
New Genres
Nonfiction
Playwriting
Poetry
Screenwriting
Writing
Acting
Choreography
Dance
Performance Art
Theater
Music
Opera
Animation
Augmented Reality
Digital Media
Documentary
Electronic Arts
Film
Moving Image
Multimedia Arts
Photography
Sound Art
TV + Radio
Virtual Reality
Graphic Design
Illustration
Industrial Design
Architecture
Environmental Arts
Landscape Architecture
Public Art
Social Practice
Storytelling
Urban Planning/Design
Art Education
Art History
Companions
Pets are not allowed
Country of Residence
Open to artists based anywhere in the world
Family Friendly
Spouses/partners allowed for full stay (non-collaborators)
Children allowed for full stay
Stage of Career
Any stage of career
Emerging
Mid-career
Established
Additional Expectations/Opportunities
Participate in public programming
Give artist talk or presentation
Lead workshop for the public
Other
How does your residency program support artists?
Opportunity to be in another context
Opportunity to travel
Immersion in new culture and/context
Unstructured time
Unrestricted funding
Research support
Art production support
Access to studio space to create new work
Access to equipment, specialized facilities and/or technical support
Inspiration from natural environment
Inspiration from cultural context
Professional development support and/or trainings
Opportunities to develop relationships with local or regional artists/arts organizations
Opportunities to collaborate with local or regional artists/arts organizations
Opportunities to collaborate with other artists/residents
Opportunities to develop relationships with other artists/residents
Opportunities for work with the local community
Opportunities to exhibit or perform new work
Other
Additional Eligibility Information

Open AIR accepts artists of all disciplines, nationally and internationally at any stage in their career, 18 years or older. 

Number of Artists Accepted in Most Current Year
22
Artist Stipend
35
US Dollar (USD)
Travel Stipend/Material Stipends
Residency Fees
0
US Dollar (USD)
Fee Details

The Open AIR stipend for artists is $35 per day. The total amount varies based on the length of the residency.

The application fee is $25 for Montana residents and $30 for people living outside of Montana for three site choices. Applicants can apply to two additional sites for an extra $10.

 

Grant/Scholarship/Other Funding Support
Application Fee
30
US Dollar (USD)
Application Type
Open application
What does your program provide during the residency experience?
Pre-orientation
Manual / handbook before arrival
Communication before arrival to discuss accommodations, medical conditions, or other health needs
Orientation upon arrival
Contact information and available accommodations for programs, events, and campus
Captions for videos
Staff/volunteer providing guidance to help locate facilities or activities
Contact info for accessibility requests for event/programming
Is your campus wheelchair accessible?
ADA Compliant
Partially Accessible
Inaccessible
Additional Accessibility Information

We‌ ‌make‌ ‌concerted‌ ‌efforts‌ ‌to‌ ‌ensure‌ ‌that‌ ‌everyone‌ ‌has‌ ‌physical‌ ‌access‌ ‌to‌ ‌our‌ ‌community‌  events‌ ‌and‌ ‌artist‌ ‌residencies.‌ ‌

Our‌ ‌organization‌ creates programming through ‌residencies‌ ‌and‌ ‌public‌ ‌presentations‌ ‌‌on‌ ‌location‌ ‌with‌ ‌our‌ ‌partner‌ ‌agencies.‌ ‌We‌ ‌work‌ ‌together‌ ‌with‌ ‌our‌ ‌partners‌ ‌to‌ ‌ensure‌ ‌their‌ ‌locations‌ ‌are‌ ‌accessible.‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Our‌ ‌partners‌ ‌are‌ ‌all‌ ‌established‌ ‌and‌ ‌successful‌ ‌organizations‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌community‌ ‌, and‌ ‌together‌, ‌we‌ ‌are‌ ‌able‌ ‌to‌ ‌accommodate‌ ‌a‌ ‌wide‌ ‌variety‌ ‌of‌ ‌accessibility‌ ‌needs‌ ‌and‌ ‌requests.‌ ‌Onsite‌ ‌features‌ ‌at‌ our‌ ‌partner‌ ‌locations‌ ‌include‌ ‌wheelchair-accessible‌ ‌parking‌ ‌spaces,‌ ‌ramps‌ ‌to‌ ‌sidewalks‌ ‌and‌ ‌building‌ ‌entryways,‌ ‌elevators‌ ‌to‌ ‌floors‌ ‌where‌ ‌presentations‌ ‌are‌ ‌held,‌ ‌wheelchair-accessible ‌classrooms‌ ‌and‌ ‌workspaces,‌ ‌directional‌ ‌signage‌ ‌for‌ ‌accessible‌ ‌entrances,‌ ‌restrooms‌, ‌and‌ ‌other‌ ‌facilities,‌ ‌accessible‌ ‌restrooms,‌ ‌accessible‌ ‌walkways,‌ ‌and‌ ‌as‌ ‌added‌ ‌through‌ ‌our‌ ‌ongoing‌ ‌efforts‌ ‌to‌ ‌meet‌ ‌the‌ ‌needs.‌

Some residency sites take place in historic or remote locations with accessibility limitations.

Applicants are encouraged to contact Open AIR with accessibility questions.

 

Caregiver/Aide/PCA
Case by case consideration by staff
Accessibility Contact Name
Kelli Sinner
Accessibility Contact Email
Program@openairmt.org
How much of the residency experience can artists with limited mobility participate?

Artists with limited mobility should contact Open AIR, and we will help advise applicants on which residency site best fits their needs. We will make accommodations whenever possible to increase access to a site.

Type of Housing
Private housing on campus (individual apartment/cabin/house)
Private housing off campus (individual apartment/cabin/house)
Private bedroom in a shared housing facility on campus
Accessible Housing
ADA Compliant
Partially Accessible (50% or more)
Inaccessible
Housing for Companion And/or Caregivers
Housing available
Case by case consideration
Accessible Communal Spaces
Universally designed
ADA Compliant
Inaccessible
Common/Communal Spaces Information

Housing at an Open AIR residency varies greatly amongst our 13 different residency sites. During the application process, artists will be able to describe their needs, and we can seek out housing to suit the applicant's needs.

Meals Provided
Residents have access to shared kitchen
Residents have access to private kitchen
Computer/Internet Access
Computer and internet connection provided in common area (shared)
Computer and internet connection provided in studio area (private)
Wireless Internet (WIFI)
No WIFI available
No computer access available
Studios/Facilities Details

Studios vary from site to site. In general, artists can expect a simple studio space to work. Sometimes the studios are located in a private space, and at some residency sites, the studios are public facing. During some sessions, artists can access additional resources for specific mediums (ceramics, painting, printmaking), but generally, artists should bring what they need. Visit our website for the most accurate studio descriptions.

Studios/Special Equipment
Private Studios
Shared Studios
Studios/Facilities Accessibility
ADA Compliant
Partially Accessible (50% or more)
Inaccessible