2025 AiR program applications at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts

Founded in 1981, by artists for artists, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts facilitates the creation, presentation, and understanding of contemporary art through an international residency program, exhibitions, and educational programs. Located in the historic Old Market, Omaha’s arts and culture district, Bemis Center serves a critical role in the presentation and understanding of contemporary art, bridging the community of Omaha to a global discourse surrounding cultural production today.

Bemis Center’s core mission has always been to provide artists from around the world with dedicated time, space, and resources to conduct research and create new work across conceptual, material, performative, and social practices. The independently driven atmosphere and communal environment encourage creative growth, experimentation, confrontation of challenges, and cultivation of new ideas. To date, more than 1,000 artists have participated in the residency program.

The Bemis residency is a process-based experience–residents have the ability to research, experiment, and explore free from expectations. Bemis residents enjoy generously-sized, private live/work studios and have 24-hour access to extensive installation and production spaces; the Okada Sculpture & Ceramics Facility, a 9,000 square foot industrial workshop used for large-scale sculpture fabrication; and a Sound Studio for rehearsing and recording.

US-based artists-in-residence receive a 1,250 USD monthly stipend and an additional 750 USD travel stipend. Internationally-based artists receive a 1,500 USD travel stipend. In addition to financial support, residents receive technical and administrative support from a dedicated team of Bemis staff members.

Bemis Center is a host organization through the International Art & Artists Exchange program. Selected international artists-in-residence are encouraged to apply for a J-1 short-term scholar visa through IA&A to be eligible to receive monthly stipend payments. If a J-1 visa is not acquired by an international artist-in-residence, that artist will be subject to payment restrictions specific to their particular visa. B2 visas (touring/visiting) limit payments to international artists-in-residence as reimbursement of qualified expenses only, such as airfare, ground transportation, and meals.

The application is online with a deadline August 1, 2024. There is an application fee of (USD): $40.00.