This application is only for proposals to bring Kansas Touring Roster artists as visiting artists. This is the only funding we have available on a rolling basis but must receive applications a minimum of 60 days in advance of the proposed activity. 

INTENT

To encourage the integration of visiting artists into a variety of community settings.

DESCRIPTION

This program provides funding for eligible organizations to engage and deepen the impact of arts programming on local and underserved audiences through exposure to and interaction with professional visiting arts. Presenters may book artists in any discipline, not just in performing arts. Projects should strive to integrate an arts discipline into non-arts content areas; help interpret an exhibition, performance, or presentation; and support community development goals and objectives.

Please visit the KAC website Visiting Artists grant page for full guidelines for this award. 

This application is for prospective artists to apply for either the Public Art & Muralist or Touring Roster.

Artists currently on artists rosters must complete the Roster Artist Active Standing Form to indicate active status and remain listed on the rosters. This is done via a separate form attached to your original roster artist application. Current roster artists do not need to complete this application. Please refer to the current Touring Roster and Public Artist Roster for active listings.
 

For complete guidelines on inclusion to the KAC Artist Rosters please visit the Artist Rosters section of the KAC website.
 

To promote Kansas artists and ensure that every Kansas community has access to high quality arts programming, the Kansas Arts Commission maintains approved rosters of Kansas-based artists, touring companies, and ensembles. Artists on the Touring Roster offer programming in numerous disciplines. The Public Art and Muralist Roster is a directory for artists with expertise in public art.

Touring Roster: Applicants must have a history of touring and maintain a reasonable fee range. Roster artists are required to perform outside their community regularly. In this program, the artist or artist's management sets the fee and negotiates the booking. In addition to their primary artistic offering, touring artists must offer at least one additional community engagement activity, such as workshops, master classes, interactive performances, lecture-demonstrations, or arts education components. Approval to join the roster does not imply or guarantee that the artist will receive bookings related to the program in the coming year. Each Kansas Touring Roster Artist has a dedicated web profile on the KAC website which helps artists to be found by presenters. Roster artists are also connected to the community of other roster artists and have access to professional development and presentation opportunities

Presenters hiring roster artists may apply to the Kansas Touring Roster Visiting Artists grant program to assist with costs. 

Public Artist & Muralist Roster: Applicants for this roster must have a history of community engaged public work and maintain a reasonable fee range. Roster artists are required to work outside their community regularly. Artists will work on public projects as well as provide optional services that may include workshops, master classes, lecture-demonstrations, arts education components, residencies, or short performances.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

Kansas-based nonprofits, professional individual artists, programs of universities and colleges, and for-profit groups providing arts performances and experiences in any artistic discipline. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Touring Roster Applicants must:

• Be experienced, high quality artists with professional experience
• Provide public performances or presentations of their work
• Provide meaningful educational and/or community engagement activities with students and the community at large. These programs may include, but are not limited to: master classes, interactive performances distinctly different from the primary presentation, workshops, lectures, demonstrations, panel discussions, workshops, lectures, etc.
• Have the ability to accept bookings in Kansas communities at least 60 miles outside of their home base.

Public Art & Muralist Applicants must:

• Be experienced, high quality artists with professional experience
• Provide a resume, work samples, and information about past projects detailing professional experience
• Be willing to travel to Kansas communities outside of their home base.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants will provide the following information: 

• Biographical information
• Brief description of the artist’s programs including
• Overview and description of the artists’ primary presentation offering which could be a performance, exhibition, or other creative programming
• Overview and description of the artists’ additional educational and/or community engagement activities
• Contact information including website or online presence
• Program fee listings including primary program fee, workshop and/or activity fees, travel and/or cartage fees, etc. Fees listed on the artists’ official roster page will serve as the basis for figures applicants to the Kansas Touring Roster Visiting Artists Grant include in their grant budgets, so detailed information on fees are an important part of an artist’s listing
• Work samples and certification documents to verify Kansas residency
• Support materials including a professional resume

Support Materials must include artist resume(s) to help panelists evaluate the experience, professionalism, and artistic merit of the applicant. Resumes should be 2 pages maximum, per person. In addition, applicants may include up to 9 additional support materials such as:

• Work Samples of Performances/Programs: Panelists will limit their review to 3-5 minute video or audio segments. Video of a staged performance or public program offering is preferred to a video production.
• Marketing: brochures; sample programs; sample news releases; reviews; artist/presenter contracts, previous presenters, audience, and noteworthy individuals (cite source).
• Letters of Recommendation (3 maximum)

KAC does not serve as a booking agent for roster artists, nor does a listing guarantee employment. The most successful artists use roster membership as a tool to help promote themselves for future bookings. Eligible organizations may request funding from KAC through the Arts Integration Program-Visiting Artists grant to present artists in this roster to their community. Roster artist presenters are also eligible for an increased grant amount through the Mid-America Arts Alliance Regional Touring Program.

APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA

• Artistic Quality: Artistic excellence and merit of the applicant and quality of proposed programs. This is the primary consideration for inclusion in the roster. (40 points total)

• Capability and Experience: Evidence of experience and capability. Ability of applicant for effective implementation, management, and promotion of programs. (30 points total)

• Impact: Ability of applicant to present impactful engagement activities with artistic and/or educational goals authentically aligned with primary program. (30 points total)

REVIEW PROCESS

Applications are reviewed by a peer review panel comprising professionals with broad knowledge in the arts, community and economic development, and a chair who shall be a member of the KAC staff or Commission.

Applications receiving a panel score of 80 or above will be recommended for addition onto the roster. Recommended applications will be reviewed by KDC leadership for final approval. 

ROSTER ARTIST EXPECTATIONS

Artists accepted to the KAC artist rosters are expected to: 

· Conduct their work in a professional, ethical, and transparent manner

· Refer presenters and potential Visiting Artist Grant applicants to KAC staff for assistance

· Maintain an active and up-to-date online listing on the Kansas Arts Commission website

REEVALUATION

Current Roster artists do not reapply each year. However, current Roster Artists are required to confirm annually that they are active members of the Roster and would like to remain listed. Artists are subject to re-evaluation upon request. Artists are evaluated by presenters to ensure that performers continue to meet program requirements.

Please visit https://www.kansasartscommission.com or contact KAC at

arts@ks.gov or 785-379-1608 with questions.

*Please read the full description of requirements and awards for the residency before continuing to the application.*


Program Description: The Tallgrass Artist Residency is a unique program that offers individual artists/artist teams time and space to retreat and research in a rural, tallgrass prairie setting. Though the experience is rural, it is not meant to be isolating. Artists are provided lodging at Matfield Station in the small community of Matfield Green, Kansas — 20 miles from Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and home to a growing number of artists and community builders. Learn more on our website.

Commitments:
   • Residencies are offered in two-week (10 night) periods between April and September. Residency periods must occur in consecutive ten night blocks.
   • Residents are expected to give a public program during this two-week period, and will be asked to contribute documentation of their experience through daily Instagram posts and a post-residency summary of their experience for the website (read Written Reflections on artists’ pages).
   • Residents are also expected to share post-residency work at a time and venue to be determined in coordination with residency staff.
   • Residents are required to make their own arrangements for transportation to and from the residency. Due to our rural setting, it's essential for visitors to have their own reliable method of transportation.
   • Residents are responsible for their own food, but cooking and eating utensils are available in all rooms.    

• Residents are expected to follow guest guidelines as supplied by Matfield Station and engage respectfully with other residents, guests, and Matfield Green community members throughout their participation in the Tallgrass program.                                     

Awards:
   • Artists will be provided 10 nights of lodging at Matfield Station during residency period.    
   • Artists will be connected with staff at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and may be granted special access, upon request.   
   • Each artist will receive a $650 stipend from KCAIC for travel and material reimbursement to be awarded after residencies are completed.  

• Ecoregion Exchange artists traveling from 700+ miles away receive an extra travel stipend
   • Lodging and reimbursement funding will be available for artists sharing post-residency work, in coordination with residency staff.


Who Can Apply:  This residency seeks to create connection and conversation across the Great Plains by  cultivating opportunities for artists/artist teams who currently live in a place that is ecologically considered prairie (← click the link to see a general map of this area). However, we also have one dedicated residency period for an artist/artist team outside of the prairie ecoregion, treated as an "ecoregion exchange".

   Ideal applicants will have a strong body of work with a unique voice or perspective, a self-driven dedication to learning through place, and an interest in participating in a contemporary dialogue. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and career levels, media and practice. We're not currently accepting applications from previous artists-in-residence in the program or international residents.  **Because of our rural setting, having your own transportation during the residency is essential**

Applications are due by October 31, 2025 at 11:59pmCT with notification by December 30, 2025.
For further questions, you can email the Tallgrass Artist Residency team at: tallgrass.art@gmail.com


    Website: http://tallgrassartistresidency.org

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