How to Apply

Deadlines and Session Dates

Application deadlines are MARCH 1 and SEPTEMBER 1 annually.

  • The March 1 deadline determines awards scheduled July – December of the current calendar year. 
  • The September 1 deadline determines awards scheduled January – June of the following calendar year.

Upcoming Session Dates

  • 2025 Session 1: January 6 - June 20, 2025 Application CLOSED
  • 2025 Session 2: July 7 - December 19, 2025 Application is OPEN with a March 1, 2025 deadline
  • 2026 Session 1: January 5 - June 19, 2026  Application will open May 1, 2025 with a September 1, 2025 deadline

When you indicate preferred dates in your application, be sure they fall within the session for which you are applying. If your schedule is flexible, you may note such in lieu of or in addition to exact dates in the application form. All residencies begin on a Monday and conclude on a Friday.

Guidelines

Each item will be presented as a separate form within our online application portal. Before beginning your application, download the WORK SAMPLES guidelines specific to your discipline (file links located bottom of page) and follow the directions to help prepare files. Application sections include:

  • General Application Information including your preferred dates and length of residency.
  • 2 ANONYMOUS Statements: An anonymous Statement of Submitted Works that clarifies the work and/or its relevance within contemporary or historical creative practices, contemporary society/issues, or the evolution of your personal creative practice; and an anonymous Statement of Intent regarding how you intend to utilize your time and why a residency at KHN is important to you at this point in your career. 
    • KHN utilizes a blind jury process. The ONLY items seen and reviewed by jurors are ANONYMOUS WORK SAMPLES and ANONYMOUS STATEMENTS. Jurors rate applications based solely on the quality and relevance of the submitted work and the statements' effectiveness in clarifying the work and the applicant’s intentions for a residency.
    • Do NOT include your NAME, CREDITS, AWARDS, UNIVERSITIES, EMPLOYERS, COLLABORATORS, COMMISSIONING OR PUBLISHING AGENTS, GALLERY OR VENUE NAMES, or any other identifying information within the statements.
  • ANONYMOUS Work Samples: See the guidelines PDF specific to your discipline (file links located bottom of page) to help you prepare your materials.
    • KHN utilizes a blind jury process. The ONLY items seen and reviewed by jurors are ANONYMOUS WORK SAMPLES and ANONYMOUS STATEMENTS. Jurors rate applications based solely on the quality and relevance of the submitted work and the statements' effectiveness in clarifying the work and the applicant’s intentions for a residency.
    • Do NOT include your NAME, CREDITS, AWARDS, UNIVERSITIES, EMPLOYERS, COLLABORATORS, COMMISSIONING OR PUBLISHING AGENTS, GALLERY OR VENUE NAMES within any uploaded work samples, file names, or descriptions.
  • 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. 
  • Professional History from your current resume or CV. Your name MAY appear in the contents of this information.
  • Application Fee of $35 paid via credit card through the online portal. All fees must be paid through the online portal. We are unable to waive the application fee.
Application Fee

A $35 application fee applies and is collected through our online application portal. We are unable to waive the application fee.

Application Notification by Email

Notification of the results of the juried application process will be sent by e-mail from a "@khncenterforthearts.org" address. Be sure to adjust your e-mail filter to receive these important messages.

Notification results for September 1 applications will be sent by November 1, and by May 1 for March 1 deadline applications.

Transitional Residencies

KHN gives special consideration for emerging artists by reserving a number of "transitional" residencies for recent masters degree graduates (within two years of application deadline). The application process is the same for all applicants, however applications from artists in transition following graduation from an accredited masters degree program receive special consideration.

Nebraska Residencies

KHN gives special consideration for Nebraska artists by ensuring that a number of residencies are awarded to Nebraska artists each year. The application process is the same for all applicants, however applications from Nebraska artists receive special consideration.

At KHN, we define Nebraska artist as those who currently live and work in the state, grew up in Nebraska, or received a diploma from a Nebraska university or college.

Stipend, Housing, and Travel

Residency awards come with a weekly $175 stipend. All residents are provided housing that includes a private bedroom, bathroom, and studio space. Writers and visual artists generally share an apartment with one other resident, with shared kitchen, living room, and balcony space. Composers are generally housed in a garden-level studio apartment.

All travel expenses are the responsibility of the awardee, with the exception of cab fare from Omaha or Lincoln on the day of arrival and/or departure.

There are two airports about an hour away: Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA) and the Lincoln Airport (LNK). To get from either airport to Nebraska City, residents can arrange for transportation with Nebraska City's Tree City Cab at least 24 hours prior to their arrival or departure. The taxi fare ($100 per trip) will be paid for by the Kimmel Foundation.

Residents can also consider traveling by train or bus to Lincoln or Omaha. The same arrangement with the taxi service applies. The Kansas City Airport (KCI) is two hours away. However, taxi service will not be paid for from Kansas City to Nebraska City.

Re-applying

Applicants not awarded residencies may re-apply at the next deadline.

Former residents are eligible to re-apply for a maximum of two residencies within their lifetime. Alumni who are artists living in or from Nebraska can re-apply ONE year after their original residency application. Non-Nebraska alumni can re-apply TWO years after their original residency application.

Jurors

Residency awards are based upon a blind jury process and the recommendations of external jurors who independently review applicants Work Samples, Statement of Submitted Work, and Statement of Intent. Jurors normally serve for one to two years.

Past jurors include the following artists, academics, curators, and editors.

Music Composition 
Michael Remson, Tom Dempster, Federico De Castro Garcia, Ken Bales, Ivan Elezovic, Cynthia Folio, Darlene Mitchell, Koji Nakano, Samita Sinha, Shazad Ismaily, Suzanne Sorkin, Janis Mercer, Keane Southard, Damon Lee, Filippo Santoro, Jean Fineberg, Doug Brandt, Tara Novak, Southard Keane

Visual Art 
Mary Bergs, Andrew Hladky, Kimberly Cridler, Aaron Fine, Martha Horvay, Bonnie O'Connell, Gary Rattigan, Larry Roots, Amy Ruffo, Susan McGilvrey, Deborah Zlotsky, Jesse Patrick Martin, Lauren Pakradooni, Ying Zhu, Levi Corwin, Diana Behl

Writing 
Carrie Jerrell, Parini Shroff, Novuyo, TshumaLiz Ahl, Royal Eckert, David Groff, Greg Kosmicki, Steve Langan, Jill Patterson, Lee Ann Roripaugh, Mary K. Stillwell, David Meischen, Evelyn Sharenov, Eric Kocher, Glenis Redmond, Novuyo Tshuma, Miriam Gershow, Claire Stanford, Richard Greenfield, Parini Shroff, Carrie Jerrell, Todd robinson, Amina Gautier, Evan Lavender-Smith

Interdisciplinary 
Dave Beck, Orit Ben-Shitrit, Elizabeth Stehling, Amanda Smith, Matt Jensen, Steve Snell, Anthony Green, Elise Kirk, Erika Sabel, David Samuel Stern

Additional Questions?

Check out our FAQ page.

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File(s): 
PDF icon Application Guidelines_Work Samples_Visual Artists
PDF icon Application Guidelines_Work Samples_Writers & Poets
PDF icon Application Guidelines_Work Samples_Interdisciplinary
PDF icon Application Guidelines_Work Samples_Composers & Musicians