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City of Madison

Madison Arts Commission Seeks Artist-in-Residence for Thurber Studio

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The front of a metal building with a blue semi circular roof, grey walls, and a sign in blue and yellow that reads "Thurber Park Artist Residency." On the right side of the image a rust colored doorway and a small awning are visible.

The Madison Arts Commission is looking for the next Artist-in-Residence for the Thurber Park Art Studio.  

The artist will have 24-hour access to a free private art studio at Thurber Park for 11 months, with the opportunity to extend the residency for another 12 months. The artist will receive a $7,800 stipend per year to cover costs associated with required community engagement activities. 

The primary goal of the residency is to provide an artist with the funding, time, and space to develop their artistic practice. The artist must also engage residents in the Darbo-Worthington neighborhood and build deeper community connections through monthly open studio sessions and twice-yearly hands-on programming. They will also research the public art industry, explore how their work can translate to the public realm, and potentially create and install a public art piece. 

This residency is designed to support an artist interested in creating permanent public art. As Madison's public art program continues to grow (partly due to the Percent for Art Ordinance), many new opportunities are outdoors. We encourage artists to apply who already create work that is suitable for the outdoor settings or who are interested in adapting their practice for public, outdoor environments. 

How to Apply 

The Thurber Park Artist-in-Residence is open applicants from anywhere; however, the artist must commit to residing in Madison for the duration of the residency. The residency is anticipated to start October 1, 2026, and end August 31, 2027, with an option to renew for one year to August 31, 2028.  We will consider artists of all disciplines and mediums that can safely work in the structure and are an appropriate fit for a residential area. Artist pairs will also be considered.  

Applications are due by 2:00pm on May 7, 2026. 

Apply Online 

By activating this space, the Thurber Park Artist Residency will give substantial support to an artist to develop their practice, including:

  • Studio

    24-hour access to a private studio in the Trachte Hut at 3325 Thurber Avenue. This includes electricity, water, sewer, one parking spot and bathroom facilities. This does not include internet. 

  • Stipend

    An annual stipend of $7,800 to cover costs associated with required community engagement activities and other expenses occurred in this role. 

  • Mentorship

    Monthly check-in meetings with Madison Arts Staff, quarterly consultations with a public art professional, loaning library public art resources. 

  • Promotion

    Website presence, annual media release and social media post, and events in occasional Madison Arts Newsletters. 

  • Potential Public Art Commission

    The City may choose to commission a public artwork from the artist, however, this is not guaranteed. If a public art commission arises during or after the residency, the City will contract with the artist separately. Madison Arts Staff will determine the project's location and budget in collaboration with the artist. 

Previous Artists-in-Residence

Past Thurber Artists-in-Residence have included Eric Adjetey Anang (2019-2022), Ash Armenta (2022-2024) and Jennifer Bastian (2024-2026). 

Each resident took their own unique approach to the residency. Last year, Jennifer Bastian collaborated with the community to produce the SUN WILL FIND US, a temporary exhibition that popped up on residences and community spaces across the Darbo neighborhood. The 13 vibrant, hand-sewn banners each featured a section of a longer poem written by Bastian. The banners transformed familiar, everyday places into points of reflection, connection, and care. 

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