The Volland Foundation is committed to providing time and space for creative practitioners of a wide range of disciplines to gather in a community setting for work, thought and exchange of ideas, and to experience immersion in a unique ecosystem and rural culture. In 2024, Volland will offer 14 residencies across the spring, summer, and fall seasons.
About 100 miles west of Kansas City, Volland is located in one of the most picturesque valleys in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Its home county, Wabaunsee County, is highly agrarian, but nestled in between several small population centers. Volland has its roots in the railroad, where towns were established every eight to ten miles to replenish coal and water for steam engines. Cattle pens, a robust train schedule, and a mercantile run by two brothers, the Kratzers, made Volland a lively place. This all changed after trucking cattle became the predominant method of shipping. Learn more about the history of Volland here. Today, the Volland Foundation revives that sense of community through the arts with exhibitions, programming and its residency program.
The Residency
Volland provides three rarities in today’s world: quiet, darkness, solitude.
The distractions of daily life often drift away at Volland, leaving meaningful time for work, personal discovery and engagement with nature. In addition to time and space, other residents, staff and locals endow a sense of community to the residency program.
If you’re looking for a residency that offers quiet in a singularly beautiful landscape, the freedom to structure your own time, and a surrounding community that’s friendly and embraces art and artists, then The Volland Foundation residency is for you. During my residencies there as a poet, I found a quality of concentration and openness that I’ve not experienced elsewhere. Ever. It has influenced me and my work in the deepest possible ways. – Mary Pinard, Poet
We are looking for applicants in all stages of their career (emerging, mid-level, professional) and all areas of the globe: local, national and international. The Foundation is committed to equity and welcomes people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.
Residents who enjoy solitude, working independently and are self-guided will do well in this residency. Applicants should consider whether this is the right environment for them. Volland is located 8 miles outside of Alma, a town of 900 people. The nearest grocery store is a 30-minute drive. If you are sensitive to noise, please note that Volland is near the railway.
Volland Provides
- Housing and studio space
- $500/$1000 stipend for two/four week residents, respectively
- Local library and gym access
- Occasional group meals
- Free admission to Volland Foundation programming during the residency
- Assistance with connections needed to aid a residency project
Residents Provide
- Transportation and associated costs
- A vehicle for the duration of their residency
- Art materials and shipping costs
- Meals
The Volland Foundation does not require work to be completed or shown during the residency, believing the resident can best determine how this offering of time and space should be used. Volland encourages some degree of public interaction during residencies. Past examples have included group open studios or a presentation, trips to the local museum for research or to participate in a group activity, and attending local gatherings. The foundation allows residents to determine their choice of public engagements.
Website link: https://vollandfoundation.org/2024-volland-residencies/
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