Adirondack Experience Artist-in-Residence Program

2026 Artist-in-Residence Program Announced

Open Application Period: October 3 – December 12, 2025

The Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake, (ADKX) will offer four one-month residencies for artists for its 2026 open season, filled by an application process. For questions, please email Cheryl Braunstein, ADKX Director of Interpretation, at cbraunstein@theadkx.org.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

ADKX will offer four artists a one-month residency, scheduled consecutively in June, July, August, and September. During the residency, the artist will focus on creating their own body of work within the public areas of the museum grounds at least three days per week. The intention of the time during public hours is for artists to spend time pursuing their own creative works, inspired by the natural areas that comprise and surround the museum’s campus as well as key objects and stories within the collection. Artists should plan to be in the public areas a minimum of 6 hours a day, from about 10-4:00PM for each of those three days. Additional time on campus will be at the artist’s discretion. Interactions with the public are intended to be short and informal, and to introduce museum visitors to the artist and the artistic process. Museum staff will work with the selected artists to identify a location(s) that is suitable for them to work. Throughout the residency, artists will have access to the museum’s outdoor areas any time (including trails, though limited access to trails in September due to hunting season) 24-hours a day/7 days a week.

Each artist will also spend two days each week (10-4:30PM) in the museum’s Art Lab (makerspace), working on their own creations at their leisure and guiding drop-in participatory activities for visitors based upon the artist’s own creative style. The artists will casually interact with visitors in the Art Lab, and welcome them to this creative space. ADKX’s Public Programs staff can offer guidance to the artist on activities suitable for the makerspace. Art Lab participatory activities must be designed for visitors to take home with them, and be able to be completed in a relatively short period of time (minimum of 5 minutes). Visitors can choose to stay in the Art Lab for as much or as little time as they want, during open hours. The museum is responsible for supplying Art Lab materials for public use, and will provide those within a specified budget.

The artists-in-residence will also have the opportunity to coordinate with ADKX’s curatorial staff to have a limited amount of time in the collection storage areas to study, sketch, and document works in the collection. The collections will be available to the artist on weekdays before 10:00 AM. Artists can choose, as time and schedules allow, to attend daily morning meetings with exhibit Interpretation staff and regularly scheduled department and all-staff meetings.

APPLICATION:

Artists must submit a proposal for consideration. Proposals must include:

1. One page letter outlining artist’s existing/desired relationship to the Adirondacks. Letter should note how the residency would benefit their body of work and how the region inspires artist’s creativity.
2.  Artist statement/biography
3.  Portfolio of selected works
4.  A conceptual idea for an activity for the ADKX Art Lab, the museum’s makerspace (final activity would be developed in collaboration with staff)
5.  Any known schedule conflicts for each of the four residency months should be identified in the application package. Availability will be taken into consideration during the selection process.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 5:00 EST on December 12, 2025. Any questions should be submitted by December 1, 2025. Completed applications (or a link to an application package) must be sent to Cheryl Braunstein (cbraunstein@theadkx.org). Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.

ADKX welcomes applicants from across cultural disciplines irrespective of race, gender, religion, ability, sexual preference, or nationality, who make work with a direct connection to the visual arts.

Artists who are not legal residents of the United States are responsible for obtaining any required documentation and/or visas for the residency and pay any costs to secure that documentation. ADKX cannot serve as a sponsor in order to obtain a visa, but can provide confirmation of the residency offer.

SELECTION PROCESS:

A panel comprised of ADKX staff and regional artists and arts leaders will review and rank proposals. Zoom interviews will take place in early February with the top-ranking artists. Selection preferences include ensuring a variety of art mediums are represented and the museum’s commitment to showcasing under-collected and under-represented artists.

Selected artists will be notified by February 20, 2026.

BENEFITS:

1. $5000 stipend for the duration of the residency and $500 travel allowance. Artists are expected to provide their own materials, with the exception of those used for the Art Lab activity.
2. On-site housing (no cost).
   Artists will be housed in a large bedroom in the second floor of ADKX’s “Residence” building. The second floor is accessed by a staircase. The room is large enough for two adults, and can be set up with a small work space (for use by the artist and/or a spouse or partner). ADKX will not provide a computer or separate office space; free wi-fi is available. The room is large, but would be cozy for any artist with children over the age of two. The room is private and secured with a lock. The Residence is not a public building, but used regularly by staff and professional visitors. It is locked after hours when staff are not in the office areas. Pets are not allowed on the ADKX campus.
   The first floor of the Residence building includes office areas as well as a large, fully-furnished kitchen and dining area used throughout the day by year-round staff. There are two bedrooms on the second floor. There is a shared full bathroom on that floor used by those occupying the bedrooms. A single person, usually a member of the museum’s seasonal staff, uses the second bedroom. There is a shared washer and dryer on the main floor of the Residence. There is no charge for use of the laundry facilities, but hours are limited to evenings and weekends. Free parking is available in a staff parking area adjacent to the Residence. Wi-fi and all utilities are provided.
3. The artist will offer the museum one work produced through the residency as a first option purchase at a fair market price. The museum may decline to purchase any works at its sole discretion.