Max Thelen Studio Residency - Art Works Downtown, 2024–2025

The Max Thelen Studio Residency provides a quality art space for an emerging artist to create artwork and receive community support. The residency includes a free art studio for 12 months. Ideal candidates live in the Marin/San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area and can commit to regularly making art and participating in program activities. Art Works Downtown offers a diverse mix of studio artists and mediums in the heart of the San Rafael commercial core for regular interaction with the public. The Max Thelen Studio is located on the street-level of the AWD complex.

Benefits include: free art studio with utilities, fees, and operating costs (92 sq. ft. located in the main entrance hallway); a supportive and empathetic environment for the creative process; a solo exhibition in the Founders' Gallery; waived fees for AWD membership and juried exhibitions; representation on AWD's newsletter, website, and social media; exposure to large groups of visitors during 2nd Friday Art Walk events; a scholarship for mandatory participation in Marin Open Studios; and exposure to exhibit procedures and nonprofit arts organization operations. Please note: this residency does not include living accommodations.

Eligibility: Applicants must live within commuting distance to San Rafael, CA, be in the early to middle stage of their art career with a committed art-making practice, and be visual artists. Applicants must submit 5–20 total work samples (0–15 images and 0–5 videos). The deadline to apply is July 6, 2024. Awards will be announced August 6–8, 2024. The studio residency runs September 5, 2024 through August 30, 2025, with the Founders Gallery exhibition scheduled for August 8–September 27, 2024.