Call Description

The Max Thelen Studio Residency provides a quality art space for an emerging artist to create artwork and receive community support. The Residency includes a free art studio for 12 months with additional benefits. Candidates must live in the Marin / San Francisco / Oakland Bay Area and commit to regularly making art in the studio and participating in the program activities.

Art Works Downtown offers a diverse mix of studio artists and mediums in the heart of the San Rafael commercial core for regular interaction with the public. The Max Thelen Studio is a located on the street-level of the AWD complex. Art Works Downtown believes that an emerging artist will stimulate new ideas among established AWD studio artists and vice versa. Our community will be better served as they recognize and understand the importance of supporting emerging artists in their career endeavors.

Benefits:

• Free art studio, including utilities, fees and operating costs.
  • This residency does NOT include living accommodations. It is only for art making and interaction.
  • 92 sq. ft. located in the main entrance hallway.
  • You may see the space during our public hours, Wed–Sat, 11am–5pm.
• An environment that is supportive and empathetic to the creative process.
• Solo exhibition in the Founders’ Gallery.
• Waived fees for AWD membership and juried exhibitions.
• Representation on AWD’s newsletter, website, and social media.
• Exposure to large groups of visitors every month during the 2nd Friday Art Walk events.
• Scholarship granted for mandatory participation in Marin Open Studios.
• Exposure to exhibit procedures and processes.
• Exposure to the nonprofit arts organization operation.

Application Requirements

Calendar:

• Deadline to apply: June 28, 2026
• Award announced: August 4–7, 2026
• Residency: September 4, 2026 through August 27, 2027
• Founders Gallery exhibit: August–September, 2027

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility:

• Applicants must live in reasonable commuting distance to San Rafael CA.
• Applicants must have a committed art practice in their early to middle stage of their art career.
• Visual artists will be considered.
• See previous residents on our website: Max Thelen Studio Resident Artists