Facility

The Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts is housed in a 1969 Prairie style building offering apartment, studio, and gallery spaces. Our triplex of living quarters and studio spaces are all located in the same facility.

Accommodations

KHN features living space for up to five residents in three apartments. Two large double-occupancy apartments feature private bedrooms with en suite baths, and spacious shared kitchen, living, and dining rooms. Composers stay in the garden-level efficiency apartment, located under the composition studio.

All apartments are furnished with basic necessities such as dishes, pots and pans, and kitchen appliances, and a basic spice pantry. Bedroom and bath linens are provided. Each apartment has private control for heating or air conditioning. Onsite laundry facilities are available for residents.

Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the living and studio spaces. An all-in-one printer is connected to a communal computer and smart TV are available in the residents’ lounge.

Each resident prepares his or her own meals. Grocery items are available within walking distance from the Center. Several welcoming restaurants are nearby. The Center maintains three bicycles for residents' use. For those bringing cars, off-street parking is provided.

Studios

Visual artists work in one of three studios, two of which are approximately 425 square feet and one that is 258 square feet, outfitted with work tables, running water and storage shelves. Basic hand tools and power tools, a bandsaw and compound miter saw, and painting easels are available. The studios feature full-spectrum LED track lighting with moveable fixtures, as well as overhead daylight fluorescent fixtures. The two larger studios have garage doors which may be opened to face the alley.

For printmakers, KHN offers a letterpress studio with a Vandercook Sp15 press and a standard proof press. The Harry Duncan Letterpress Studio also features a variety of furniture and fonts, as well as a boxcar base for resident use. Please email the KHN staff if you are interested in using the letterpress during your residency.

Composers are provided a studio equipped with a Hailun upright piano with a Kioshi interactive piano silent system, Professional studio monitor headphones, microphone, Tripod microphone stand with telescoping 2-piece boom arm, Keystation49 MK3 USB powered MIDI controller keyboard, wireless internet, surge protector, two Dynaudio Acoustics BM5A speakers, a Mackie 4-channel compact mixer, HP VH240a 23.8” monitor, and cables to connect them. The composer’s studio is spacious, comfortable and quiet, but not soundproof.

A private writer’s studio is located within each of the double-occupancy apartments featuring a large desk, white board/cork board, 23" monitor, wireless internet, and surge protector. A shared printer is available in the residents' lounge.

For specific questions about tools and items available, please contact the Center's staff. Residents are welcome to ship materials to the Center's address prior to their arrival.

Gallery and the Kimmel Permanent Collection

The KHN Gallery hosts approximately six exhibitions a year, primarily featuring work by regional artists and former residents. The gallery is open to visitors Monday-Friday from 10am-5pm during exhibitions.

On the Third Thursday of the month (minus December) KHN invites the community to attend Artist and Gallery Talks with current residents and exhibiting artists. KHN is also available for community arts workshop free of charge.

KHN is also home to the Kimmel Permanent Collection of more than 450 works of art, literature, and music that continues to grow as each artist is invited, but not obligated, to donate a piece of work at the completion of their residency. A rotating selection of the the Permanent Collection is on display throughout public areas of the center and available for public viewing during gallery hours.

What the Artists are Saying...

Read All Testimonials

My favorite aspect of the residency was the undistracted, solitary time to work! My studio (#2) was wonderful with both the natural and track lighting and the garage door.

Myszka Lewis

Visual Artist, 2018 — Madison, WI

There's so much I like! I like the intimate nature of the residency and how the very excellent alone time is balanced with just a bit of togetherness with the organized lunch and invites to some stuff in town. I love the Third Thursday open house.

Betsy Andrews

Writer, 2018 — Brooklyn, NY

I thought the number of residents was perfect. It was easy to get to know everyone, and feel comfortable here. Both my living and studio accommodations were very comfortable and welcoming.

Hannah Newman

Visual Artist, 2018 — Springfield, MO

The Staff was very supportive, it was easy to reach out and discuss anything. The facilities are also very comfortable, and the environment is great for working.

Jayoung Yoon

Visual Artist, 2018 — Beacon, NY

The open gallery night was especially wonderful. I really enjoyed the chance to share my work with the larger community and to hear their feedback and questions — as well as to see and hear the work of the other residents.

Sonia Scherr

Writer, 2018 — Norwich, VT

For me, the most valuable aspect was the open structure that allowed for plenty of time and space to make work, make friends, think, read, write and be. The apartment was beautiful, comfortable and inspiring. With the studio only a few steps away, it was easy to be productive.

Katy Mixon

Visual Artist, 2018 — Brooklyn, NY

This place is shockingly quiet. The welcome letter mentions that, but it's nothing compared to the actual silence on the grounds. The town itself aids to this, and it yields an excellent environment for creativity.

Kory Reeder

Composer, 2017 — Kearney, NE

The interdisciplinary structure is really beneficial and generates unique conversations while providing mutual inspiration for residents. The staff is engaged but is also very conscious of respecting the time and space of each resident. Nebraska City has excellent institutions but still provides a quiet and slow-paced setting. The apartment and studio are well equipped, clean, and well maintained.

Kari Varner

Visual Artist, 2017 — University City, MO

Facilities, staff, and the ease with which I was able to simply settle in and work all exceeded my expectations!

Lauren W. Westerfield

Writer, 2017 — Moscow, ID

I think the facility at KHN could not be more ideally suited for an artist residency program. I felt like I was staying in a very comfortable private home and I had everything that I needed to do my work, and having the private bathroom and spacious kitchen was wonderful.

Gary Peter

Writer, 2017 — St. Paul, MN

Peace and quiet. Beautiful facilities! Piano was great, staff was very friendly and helpful. And that Mexican place is EXCELLENT.

Jonathan Russ

Composer, 2017 — Brooklyn, NY

KHN is a wonderful facility in a beautiful space. It was great to have time to focus on my work, and I took advantage of the location to photograph several nearby prairies and natural areas.

Amanda Breitbach

Visual Artist, 2017 —Lincoln, NE

The staff was so helpful and accommodating. I couldn't believe how easy they made everything. They also were always ready to find things for me and share resources. This made everything so much easier since I had travelled from too far to bring a lot of extra items for my studio practice. I loved that there was a mix of writers, artists and composers. This mix made for great conversations and interesting meetings.

Julia Staples

Visual Artist, 2017 — Philadelphia, PA

The space and set up were great! This is one of my favorite residencies thus far. The location of the apartment wasn't too far from civilization but also in a good area for it not to be super noisy nor was there lots of traffic or other sounds. The middle school across the street wasn't at all a distraction. I also really loved the dessert spots and greatly appreciated the staff's flexibility and availability to help, answer questions, drive you to the store when needed. All the details were thought of right down to a bathroom mat and miscellaneous supplies available in its own closet.

Jennifer Baker

Writer, 2017 — Kew Gardens, NY

This was the first time I'd ever had my own living space and studio, and time to structure as I pleased, so everything was a revelation to me. The pace of Nebraska City was a welcome shift from New York and I found it to be very welcoming without being intrusive (and just pedestrian-friendly enough).

Rachel Peters

Composer, 2017 — Brooklyn, NY

I love my room, I love my studio, I love that the town is calm and peaceful and pretty. It's so relaxing here. No one bothers me, and I feel free.

Dan Fishback

Composer, 2017 — Brooklyn, NY

This has been such an incredible opportunity for me to have the space and time I needed to really develop my artwork. The facilities at KHN are wonderful; I appreciated the garage had tons of wall space, natural light, and was temperature controlled. It made it incredibly easy to just jump right into the work.

Katherine Bickmore

Visual Artist 2017 — Albany, NY

There is such peace and quiet in a shared home and town is lovely and very conducive to working. The planned trips the store are so helpful as well as transport to/from the airport!

Parini Shroff

Writer, 2017 — Los Altos, CA

I really love the combination of autonomy and support here--I can be self-directed, but there is so much warmth and community as well. The staff is welcoming and communicative, and the facility feels very much like home.

Megan Kruse

Writer, 2017 — San Marcos, TX

I love the combination of solitude and camaraderie...getting an extended period of time to do nothing but work on my fiction is a rare and much-appreciated gift, but I also love meeting the other residents and learning from them.

Jen Bergmark

Writer, 2012 — Los Angeles, CA

The time and space away from my daily routine, jobs, relationships and responsibilities allowed me solitude and focus. The residency provided an opportunity to work in an environment of serious, like-minded artists and writers, which has pushed my practice and provided a platform to build a new body of work. It was a great experience.

Christina Vogel

Visual Artist, 2013 — Omaha, NE

I was able to produce more in my 3 week residency than I can normally in half a year. The building itself was inspiration for me and I enjoyed the small number of artists present at one time. The staff was incredibly helpful with their time, resources and ideas.

Desiree Moore

Visual Artist, 2016 — Indianapolis, IN

The residency was flawless in all areas. Facilities were charming and clean, the program structure open-ended, staff talented and kind, Nebraska City vibrant and idiosyncratic. I truly cannot single out any particular facet, as all aspects complemented the others: the architecture promotes seclusion and community, the structure promotes exploration and collaboration, the staff promotes well-being and cohesiveness, and the town promotes discovery in digestible pieces. Perfecto!

Todd Robinson

Writer 2016 — Omaha, NE

Apply For Residency

Facility

Accommodations

Studios

Gallery and the Kimmel Permanent Collection

What the Artists are Saying...

THE KIMMEL COMMUNITY