Artist In Residence
Artist In Residence
All current residents will be returning for the upcoming 2023-2024 term.
We are not accepting applications at this time.
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Residency Information
Year Long Residencies: A strong desire to teach is required. Artists with more than one area of expertise and a BFA/MFA or equivalent experience are preferred. This residency can be extended an additional year if both the LUX and the artist agree.
The application fee has been eliminated for this program.
Program Description
LUX Center for the Arts has been the heart of creativity in Lincoln for more than 40 years. We provide an inclusive, community focused environment for artists of all ages and skill levels. Our artists in residency program allows us to teach and grow emerging artists by offering them studio space, quality teaching experience, and exhibiting work in our gallery. Our diverse programs, events, classes, and memberships are what make art happen in our community.
LUX Center for the Arts began its residency program in 2003 to provide emerging artists with opportunities to hone their studio skills and gain an appreciation for teaching public art classes for youth and adults. Residencies are offered in ceramics, painting, drawing, mixed media, fibers, metals, and darkroom photography. These opportunities are tailored to artists who have an appreciation for community both at the LUX and within the larger context of Lincoln.
The mission of the LUX Center for the Arts is to enhance the lives of a diverse public through the visual arts by providing exceptional learning opportunities in contemporary art, craft, and design. These opportunities, honoring the legacy of arts educator Gladys M. Lux, include art classes, residency programs, gallery exhibitions and community outreach.
Eligibility
BFA or MFA encouraged. Equivalent experience (residencies, apprenticeships, internships, or other non-traditional education experiences) will be considered. Residencies are granted based on quality of work, desire to teach, community-mindedness, and experience. Residents teach a variety of classes to all age levels, so experience teaching and artists with more than one area of expertise are preferred.
International artists may apply but you must already have a visa that allows you to work. Artists-in-Residence are employees of the LUX and must be able to receive pay for their stipend and teaching compensation. LUX is unable to sponsor visa applications at this time.
Selection Process
Residents are selected by a panel consisting of LUX staff members. The residency term is one year and may be renewed for a second year. We try to have 4 residents at a time; one potter, one sculptor, one draw/painter, and one printmaker. Other media considered can be fibers, photo, metals, printmaking, or mixed media.
The LUX is committed to ensuring equitable access to our residency program for traditionally marginalized artists. Our staff, volunteers, and board created a new strategic plan in February 2020 which prioritizes the inclusion of marginalized people in the leadership and staffing of the LUX. We always encourage feedback from our staff and community on how we can do better. LUX does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, financial status, or marital status in its programs, activities, and employment.
Residency Expectations
Teaching Opportunities– Residents teach the majority of educational programming at the LUX. AIRs can expect to teach anywhere between 15-30 hours per week, based on the desired teaching load of the artist. Those include but are not limited to:
- Evening adult classes: Held Tuesdays-Thursdays, 6:30-9pm, year round. Offered in 4-6 week sessions. AIRs teach 1-2 per week.
- Saturday youth classes: Offered in 4-week sessions, year round. AIRs teach 2 per week.
- Private/birthday parties: Scheduled upon request by customer. Offered year-round.
- Private lessons: Offered in 4-week sessions, October-April. AIRs typically teach 1-2 per week, but can be coordinated to fit your desired number of hours.
- Workshops: Typically offered Monday evenings, Friday evenings, and some Saturday afternoons, year-round. AIRs can expect to teach 1-2 per week.
- Outreach: Outreach includes after-school clubs at Title I elementary schools, retirement homes, and youth services centers. AIRs teach 1-2 per week, September-December and January-May.
- Summer Camps: Offered in 3-hour, Monday-Friday sessions. Summer camps typically run first week of June though early August. AIRs teach 1 per week.
All prepatory work and staff meetings are paid as well. LUX Staff works to make sure schedules are planned several weeks in advance and a majority of time-off requests are met.
Although the LUX has a set of standard classes that we regularly offer, the Education Department encourages AIRs to propose classes that align with their specific skills and interests.
COVID Policy: All LUX Staff are required to be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19. Masks are currently optional indoors for all staff and patrons.
Gallery Experience – AIRs may work 1-2, 3-hour shifts in LUX's gallery per week. Typical shifts include installing or de-installing shows, uploading work onto LUX's website and standard customer service. A throughout training is offered at the beginning of the residency.
Volunteer Events – The LUX hosts 2-3 annual Community Events per year, in which AIRs volunteer their time. AIRs are expected to set up, lead an activity, and clean up after each event alongside other LUX Staff and volunteers. AIRs are also expected to attend monthly First Friday events and the LUX Annual Art Auction. AIRs also volunteer for 1 Open Studio shift per week, though LUX Staff works to align AIR's Open Studio shifts with an evening they are scheduled to teach.
2022-2023 AIR Orientation Schedule
2022-2023 AIRs are expected to arrive before Saturday, August 6th, 2022. All training + orientations are paid.
- Saturday, August 6th - Orientation, lunch included
- Monday, August 8 to Saturday, August 13 - Shadow Camps + Saturday Classes
- Pick some dates between Aug 8-Aug 19th - Shadow Adult Classes
Residency Benefits
Studio Access – All residents are entitled to a free private studio space, 24-hour access to the building, and use of all studio equipment. Ceramics residents have access to regularly stocked clay and glaze materials and free use of kilns in exchange for studio maintenance duties. All residents can buy materials from the LUX at cost.
Housing Stipend - All residents recieve a $400 per month housing stipend. A full breakdown of income is detailed below under Financial Support.
Materials Stipend – Residents receive an $120 a month stipend that is intended to help purchase art supplies.
Exhibition Opportunities – All residents are offered representation in the sales gallery for the duration of their residency. Residents of a year or longer are also given a solo exhibition during one of the final months of their residency. There are also two experimental galleries where residents can try their hand at curating group exhibitions as well as student and community shows.
LUX Gallery Shop – AIRs are welcome to submit work into the LUX's in-person and online shop.
Conference Attendance – Residents can attend one conference each year of their residency. The maximum registration fee LUX will cover is $300 per resident per year. Additional funds may be available to cover travel expenses, but they are evaluated on a case by case basis.
Additional Benefits – Residents also receive 30% off artwork and 50% off classes and workshops.
Private Resident Studios
90 sq. ft. - 140 sq. ft. private studios are provided for each resident. Private AIR studios are adjacent to our community teaching spaces and all have access to shared restrooms, sink, and kitchenette. Studio assignments are based on seniority and size of artwork. Additional workspace is available in our larger teaching studios as needed. All residents have access to equipment regardless of artistic discipline. Training on other equipment can be provided if needed. .
Facilities
Ceramics Center:
600 sq. ft. handbuilding studio with small slab roller, wall-mounted clay extruder, and commercial lowfire glazes. Five electric kilns: one test kiln, one small kiln, three standard size Skutt kilns. All are computer contrled.
Gas Kiln - A downdraft, soft brick reduction kiln with 14 cubic feet of stacking space powered with Ward forced air burners (the hot rod of kiln burners!). The kiln will be capable of cone 6 - 10 reduction / oxidation firings. Makers of larger scale clay works will appreciate the kiln's front load design that maximizes loading space with a center pivot door as well as the addition of Ransome piggy back pilot burners making long, controlled preheats possible.
370 sq. ft. throwing studio with 9 electric wheels.
120 sq. ft. Dry materials and clay mixing room with a large selection of dry materials and Peter Pugger mixer dedicated to mixing our teaching studio claybody which is lowfire red earthenware.
100 sq. ft. Dry materials and glaze mixing room with a large selection of glaze materials for community studio and personal use.
Education Wing:
670 sq. ft. classroom with Takach Etching Press (26×40″ bed) silkscreen supplies, and power-washing booth.
600 sq. ft. mixed media studio with ft.72 sq. ft. basic metals studio with acetylene torches, large metal shear, rolling mill, and sandblaster.
Galleries:
West Gallery - 36'x27' exhibition space curated by exhibition committee, shows change bimonthly
East Gallery - 15'x20' exhibition space curated by exhibition committee, shows change monthly. Residents have their solo show in this space.
Gladys Lux Print Collection – a museum space where exhibitions change quarterly and are curated out of our historic print collection. Prints were collected by our founder Gladys Lux to use as teaching tools for her university students.
Wake Gallery - 18'x12' exhibition space for student and community exhibitions, shows change monthly
Community Gallery – 40'x30' exhibition space for student and community exhibitions, shows change monthly
Financial Support
LUX is committed to paying artists for their time. While there is the $120 a month materials stipend, $400 a month housing stipend, residents earn most of their money by teaching classes for the LUX, working in the gallery, and selling their work in our gallery shop. Residents are responsible for their own living expenses. LUX Center for the Arts offers no housing for residents, but there are many affordable housing options in our University Place/East Campus neighborhood.
Income Range - All residents are expected to teach a minimum of 15 hours per week but they can decide if they would like to take on additional hours. Below is an explanation of expected income based on the number of hours per week worked. Additional teaching hours are almost always available. Gallery hours are available seasonally/as needed.
- 15 hours per week: $1600 per month
- 20 hours per week: $1960 per month
- 25 hours per week: $2320 per month
- 30 hours per week: $2680 per month
The numbers above reflect the pre-tax totals of hours worked at $18/hour x 4 weeks per month + $400 housing stipend + $120 materials stipend. LUX employees are paid monthly.
Residents who desire a second job are advised to work no more than 1-2 days a week at that position as studio time and paid teaching should be their primary focus.
Email lindsey@luxcenter.org with AIR program or application questions.
