Artist-in-residence program

The residency aims to provide emerging and established artists of exceptional merit with an experience of the working conditions that the artist Alex Brown (1966–2019) found in Des Moines, Iowa—the ability to make the work you want to make, free from the daily influence of being immersed in a major metropolitan scene but without the isolation of a rural residency, in an exceptional studio environment and a relaxed and comfortable living environment.

The Alex Brown Foundation & Residency, inaugurated in 2020, offers visiting artists from around the world the unique opportunity to create their work in our intimate, modest-sized city. A residency at The Alex Brown Foundation is ideal for artists looking to work in a spacious private studio without distraction, and access to a unique community.

The artist-in-residence program provides a generous 1400 square foot studio space at Mainframe Studios, a renovated 1970s telecommunications building in downtown Des Moines, a monthly expense allowance of 1,000, up to 1,000 USD airfare or reimbursement for other travel to and from Des Moines, and a fully furnished one-bedroom apartment situated in a quiet centrally located neighborhood, just a three-minute drive and a 14-minute walk from the studio.

Application instructions: The Alex Brown Foundation & Residency is currently accepting applications for its 2025 program. Applications including portfolio, cv, and proposal will be accepted from artists working in any medium with an application fee of 20 USD. The application remains open until March 15, 2024, for three-month residencies beginning January 1, 2025.

To learn more about applying please visit here.