Residency Program
Residency at Mainframe Studios
Established with funds from Brown’s estate and donations from family and friends, the Alex Brown Foundation & Residency Fund in partnership with Mainframe Studios is happy to announce our residents for 2024.
Mission
The aim of the residency is to provide emerging and established artists of exceptional merit with an experience of the working conditions that artist Alex Brown (1966-2019) found in Des Moines, IA—the ability to make the work you want to make, free from the daily influence of being immersed in a major metropolitan scene but without the isolation of a rural residency, in an exceptional studio environment and a relaxed and pleasant living environment.
Residency Term
There are two 8 week and two 12 week residency terms in 2025.
Choose to be in residence for no less than 8 weeks, or as long as 12 weeks (3 months). Applications are accepted from artists working in any medium.
Amenities included
The residency is designed to provide the artist with an opportunity to focus entirely on their work for an extended period of time, in a comfortable work and living environment, and in a city consistently ranked in recent years as one of the best places to live in the U.S.—the city David Byrne called “beyond cool.” A residency at The Alex Brown Foundation is ideal for those looking to work in a spacious private studio with little distraction.
Studio
Dedicated use of a 1400 sq. ft. studio space at Mainframe Studios, a renovated 1970s telecommunications building in downtown Des Moines.
Research Allowance
A monthly expense allowance of $1,000, plus up-to $1,000 airfare or reimbursement for other travel to and from Des Moines.
Research Allowances are adjusted according to the agreed residency duration.
Housing
The foundation provides a fully furnished one bedroom apartment situated in a quiet centrally located neighborhood, just a 3-minute drive and a 14-minute walk from the studio.
The studio
The 1400-square foot studio space at Mainframe Studios, a renovated 1970s telecommunications building in downtown Des Moines operated on a 501(c)(3) nonprofit basis, provides permanent affordable workspace to artists of all disciplines. Originally built out to Alex’s specifications, this spacious and quiet studio has great natural light from a northern exposure, in a secure facility occupied by local artists and designers.
Mainframe Studios has recently installed building-wide improvements including an Air Purification system that proactively attacks airborne contaminants and better humidity controls. Mainframe also houses its very own art store, The Blok, to aid our artists creative endeavors.
Des Moines
For a city of its size and regionally rooted culture, Des Moines has a remarkably strong arts community. At the root is the Des Moines Art Center, a world class institution with a remarkable collection and diverse program housed in tremendous facilities with wings by Eero Saarinen, I.M. Pei, and Richard Meier. The main Art Center facility is complemented by other public art throughout the city, most notably the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden at the west end of downtown, and by a rich municipal architectural heritage. In recent years, the city has become an increasingly attractive permanent base for artists, with a wide array of outstanding and affordable studio space and housing.
The residents
By the end of 2023 The Alex Brown Foundation will have hosted fourteen artist since beginning the artist-in-residence program in 2021. Four of those artist traveled internationally to participate in the program marking their first ever visit to Iowa. In 2024, The Alex Brown Foundation and Residency is pleased to announce the invitation of four individual artists and one artist collaborative to participate in the program, with each in residence for three month periods beginning in January of 2024 and leading into 2025.
2025 Residency Application Is Now Closed
The Alex Brown Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2025 artist residency program. Applications will be accepted from artists working in any medium. $10 USD application fee, with an increase on March 8th to $20 USD. We will be accepting applications until March 15, 2024 for residencies beginning January of 2025. If you are interested in participating, complete the form below and compile your application materials into a single PDF, including
- Statement of purpose (600 words or less)
- Portfolio of 12-20 images
- Resume or C.V.