Artist-in-Residence Application

Become an Eiteljorg Artist in Residence

Share your art and culture with the Indianapolis community

Each year, the Eiteljorg selects several Native American and First Nations artists from across the United States and Canada to share their talents with the local community. Selected artists receive an honorarium and work closely with staff to plan and carry out demonstrations, workshops, discussions, and community projects. Residency lengths vary but range from one and three weeks in duration.

How it helps you as an artist: The artist-in-residence (AIR) program will give you experience working with a variety of audiences in different settings. In addition to these experiences, AIRs have classroom space and time to work on their own projects, receive a behind the scenes tour of the museum’s collections, and are able to sell work through the museum store.

How it helps support the Eiteljorg: The Eiteljorg AIR program strives to highlight diverse arts from across Native America. Through their work with students, families, adults, and seniors, AIRs help the museum build relationships and make a meaningful impact on the local community.

Residencies are awarded on an ongoing basis as funding becomes available. Many factors go into the decision to award a residency, including but not limited to the following:

• Has the artist previously been awarded an Eiteljorg artist residency? Preference will be given to new artists and/or those who have not done an Eiteljorg residency within the past 10 years.
• Is the artist an enrolled member of a Great Lakes area Native nation? At least one artist residency per cycle will be awarded to a Great Lakes area artist.
• Does the artist have demonstrated experience working with a variety of audiences?
• Does the artist have experience with school audiences in particular?
• Is the artist’s medium unique? Has a similar medium been featured recently?
• Can the artist conduct workshops, provide demonstrations, and carry out classroom and community projects at the museum and in the local community?
• Does the artist’s work relate to other programs or exhibits at the museum?

Eligibility Requirements:

In order to be eligible for the Eiteljorg AIR program, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• Artists from Canadian First Nations, Inuit, Metis, US (federally recognized and/or state recognized nations) are encouraged to apply. We verify all enrollment questions with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board in Washington, D.C. and follow the guidelines of the 1990 Indian Arts & Crafts Act. Eligible artists must provide one of the following:
  • A copy of tribal enrollment/status document or card
  • A copy of a letter from your tribe or agency on official letterhead signed by a senior tribal official or enrollment specialist clearly verifies your enrollment.
  • A copy of the certificate of the IACB Act allows a non-enrolled Indian Artist to be certified, in writing on tribal stationary, by the tribe of their descent as an “Indian artisan” of that tribe’s descent.
• Eligible artists are 21 years of age or older and have at least 5 years of experience
• Have demonstrated experience working with a variety of audiences. Experience working with students in a classroom setting is preferred

Timeline:

July/August 2025: Application goes live for July 2026 – June 2027 AIR program

November/December 2025: Application Closes

January 2026: Selection, Interviews

February 2026: Notification

Selected Artists will receive an honorarium of $2500/week. The Eiteljorg will also provide travel and lodging during the residency, local transportation for residency-related programming, and a limited supply budget.