Artisan Residency Program
NWTC Artisan and Business Center Residency Program
The NWTC Artisan and Business Center offers a competitive business-focused residency program to visual artists starting or growing their arts-based business in Northeast Wisconsin. Up to five artists are accepted annually and receive mentorship, educational opportunities, and experiences to grow their arts-based business. There is no cost to apply or participate in the program.
Residency Application
Applications for the July 2025 - July 2026 Residency Program are now closed.
Program Outline
Residency Program Goals
- Encourage and foster entrepreneurship in the arts.
- Mentor artists to develop the business skills needed to be successful.
- Foster and contribute to a creative economy in Northeast Wisconsin.
Annual Timeline:
- May 5, 2025: Applications Open
- June 6, 2025: Applications Close
- End of June: Interviews / Contracts
- Mid July: Announce Artists
- July & August: Artist Orientations
- September: Begin Monthly Meetings
- September - June: Monthly Meetings
- Vision & Future
- Business Basics
- Branding
- Goal Setting
- Website & Online Presence
- Group Critique
- Exhibition Development
- June/July:Residency Exhibition at the Art Garage
- Opening Reception
- Artist Talk at Exhibition
- All applications are reviewed by Artisan Center staff to ensure completion and eligibility.
- Artisan Center staff will select finalists for in-person or virtual interviews.
- Artisan Center staff will select and notify up to 5 artists each year.
- Is the provided application complete and contain sufficient detail related to all application questions?
- Is the artist living and working in Northeast Wisconsin?
- Does the artist produce artwork of quality?
- Is the artist starting and/or growing the business of their established art practice?
- Does the artist show potential to develop a successful business practice?
- Does the artist demonstrate a commitment to participate in all program activities and engage in opportunities offered at the Artisan Center?
- Does the artist have the capacity to create a body of work for exhibition?
- Does the artist demonstrate passion for a creative community?
- Follow above timeline.
- Provide an Open Studio Membership for the duration of the program at no cost.
- Provide website and social media features.
- Provide one non-credit class at no cost.
- Provide opportunities to create community within the cohort and with the Artisan Center’s staff/faculty/students.
- Provide opportunities to meet arts professionals to specifically help advance a resident’s practice.
- Provide exhibition space and marketing for residency exhibition.
*Please note, this is a nontraditional residency. NWTC does not provide studio space, housing, meals, or stipends.
- Participating for the duration of the program from July through June.
- Meeting with program mentor 1x per quarter.
- Attending monthly meetings with residency cohort.
- Engaging in responsive and timely communication.
- Attending and promoting residency events.
- Completing requirements for website and social media features.
- Creating a body of artwork for the culminating exhibition.
- Participating in the Artisan Center’s business-focused speaker series, An Artist’s Journey, near the end of the residency program.

Join us in welcoming the 5th Residency Cohort for the 2024-2025 academic year!
From left to right:
Former Residents
2023-2024
4th Residency Cohort
2022-2023
3rd Residency Cohort
2021-2022
2nd Residency Cohort