FAQ

General

Is the ACRE Residency open to International applicants?

Yes, the ACRE Residency Program is open to artists from anywhere in the world. However, please keep in mind that we are unable to provide aid with travel costs to any accepted resident. We are happy to help those traveling from afar with visa applications or provide a physical acceptance letter for grant applications, etc.

Why is there an application fee?

While we try to keep our costs to artists as low as possible, we must charge an application fee in order to compensate the admissions panelists and administrative staff who dedicate their time to processing and reviewing hundreds of applications. An application fee also helps us to keep the cost of the residency fee at a reasonable rate. We offer a free application period each year which takes place the first 1-2 weeks of the application period.

I’m an ACRE Alumni, can I apply to attend the residency again?

Our policy is that alumni cannot attend the residency two years in a row. So, if you attended in 2021, you are not eligible to apply again this year: you will have to wait until 2023. Alumni from 2019 or earlier may apply again this year.

What about work-study opportunities?

In an effort to create a more equitable environment and expand on the communal spirit of the program, ACRE no longer offers work-study positions for a discount on the residency fee. We now award 10 half-scholarships instead, and enlist the help of the entire residency community to cover chores that the work-study residents were responsible for. This means that all residents will be asked to chip in for 1-2 nights helping to wash dishes.

Application

How do I get back to my saved in-progress application?

Go to apply.acreresidency.org and enter your email address to be sent your application link. As you progress through your application you can save your work. Save the emailed link to return to your application at any time.  

When and how do I pay the application fee?

Once you have completed the application form and wish to submit it, you will be linked to PayPal where you can use credit card, debit card or PayPal balance to pay the fee. The application fee for the 2022 ACRE Residency Application increases incrementally according to the following timeline:

February 1 - 8: Free 

February 9 - March 12: $40 

March 13 - 21: $50 

Why is it important that I provide information about my dietary restrictions or medical concerns?

This information is crucial for us to be able to ensure that if accepted, your time at the residency is safe and comfortable. The kitchen works hard to make sure that everyone’s allergies and restrictions are accommodated. Sometimes they need more information in order to do so, and may contact you. On the very rare occasion that we feel we may not be able to accommodate a certain dietary or medical concern, you may be contacted for further information, and this is best done early in the admissions process.

Please note that while our kitchen will try its hardest to accommodate special dietary needs, we encourage those who have unusual or very limited diets to understand that our volunteers are cooking for 60+ people twice a day. Your patience and flexibility when possible is appreciated. There are restaurants and grocery stores nearby that you may want to consider for supplementing your food, or plan to bring food items that you may need.

Why do you collect demographic information and how is it used?

We collect demographic information to better understand our community and therefore support it to the best of our ability. We use this information as a metric to ensure that we are meeting our goal to build and support a community of artists with diverse backgrounds in terms of location, medium, experience, ethnicity, age, education level, etc. Additionally, funding organizations that we seek support from request this information in grant proposals and reporting. This information is not provided to our Admissions Panel and is not associated with individual names when used for reporting. The only time in which this information may be associated with individual names is by administrative staff when identifying applicants who are eligible for special scholarships.

Admission to ACRE, the awarding of scholarships, and the pursuit of all ACRE activities are implemented without preference to racial or ethnic origins, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, ability, age, education level, etc.

For the race/ethnicity questions, we ask that you answer both by selecting pre-determined categories and by self-identifying in the blank field provided.

What is the difference between a general scholarship and a special scholarship?

General scholarships are open to any applicant who exhibits financial need. General scholarships are provided by individual donors and other fundraising initiatives. In order to apply for a general scholarship, you must select general scholarship on the application form and provide a statement regarding your current financial picture including current income, any dependents, and debts. General scholarships are awarded based on both merit as determined by our admissions process and need as determined by an admissions committee review of financial need statements.

Special scholarships are open to any applicant that meets the criteria required for each scholarship as outlined here. Special scholarships are provided by individual donors and institutions that want to provide the opportunity for a residency free of charge to a particular kind of artist. In order to apply for a special scholarship you must select the scholarship(s) you would like to be considered for on the application form and meet the criteria. Criteria are verified by administrative staff before scholarships are awarded.

How do I apply as a collaborative group?

You may apply with another applicant or applicants as a collaborative project. Please enter a name for your collaborative group- it can be as simple as “your name + your collaborator’s name.” Make sure that all members of the collaborative group use the same exact name on each application, or you will not be matched up during the review process.

