2026 Mother's Milk Art Residency

Mother’s Milk is an interdisciplinary residency for creatives (visual artists, sound artists/composers, dancer/choreographers, writers) pursuing innovative work, and other scholars (social scientists, historians, scientists, etc) conducting environmental and/or historic research on the flora and fauna of the region. Applicants should be enthusiastic about cross-disciplinary influences. Collaborators are welcome to apply. The residency provides time and space to pursue creative interdisciplinary projects alongside residents whose different perspectives, backgrounds and interests offer inspiration/interaction. Work that is more experimental is of special interest, a focus on process over product. 
The residency is at a re-imagined farm at the edge of Newton, KS. Residents have studios and shared housing in a renovated 1898 farmhouse, and 15 wooded acres with some historic farm machinery. The grounds offer opportunities for research, installations, performances, natural materials.

Mother’s Milk is an interdisciplinary residency (2, 4, 6 weeks) designed to support visual artists, sound artists/composers, dancer/choreographers, writers or other creatives who are pursuing innovative work in their field. We now encourage other scholars (social scientists, historians, scientists, etc) conducting environmental and/or historic research on the flora and fauna of the region to apply, as potential residents to interact with our interdisciplinary creatives. Applicants should be enthusiastic about cross-disciplinary influences. Collaborators are welcome to apply.

The goal of this program is to provide individuals or collaborative teams with the time and space to pursue their creative projects alongside other residents whose different perspectives, backgrounds and interests offer inspiration and interaction. Work that is more experimental in nature without regard to commercial viability is of special interest, a focus on process over product. Residents have studios in a 1,500 sq. ft. hay barn studio and share housing in a fully renovated 1898 farmhouse. 

Location
Mother's Milk Residency is located in a re-imagined former dairy farm at the edge of Newton, Kansas, tucked between farm fields, a light industrial park, and a travel hub. Our 15 acres are heavily wooded in most areas with some historic farm machinery left in place, where it has found a symbiosis with nature. The grounds offer opportunities for research, performances, installations (with prior approval), a source of rusty and natural materials, or a quiet place for reflection. Newton is a charming town of antique stores, bakeries, and trains - a half-hour drive to the city of Wichita.

Nondiscrimination
Mother's Milk is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or dis/ability.

Deadline
Applications are due February 10, 2026 for May 16 - October 30, 2026 residencies. Jury notification will be mid-March 2026. 

For more information about fees, fellowships, financial aid, equipment, and logistics check our website: www.mothersmilkart.com

Each application requires:

• A project proposal statement, not to exceed 500 words.
• A current CV.
• Samples of recent work completed in the last two years
• References: Contact information for two professional references that are familiar with your work and your potential to be a positive member of our small community of residents.
• Preferred residency dates (although not guaranteed)
• $25 application fee

Work Sample Requirements

• Writers and Scholars: a single word or pdf file. Creative Writers - submit 5-10 pages of poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction. Scholars - submit 5-10 pages of research focus/manuscripts.
• Sound Artists/Composers: submit 3 - 5 audio and/or video samples, no more than 2 minutes each.
• Visual Artists: submit 8 - 10 images or combination of images, audio, video files (no more than 5 media files per submission)
• Dancer/Choreographers: submit 3-5 video samples, no more than 2 minutes each.

All submissions must follow CaFE formatting guidelines.

Residents (teams) will be exceptional creative practitioners and scholars, including emerging, mid-career and established artists/scholars. Scholars should be social scientists, historians, or scientists, conducting environmental and/or historic research on the flora and fauna of the region. Residencies will be awarded based on excellence and merit of project proposal, and the applicant’s interest in and ability to work independently. 

Residents cannot be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, must be at least 21 years old, and must reside on-site for the duration of the residency. International applicants will need to show proof of English language skills and will be responsible for acquiring appropriate visas if accepted.