Founded in 1981, by artists for artists, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts facilitates the creation, presentation, and understanding of contemporary art through an international residency program, exhibitions, and educational programs. Located in the historic Old Market, Omaha’s arts and culture district, Bemis Center serves a critical role in the presentation and understanding of contemporary art, bridging the community of Omaha to a global discourse surrounding cultural production today.

Bemis Center’s core mission has always been to provide artists from around the world dedicated time, space, and resources to conduct research and to create new work across conceptual, material, performative, and social practices. The independently driven atmosphere and communal environment encourage creative growth, experimentation, confrontation of challenges, and cultivation of new ideas. To date, more than 1,000 artists have participated in the residency program.

**Time + Space**

The Bemis residency is a process-based experience–residents have the ability to research, experiment, and explore free from expectations. Bemis residents enjoy generous sized, private live/work studios and have 24-hour access to extensive installation and production spaces; the Okada Sculpture & Ceramics Facility, a 9,000 square foot industrial workshop used for large-scale sculpture fabrication; and a Sound Studio for rehearsing and recording.

**Community**

Bemis offers opportunities to meet local and regional artists, arts professionals, and others that may specifically help advance a resident’s practice.

**Financial Support**

Selected **US-based artists-in-residence** receive a $1,250 USD monthly stipend and an additional $750 USD travel stipend.

  
Bemis Center is a host organization through the International Art & Artists Exchange program. Selected **international artists-in-residence** are encouraged to apply for a J-1 short-term scholar visa through IA&A to be eligible to receive monthly stipend payments. If a J-1 visa is not acquired by an international artist-in-residence, that artist will be subject to payment restrictions specific to their particular visa. B2 visas (touring/visiting) limit payments to international artists-in-residence as reimbursement of qualified expenses only, such as airfare, ground transportation, and meals.

**Technical + Administrative Support**

In addition to financial support, residents receive technical and administrative support from a dedicated team of Bemis staff members.

2026 Spring Artist-in-Residence

Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts launched its Sound Art + Experimental Music Program in May 2019 with generous support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Embedded within Bemis Center’s renowned international Residency Program, this program offers a unique experience for artists working in sound, composition, voice, and experimental music.
  
  

 Awarded U.S.-based artists-in-residence receive a $1,250 USD monthly stipend, a $750 USD travel stipend, and a $2,500 USD materials budget. Due to the limitations of B2 visas (touring/visiting), international artists-in-residence are eligible to receive reimbursement of qualified expenses, including airfare, ground transportation, and meals. 

  
Sound Art + Experimental Music artists-in-residence have 24-hour access to Bemis Center’s Sound Studio, a 1,000 square foot shared workspace that includes a variety of instruments, microphones, and software to assist and expand creative processes. Selected residents will also have access to installation and production spaces and the Okada Sculpture & Ceramics Facility.

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Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts