Prospectus

The GAAC offers several opportunities for artist residencies each year. The purpose of the GAAC residency program is to provide visiting artists with a respite from daily responsibilities to enable them to concentrate on their work.

Housing Provided

Housing is provided free of charge. The artist’s residence, a second-floor walk-up apartment, is not handicap accessible. AIR residents must be able to climb stairs unassisted. We apologize for this currently unavoidable situation. 

Studio Space Provided

Artist-residents have access to a studio space located at scenic Thoreson Farm, part of an historic farmstead in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. It’s located about 3.7 miles from the GAAC. The studio space is a restored and converted tool shed with cement floor and overhead lighting. It is a rustic, seasonal structure. There are electric space heaters. There are also a limited number of tools available for use: easels, tables and chairs, and for ceramics art there is a small electric kiln, a raku kiln, electric and kick wheels, slab roller and extruder. Clay and glazes are available for purchase.

Who May Apply

Residencies are considered in the disciplines of creative writing, visual art, photography, sculpture, fiber arts, ceramics and music. Each residency is a one-person opportunity of two weeks in duration. Artists who are selected are expected to commit to the full 14-day residency. Residencies are available to solo practitioners who are able to work independently. The residency does not include teaching opportunities. Residency proposals submitted by groups or collaborative teams of artists (more than one person) are not considered. Spouses and significant others may join selected residents only on the final Thursday of the residency, and visit until the resident’s Saturday morning departure date. The selection committee will consider requests in light of suitability for our present facilities. Artists who are chosen are expected to make a presentation to the community during their residency on the second Thursday of their stay. Artists may be asked, but will not be required, to donate to the GAAC one piece of work created during, or as a result of, their residency at the GAAC. Donated work will be added to the GAAC collection. Works in the collection become the property of the GAAC. In the event that GAAC decides to de-accession a work to contain the size of the permanent collection, GAAC reserves the right to auction/sell such work to generate funds to directly support the organization. The GAAC does not charge a residency fee. The only fee connected with this residency is a non-refundable $35 application fee. If you have been selected for a GAAC artist residency in the preceding three years, you are ineligible for a residency this year.

Selecting Dates

While the length of some residencies may vary according to circumstances and individual requests, the standard length of a residency is two weeks. The deadline for applications is January 6 for the 2025 season (May-October). Applications will be reviewed promptly after the submission deadline with notification by mid-March. In general, GAAC cannot offer residencies in July or early August as the apartment space is not available. Residencies are subject to scheduling availability that does not conflict with ongoing art classes in the GAAC building and at the Thoreson Farm studio space.

How to Apply

Complete the online application form on our website (link located below). Email or mailed applications are not accepted.

Preparation for the online application:

• Have your resume ready to upload as a PDF file (1MB maximum file size).
• For non-visual artists: Have 3 samples of your work ready to upload in a PDF file. (1MB maximum file size). Writers please submit poems, short stories, articles, published or unpublished. Musical composers please submit scores, audio files and/or performances.
• For visual artists: Have 6-8 images of your work ready to upload in JPG, GIF, or PNG (2MB maximum file size per image).
• Artist who have websites are encouraged to submit their URL address.
• Check your calendar for preferred residency dates. Residencies begin Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. and conclude by Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
• A nonrefundable $35 application fee will need to be paid at “checkout” to complete the application.

Please call the GAAC office if you have any questions: 231-334-6112.

Application

 

Applications for a GAAC artist’s residency must be submitted using this on-line format. No other variations will be accepted. Deadline for online submissions is January 6, 2025 at midnight.

Note 1) The artist’s residence, a second-floor walk-up apartment, is not handicap accessible. We apologize for this currently unavoidable situation. Please see the AIR Prospectus for more detail.
Note 2) If you have been selected for a GAAA artist residency in the preceding three years, you are ineligible for a residency this year.

Please read the A.I.R. Prospectus for more information before submitting this form. Fields with an * are required. Application fee of $35 will be paid on the last page of this application. The GAAC AIR Committee will begin emailing results of the jurying process in mid-March.