The ACRE Residency Program takes place every summer in rural Southwest Wisconsin. Developed as a means to support emerging visual artists, sound artists, musicians, performers, writers and curators, the program provides artists with the opportunity to expand upon their individual practices as well as take part in optional programming within a collaborative community. ACRE’s 14-day residencies host 25-30 residents at a time. Additionally, visiting artists are invited to conduct studio visits and present lectures, discussions, and workshops.
Set on 1,000 acres of wetland, hills, and farmland, the residency facilities include expansive communal work-spaces, a screen-printing studio, an outdoor wood shop, fibers studio, ceramics studio, an art & tech facility, and a sound studio. Shared accommodations are furnished with bathrooms, kitchenettes, and porches. All meals are provided, and are prepared daily using ingredients grown in the surrounding area.
Over the subsequent year, ACRE endeavors to provide further opportunities for exposure and community building to its alumni. Each resident is offered an exhibition opportunity at ACRE’s 1,000 square foot gallery or one of a number of alternative exhibition spaces ACRE has partnered with in Chicago, and is given access to an online “flat file”, where they can develop customizable pages to present their work. These efforts complement other activities and programming designed to create the conditions for a thriving and enduring arts network.