The Grand Center for Arts & Culture (GCAC) is a nonprofit community hub for arts and cultural experiences housed in the former Grand Hotel building. They provide the community with an art gallery, private artist studio spaces, an arts education area, and live performance spaces. Their mission is “to enrich community life through arts and cultural education and experiences; and support local artists by offering them opportunities to develop and demonstrate their artistry.”
GCAC is pleased to announce its artist residency program for the calendar year 2026. They are inviting guest artists to apply for a residency with the opportunity to use the Cellar Press studios — letterpress, printmaking, and bookbinding — to create works of art or as an integral part of their artistic practice. Residencies last two–three weeks, and while artists are not required to live in New Ulm, they are expected to spend a significant amount of time in the studios gaining skills and producing work.
Applications are open August 15 – October 15 2025.
qualifications
The Grand will host up to eight residents during the 2026 calendar year, with priority given to early career artists. To be considered “early career,” artists must have been generating work in their medium for 2-10 years outside of a degree-granting program. Students, recent graduates, mid-career, and established artists are encouraged to apply, as well. The selection committee may choose to award one residency to an out-of-state artist, however, our priority is supporting Minnesota artists.
Please note that they cannot accommodate pets during artist residencies. A spouse, family member, or friend may visit for a short time during the course of the residency (maximum of two nights stay).
Benefits
- Materials Stipend
- Grand Membership: a $100 value
- All-hours access to Cellar Press during residency period
- Free lodging at The Grand Apartment (food not included)
- Stipend of $300 per week paid to individual artists
- Storage space for supplies and consumables
- Participation in the Artist Residency Gallery Show held annually
- Profiles in GCAC print and online communications
EXPECTATIONS
Artists-in-residence are expected to:
- Be a current resident of Minnesota.
- Have some technical skills in the medium they pursue (GCAC staff will introduce artists to the specifics of Cellar Press equipment and available materials, and artists will complete a virtual equipment training).
- Immerse themselves in a new or continuing body of work.
- Work independently in the GCAC Cellar Press studio.
- Lead a public (virtual and/or in-person) community project. Examples include public demonstrations; teaching a class on printmaking or book arts; presenting an activity for public engagement at a farmer’s market or festival; a public art installation or performance; leading a workshop at one of our summer Kid’s Creativity Camps; designing and carving a series of linoleum blocks for The Grand’s use at events, demonstrations, etc. Feel free to propose an idea other than what is listed here!
- Provide The Grand with at least two works produced during the residency for The Grand’s exclusive use.
- Maintain a safe and clean working area.
- Complete an exit interview upon the completion of the residency.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be actively engaged in an artistic practice with an interest in book arts, letterpress, or printmaking. Artists are expected to spend significant time in the studios and produce works (either as a part of an exploration, a limited series, or a cohesive body of work), and have a willingness to demonstrate their practice through informal and/or formal presentation.
Applicants must submit the following items in two documents, saved as either doc, docx, or pdf files:
Document 1:
- Artist resume (3 page maximum).
- Artist statement or bio (approx. 300 words maximum).
- Project proposal (approx. 500 words maximum). Applicants are required to submit a realistic proposal that demonstrates their vision and how they will utilize GCAC studios and equipment.
- Community component proposal (approx. 300 words maximum). Applicants are required to describe their ideas for a community outreach component of their proposal which meets the expectations outlined above.
- 2025 Availability.
Document 2:
- Six-eight image samples. Applicants are required to submit a minimum of six and a maximum of eight image samples. Images should be presented as a portfolio with the following information appearing along with the image: title, medium, size, and year completed. The maximum file size for the portfolio is 40 MB.
APPLICATION DEADLINE/Details
All materials must be submitted via application form on The Grand’s website: include link here by Wednesday, October 15 at midnight CST.
Artists will be contacted in early December.
The earliest residency may begin in January (residency dates to be negotiated with artists).
GCAC STUDIOS AND EQUIPMENT
The Cellar Press artist studio at The Grand is well equipped with both state-of-the-art and vintage presses and other letterpress tools, including: an SP-15 Vandercook press (non-motorized), a Vandercook 215 (motorized inking), a Vandercook 1 proofing press, Showcard Press, several small Platen presses, a 1938 Kluge, and a Takach 24’ by 36’ etching press. We have a large collection of vintage metal and wood type, as well as printing ink for use in the studio. Our bookbinding equipment includes a variety of hand tools for leather tooling, a board shear, Advance guillotine paper cutter, Kwikprint foil stamper, finishing press, nipping presses, and job backer.
SELECTION PROCESS
Applications are reviewed, via blind evaluation, by a jury of GCAC staff and area artist professionals. Applicants are evaluated and selected based on the quality of the materials submitted, with the most weight given to the project proposal and work samples, and with special consideration given to early career artists. Artists with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences are strongly encouraged to apply. They encourage artists that identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or artists with disabilities to apply. All artists will be notified in late December 2025.