Each member of the collaboration must complete the top portion of the application form and submit the application with the application fee. However, only one primary application should include the written portion and portfolio. You must indicate if yours is the primary application.

On the primary application, you are encouraged to indicate in your written answer whether this is an ongoing collaboration or if it is just for this residency. If an ongoing collaboration, please use a statement and work samples that reflect the collaboration as much as possible. If a new collaboration, you may use a statement and work samples from each member. Keep in mind that you must still enter all written answers and work samples on only the primary application, and your total number of work samples remains 10 files and/or 5 minutes of time based work, total.

There is one exception: if all members of the collaborative group would like to include a CV, then each member should upload their CV to their own application.

What should I include in my written section?

This section is an opportunity to set yourself apart from the hundreds of other applicants. Avoid generic answers: please be detailed and give an answer that is specific to your unique practice and experience.

Why do I need to select my primary area of work?

We ask that applicants identify their primary area of work to help determine which panelists will review your application. Our admissions panel is composed of a diverse group of artists and arts professionals working in a range of media, so we want to ensure that each application is reviewed appropriately. This does not limit your application from being reviewed by panelists in other media as well.

What information should I include in the very last field on the application?

Applicants can optionally note their access needs in this field. This information does not go into the applicant review. ACRE is committed to being open and accessible to all artists. We are eager to work with you directly to ensure we will be able to meet your needs. For more information about accessibility at the residency please see our accessibility page.

This field is also where we collect information about concerns related to housing or sleeping needs. You can indicate if you would like to be placed in a shared room with another applicant or share a bed with another applicant in a private room. Please note: the majority of our housing for residents is shared. Private rooms are limited and meant for two people who want to share a bed or for those with particular needs that require private housing. 

Additionally you can use this space to let us know if there are any particular sessions you absolutely can not attend, if you have to leave early or come late, if you want to attend a session with another applicant or staff member, etc. We try our hardest to accommodate requests, but may not always be able to.

Will there be an application deadline extension?

In the past we have offered a deadline extension, however, this year we may not be able to do so. Most commonly, we will have a 24 hour extension announced the day before the due date. Any last minute extensions will be announced via Instagram and Facebook. Please plan to submit the application by the published deadline, 11:59PM CST, March 20, 2022.

How do I ensure that my application is submitted by the deadline?

Things always take longer than you expect! To ensure that your application is submitted in time, we recommend that you upload files and save your writing at least 1 hour before the stated deadline. Our application system automatically stops receiving applications at the stated deadline. Additionally, we do not have the capacity to assist you with technical difficulties in the final minutes or sometimes even hours before the application closes. 

We want to help! For us to be able to fully support you with uploading your application, or any surprise technical issues that may arise, we need you to communicate with us in advance of the deadline. Please plan to start your application several days in advance to ensure that should you need help we can respond before the deadline and properly address your specific needs.  

We all fall behind, get overwhelmed, and leave things to the last minute and that is ok! But if you submit your application in the final hour of the application period, be aware that we may not be able to help if difficulty arises. We hope that you will apply again next year! 

I submitted my application but did not receive a confirmation email.

If you submit your application and do not receive a confirmation email, please contact us at application@acreresidency.org.

I need to update my application, but I already submitted it.

Contact application@acreresidency.org to let us know if you need to make any changes to your application after you have submitted it. We will likely make the update for you, or may re-open your application for you if necessary.

Portfolio

What sizes and formats are accepted for my work samples?

File formats should be as follows:

images: JPEG or GIF (max: 1600 pixels on one side)
documents: PDF (max: 20 MB, up to 5 pages)
audio: MP3
video: H.264 codec, max bit rate 10.0 Mbit/s, max 1080p in MOV or MP4 container.

Image files will automatically be re-sized if they are larger than the above dimensions but less than 4096 pixels to a side. For images larger than 4096 pixels, please resample them yourself, then upload.

Can I include the maximum number of work samples- 10 images/text docs and 5 minutes of time-based work?

While you are allowed to include the maximum of 10 files and 5 minutes of time-based work, we encourage you to consider quality over quantity when putting together your application. Keep in mind that the admissions panelists are viewing hundreds of applications and thousands of work samples. A tight selection of strong samples can go a long way towards a higher score. Please be considerate of the time you are asking to be spent in reviewing your application.

Why can’t I submit a PDF of compiled work sample images?

The way our application review site is designed, PDFs are meant for predominantly text-based work samples or for work that is documented non-traditionally (performance, social practice projects, etc). If you submit a PDF with images it will not display well to the admissions panel. Please submit images as JPGs or GIFs. You have the opportunity to add captions through the application form.

Why am I getting the message “file name has no extension” when uploading?

On the Mac, files usually have an extension in the file name, but are not required to. Simply rename the file and add at the end “.jpg” or “.mov” or the extension for one of the other supported file types, as appropriate.

Why am I getting the message “bit rate must be 10.0 Mbit/s or less” when uploading a video?

When exporting your video, select a bit rate of around 9.0 megabit (that’s 9216 kbit, by the way), and you should come in under the limit. Some programs are not entirely exact about this setting, and your video will only be accepted by the system if it is less than or exactly equal to 10 megabit per second. Also, if you use 720p for the resolution (rather than the max of 1080p), then you should not need any more than about 5 megabit/s.

How and why should I add a caption to my work samples?

You may include up to 200 characters of description for each file you upload, whether audio, images, text, video, etc. Do this by clicking on each file name after you upload your file(s). Please use this space to provide information that will help reviewers in understanding your work samples such as title, date, medium, dimensions and brief description. A description is especially helpful for documentation of performance or social practice projects and use of exceptional processes or materials. If you choose not to enter your own caption, the default caption will be the file name. You will not have the opportunity to include a separate title list, so this is where you should include all information about each sample.

How can I edit the order in which my work samples are seen?

The order in which your work samples are seen by the admissions panel is the order in which they are arranged when you submit your application. You can determine the order of your work samples by dragging the file boxes into your preferred order once they are uploaded.

*Tip: Put your strongest work at the beginning of the portfolio.

I want to include moving image or time based work samples (film, video, performance, sound, media-installation, etc). What should I do?

We expect at least 700 applications to be reviewed by our volunteer panelists. To ensure that time-based work samples are optimally suited for this process, we highly recommend the following when preparing your materials:

• Each application is reviewed by at least 8-10 panelists over 3 rounds of review. In the final, in person, round of the admissions process, we will play short excerpts from your time-based work samples. The panelists will still have had the opportunity to see your full work sample in advance. Fill in the 'timecode' field (click where it says, "None") to specify where you would like this excerpt to begin. Add this field to your top 1 to 3 time-based files. Format: MM:SS
• Please use a timecode of 00:01 instead of 00:00 to excerpt from the beginning of your file.
• Use the text box/caption for each file uploaded to include info for the work to help contextualize the work for the application reviewers. e.g. include: title, year, duration, medium/materials.
• Consider including a PDF that gives supporting info for time-based works you’ve submitted – be clear and concise (no more than 1 page per work submitted). For example, you may include: a brief description for the work; video stills from the work, or installation or performance shots; any important details pertaining to the work; a link to the entire work if it's available online, in case the application reviewer would like to view the work further.

Is a CV required and why should I include it?

CVs or résumés are not required as part of the application. You may want to include your CV to help give panelists a broader sense of your practice. Panelists use information from CVs to help understand how well you may fit into the communal atmosphere of the residency, if your practice is considered emerging, and if you would benefit from ACRE’s program and resources, etc.

If all members of a collaborative group would like to include a CV, then each member should upload their CV to their own application.

Admissions

When will I know if I’ve been accepted?

Admissions decisions will likely be released in late-April, and no later than May 1.

When do I need to confirm attendance after I’ve been accepted?

Applicants awarded a residency will have at least 2 weeks to confirm their residency, once they’ve received an acceptance letter. No extensions will be allowed, except in extreme circumstances.

If I’m on the wait-list, how long before I know if I’ve been accepted?

Applicants may be on the wait-list for up to one month after being placed on the wait-list, before a final decision is announced.

I was accepted but there was no mention of a scholarship in my acceptance letter. I can not attend without financial help.

Please contact us regarding your situation. It is possible that other artists awarded financial aid may be unable to attend or more financial aid will open up. We can place you on a separate wait-list for financial aid, but cannot guarantee any will become available. Upon request, we are happy to work with residents to create an alternative payment plan of up to 4 payments due by September, if needed. Please note that the first installment of the residency fee is non-refundable, as we may not be able to fill a vacancy with short notice.

If I've been accepted but cannot attend, can I defer to the following year?

Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to manage deferrals year to year. You will have to re-apply again the following year.