artist residency 2026
Residency Period: July - October 2026.
For the 2026 Studio Residency program, we’ll invite one early career and one mid-career artist. You'll choose one of the mediums supported at CAFAC as your residency focus.
Program Goals
To provide the space, training, resources, and nurturing environment for artists to deepen and expand their artistic practice, and for them to provide inspiration and a path for others to follow.
To provide artists the opportunity to create independent work, enhancing their economic opportunities and furthering CAFAC’s commitment to help artists earn a living.
To increase representation of diverse artists in the art forms that CAFAC supports.
To respect traditional processes and techniques while encouraging innovative exploration and creative problem solving.
Residency Structure
Studio Residencies at CAFAC have a four-month work period (July - October), with a final fifth month (November) set aside for a culminating project. Residencies coincide with our education program schedule to allow residents to take a class if they choose.
All residencies will have a culminating project. The project could be an exhibit in our gallery, delivery of a workshop, installation of a public artwork, or another goal the artist wishes to achieve.
Studio Residency Structure
Studio Residency at CAFAC is four months long, from July through October. This coincides with our education program schedule, allowing you to take a class if you choose.
All residencies will have a culminating project. The project could be an exhibit in our gallery, delivery of a workshop, a community event, installation of a public artwork, or another goal you wish to achieve. If you choose to do a gallery exhibit at CAFAC, it will take place in November, the month following your residency. Please note: your exhibit may share space in our gallery, if both residents choose this option.
As a Studio Resident, you’ll have access to CAFAC’s well-equipped facilities which support a range of fire arts forms. Because four months goes by quickly, we ask you to choose one medium as your primary focus:
Blacksmithing:** Shape metal with forge, hammer, and anvil to create decorative ironwork, tools, and more.
Enamel: Fuse pigmented glass powder to metal to create durable graphical designs. An excellent way for illustrators and painters to dip a toe into the fire arts. CAFAC is home to one of the only public art-scale enameling kilns in the country.
Glass Lampworking/Torchworking: Melt and fuse glass rods with an oxy-fuel torch to create small sculptures, beads, and more.
Stained Glass: Cut colored glass pieces and solder them into place using copper foil or lead came.
Jewelry/small sculpture: Create small pieces using precious metal clay, centrifugal and vacuum casting, soldering, and metalsmithing techniques.
Metal Casting: Create molds of sand, clay, investment, or ceramic shell to cast pieces of aluminum, bronze, or iron.
Neon: Bend glass tubing by hand to create glowing electric sculptures.
Welding: Fuse, cut, and color metals using gas torches and electric welders.
You’ll have access to CAFAC during all open hours (~50 hours per week) with the expectation that you’ll work in the facility about 15 hours per week. If you’re working in areas that require scheduled or intensive resources, such as casting or enameling, you may be asked to coordinate aspects of your work with our class schedules.
CAFAC is an active, shared community space. An advantage of our residency program is that you’ll be able to work and learn alongside other studio users, teaching artists, and students. Consider your learning style. If you’re able to create in a dynamic environment, this residency may be an ideal fit for you.
Prior to beginning project work, you’ll participate in a two-week training period that introduces our safety and equipment usage protocols so that you’re able to work independently.