Organizer Information
John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC), located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1967. It promotes creative exchanges between artists and audiences locally, nationally, and internationally, with a focus on contemporary and self-taught art, including artist-built environments. The Arts Center manages the Arts/Industry Residency, a unique collaboration with Kohler Co., a leading plumbing and specialty products manufacturer. Kohler Co. hosts and funds the program, providing artists with access to industrial materials and facilities for creative experimentation.
Title & Description
Arts/Industry Residency Program offers artists an immersive, collaborative residency in the Kohler Co. Pottery and Foundry. Artists work alongside industrial craftspeople to explore ceramic, metal, and brass processes, developing new artworks using industrial equipment and techniques. Since 1974, the program has hosted hundreds of artists, emphasizing experimentation, skill exchange, and innovation. Residents create work in a factory environment while receiving mentorship and technical guidance from skilled artisans.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Sculpture (Ceramics, Metal, Brass)
- Interdisciplinary / Experimental Art
Eligibility
- International: Open to artists worldwide
- All disciplines and career stages welcome
- No prior experience in ceramics or metalwork required, but applicants must be adaptable, able to learn quickly, and capable of physically executing their work
- Applicants indicate a preference for Pottery or Foundry
Program Benefits & Awards
- Duration: 3-month residency (three cohorts per year)
- Studio access 24/7 within Kohler Co. Pottery or Foundry
- Free industrial materials and equipment
- Technical support from factory artisans and JMKAC staff
- Photographic documentation of work
- Free shared housing near the factory
- Round-trip transportation to Sheboygan, WI
- Weekly honorarium for food and personal expenses
- Opportunity to interact with other resident artists
- Two works produced during the residency are gifted—one to JMKAC and one to Kohler Co.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Artist CV / Resume
- Portfolio of previous work
- Statement of artistic intent/project description
- Indicate preference for Pottery or Foundry
- Optional: visit Kohler Co. or review artist videos on the JMKAC website
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 28 February 2026
Location
Sheboygan and Kohler, Wisconsin, United States
Additional Details
- Artists must be able to work within factory guidelines and independently handle their projects
- Technical assistance is provided, but the artist performs all work themselves
- Residencies encourage experimentation and interdisciplinary approaches
- Work produced is fully owned by the artist, with two pieces gifted to the host institutions