At Artist Communities Alliance (ACA), we don’t have a mission statement. We have a mission question: How can ACA unite the people who power artist residencies and inspire the field?
We chose a mission question because we recognize that our work, like the work of artists and residencies, is never finished. A mission statement can close a door. A question keeps it open. It allows for evolution, adaptation, and continued inquiry. It acknowledges that to truly serve the field, we must remain in motion.
Artist residencies exist in a world that is constantly shifting. From changing political and funding landscapes, to movements for racial and disability justice, to new models of cultural organizing — residencies are called to meet the moment with care, creativity, and courage. Our role at ACA is to listen and respond. To support the people and organizations that hold space for artists, we must remain porous and attentive. The question at the heart of our mission keeps us oriented toward discovery, rather than prescription.
We believe that experimentation yields transformation. This belief is embedded not just in what we support, but how we work. A mission question keeps us accountable to the field as it exists now, and to the future we want to help shape. It reminds us to lead with humility, curiosity, and an openness to change.
Our work is like mycelium: networked, responsive, generative. A living system that depends on connection and mutual nourishment. The question we carry is an invitation — not only for ourselves, but for everyone in our network — to ask alongside us: What’s possible now? What does the field need next? How do we grow stronger, together?
We remain committed to asking, and asking again.
Thanks to your support, ACA is shaping a network rooted in inquiry and collective strength. Our mission questions commits us to adaptability, deep listening, and shared leadership. Together, we’re building a future for the residency field that stays open — responsive to artists, communities, and the world we move through.
But the work isn’t done.
If you believe in a residency field where artists of all backgrounds can thrive, we invite you to be part of this movement. Your donation helps ACA continue to offer vital support, develop new tools, and grow a field-wide culture of equity and care. Make a gift today to sustain this field-changing work.
Together, we’re not just responding to the moment. We’re building the future.