Call for Artists: Micro-Residency at the Art & Water Space

A House Unbuilt invites artists, culture bearers, and interdisciplinary makers to apply for a micro-residency at the Art & Water Space in downtown Stillwater, Minnesota. Housed in the historic 1901 Smithson Building—once a paper box factory—this intimate second floor studio/gallery is a site for experimentation, reflection, and dialogue rooted in movement, memory, and place.

We seek artists who engage with themes of water, land, listening, and site—not just as subjects but as collaborators. The residency encourages situational sensitivity and responsiveness to the particularities of this building, this river town, and its layered histories.

Stillwater is located on the unceded homelands of the Dakota and Anishinaabe peoples. The name “Stillwater” resonates deeply with the Ojibwe word Gaa-waabaabiganikaag—”the place of still waters.” We invite applicants to honor and reflect on this layered ecological and cultural presence through creative practice, research, and public engagement.

Residency Details:

• Duration: 1 to 4 weeks (depending on availability and artist needs)
• Stipend: Modest stipend provided; artist is responsible for transportation and lodging (local applicants preferred)
• Responsibilities:
  • Maintain open studio hours (minimum 3 days/week)
  • Host one public workshop, talk, or community offering
  • Be in conversation with the space: spatially, historically, and symbolically
  • Collaborate with A House Unbuilt in arranging use of existing materials, furniture, and wall-hanging systems
  • Respect and care for shared equipment and amenities

This is not a retreat. It is a situated residency—within a working archive, on a bustling small-town main street, inside a 120-year-old building where water, history, and imagination converge. We welcome emerging and established artists across disciplines who are willing to listen deeply, work publicly, and root their process in place.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with residencies beginning as early as November 15. To apply, please send a brief letter of interest, bio, and portfolio or work samples to victoria@ahouseunbuilt.com no later than August 29.

Download residency agreement HERE