The Studio 24 Residency for BIPOC Creatives
The Studio 24 Residency is an artist residency at The Union for Contemporary Art that supports artists from traditionally marginalized communities outside of the Omaha Metro Area by providing them with time, space, and resources to deepen their connection to their creative practice. The residency is supported by The Wallace Foundation as part of their Advancing Well-Being in the Arts initiative. Each year, The Union will invite three artists who identify as persons of color, including but not limited to artists from the African Diaspora, Indigenous, Latina/Latino, Middle Eastern, and/or Asian descent, to join us as residents.
Studio 24 residents will receive the following support from The Union:
- An honorarium of $2000 per month ($6000 in total)
A materials + supply stipend of $1000
A food + incidentals stipend of $200 per month ($600 in total)
A travel stipend (up to $800) to cover the expense of getting to and from Omaha, NE
Lodging on-site in the Kali Baker Studio, a fully furnished living space within our facility, that includes a well-equipped kitchen, bath, and personal laundry room
A well-lit studio space and access to The Union’s Co-Op Studios
Artists participating in the residency are asked to design a community engagement project. This is a reciprocal exchange: our community gets to engage with the artist's work and life experience, and the artist gets to deepen their understanding of the communities we serve.
Project ideas are flexible and can include a workshop series, an interactive exhibition, a public art installation, a performance series, or a documentation project.
The Studio 24 Residency is an invitational program for BIPOC seasoned and experienced artists with socially engaged practices. We support artists working in interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts. By carefully selecting artists, we provide our community with unique and impactful opportunities to engage with their work, gaining new perspectives and enriching cultural experiences.
Interested in Being Considered?
Click here to tell us a bit about yourself and your practice.
The Union for Contemporary Art is committed to removing barriers to the arts by providing programs, facilities, and services that are accessible to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender expression, sexual identity, income level, age, physicality, or disability. Please click here to learn more about our facility and our commitment to accessibility.
If you have questions about the Studio 24 Residency, please connect with Exhibitions + Residencies Manager Lily Stennis-Vinson at lily@u-ca.org or (402) 933-3161.
The Kali Baker Studio
Studio 24 residents will reside and work in the Kali Baker Studio. The space is dedicated to the legacy of Kali Baker (September 30, 1976–October 2, 2020), a founding member of The Union for Contemporary Art’s board of directors and a steadfast advocate for social justice in our community.
About Kali Baker
Kali Lynn Baker was born in Wakefield, NE, where she excelled in athletics and academics and was awarded a Regents Scholarship to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; she went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing.
Kali began her career in Omaha in the marketing departments at Borsheims and Kiewit before ultimately taking her talents to the Omaha Community Foundation, where she served first as Director of Communications and then as Vice President of Community Investment until her passing. It was at the foundation that she was able to channel her devotion to community into a career.
Kali's love of community and caring for others defined her life. She had an immeasurable impact as a mentor, friend, and leader to countless individuals through both her professional and personal endeavors.
About the Studio
The Kali Baker Studio is a 1,000 square-foot live/work studio located in The Union’s main facility in the heart of North Omaha on the iconic corner of North 24th and Lake Streets.
The studio was designed to provide our artists in residence with a space that’s both functional and beautiful – somewhere they can both work and rest.
Amenities include:
• A well-equipped kitchen that includes an electric oven, dishwasher, touch-controlled faucet, and full-sized refrigerator. It is also outfitted with cookware, an Insta-pot, cookbooks, cooking utensils, food prep and storage containers, and a pantry stocked with basic spices and dried goods. There is also a butcher block kitchen island with seating.
• A full bathroom with a walk-in shower and touch-controlled faucet, stocked with towels, soaps, hair dryer, curling iron, facial and nail care supplies, make-up mirror, period products, and first-aid supplies.
• A living space with a full-sized bed with a hypo-allergenic mattress, down and/or foam pillows and an assortment of bedding, including a weighted blanket. Other furnishings include: a dresser, a clothes rack with hangers, and a seating area with plants and tons of natural light.
• The laundry room includes a washer and dryer, clothes iron and steamer, and a folding clothes drying rack. Laundry supplies are provided. The room also includes a washout sink.
• The studio space includes a work table on wheels and a chair, an easel, enamel paint trays and cleaning supplies. There is also a 9’ x 10’ plywood-backed wall that artists are welcome to hang in-progress work on. A pottery wheel can be added to the space upon request.
• Bi-weekly cleaning service for living quarters
