John Michael Kohler Arts Center: Arts/Industry Residency

Arts/Industry is an ongoing collaboration between the arts and industry. Hundreds of emerging and established visual artists have benefited from the Arts/Industry program at Kohler Co. since its inception in 1974. Participants are exposed to technical knowledge that enables them to explore forms and concepts not possible in their own studios as well as new ways of thinking and working.

Artists-in-residence may work in the Kohler Co. Pottery, Iron and Brass Foundries, and Enamel Shop to develop a wide variety of work in clay, enameled cast iron, and brass including but not limited to murals and reliefs, temporary or permanent site-specific installations, and functional and sculptural forms. The residency program is open to all emerging and established visual artists working in any discipline. Applying artists need not be trained ceramists or metal sculptors, but must have the capability of quickly mastering the industrial technologies. Artists may choose to work in either the Pottery or the Foundry/Enamel Shop or both. Not everyone who selects both areas may have the opportunity to work in both areas because of space and personnel limitations. Residencies range from 2 to 6 months.

Applications are accepted year-round with a deadline of April 1 for residencies in the following calendar year. Required materials include: current resume, four references, a brief proposal (limit 200 words), preferred area of concentration, preferred length of residency, and twenty digital images of previous work in JPEG format not exceeding 1920 pixels x 1920 pixels or 1mb per image. Although not mandatory, artists interested in a residency are encouraged to tour Kohler Co. to aid in understanding the possibilities and parameters of the program.