As part of our professional development initiatives, the Greeley Creative District (GCD) is launching an Emerging Artist Residency. This program supports recent graduates as they transition from education to professional creative careers by removing financial and structural access barriers, providing shared resources, and fostering meaningful connections within Greeley’s creative community.

Through year-long membership to the Greeley Creative Arts Center (GCAC), professional development opportunities, and active engagement with Greeley’s creative sector, the program aims to retain local talent, nurture sustainable creative careers, and contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of the Greeley community.

Residency Period: May 2026-May 2027

Application Deadline: 5 p.m., Friday, April 3, 2026

Eligibility

Emerging Greeley artists are those who:

Graduated in the last school year from either Aims Community College or the University of Northern Colorado. December 2025 graduates and May 2026 planned graduates eligible.
Are based locally. Applicants must live in Northern Colorado, within a 20-mile radius of Greeley. Preference will be given to Greeley-based applicants.
Are still in their early career, with little to no professional exhibition/sales record.

Benefits Package

Residency recipients will receive 12 months of Greeley Creative Arts Center (GCAC) membership at the individual level. Benefits include:

5 hours of reserved time in the workshop each week
- Reserve your time at one of the work benches in our workshop in advance online. (Unlimited drop-in use is allowed for unreserved workbenches on a first come, first served basis.)
Access to the GCAC Member Community
Apply for mentorship, participate in curated meet-ups, hang out in the gallery and connect through our members-only chat group.
Access to a shared tool and equipment library
10% Discount on GCAC Classes, Events, Merchandise and Services
10-Minute Photo Session
- No matter if you're a visual artist or a performer who needs updated headshots, reserve your 10-minute photo session with our GCAC partner Sixteenth St. Studio to produce professional photos for use in publicizing your creative works. Digital images will be provided for advertising or submission purposes, but not for reproduction purposes.
Participation in the monthly First Friday Arts Walk
Sell a small selection of your work through our online store or in the GCAC gift shop
Apply for participation in gallery shows and/or at GCAC public events
Information included in a searchable directory on the GCD website
Access to members-only classes, events and public opportunities

Participation Requirements

Residency recipients are expected to make active use of the Center and its programming. Some elements of participation are required, including:

Work with GCAC staff to design and complete one community activation project during the year.
Participate in the Creatives Council, a volunteer advisory committee whose mission is to act as a sounding board and make strategic recommendations to the Greeley Creative District. The Council meets once per quarter for 90 minutes.
Volunteer at the GCAC front desk — greeting patrons, covering the gift shop register — for five hours each month. Monthly hours can be completed in a single session or dispersed throughout the month.
Complete an informal midyear check-in with a committee of Greeley Creative District staff and representatives from the Board of Directors.
Give a 15-minute presentation to the Board of Directors at the end of the Residency period, showcasing learning opportunities, completed work, and other highlights from throughout the year.

How to Apply

Interested applicants are encouraged to set up a time to tour the GCAC before submission to better understand how the Center’s spaces may or may not align with their creative needs. To schedule a tour, email Executive Director Becca Vaclavik at becca@greeleycreativedistrict.org.

Eligible artists should submit the following materials as a single PDF package to becca@greeleycreativedistrict.org by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 3:

Statement of Goals: What do you hope to achieve with your residency?
Artist Statement (max. 500 words)
3-5 Work Samples (images or links): Samples should represent current skills/practice.
Resume/CV
2 Professional or Educational References
Optional Statement of Need (max. 150 words): You may share any financial or structural barriers that impact your ability to otherwise participate in GCAC programming. Statements of need will be considered alongside artistic merit.

Selection Process

Three resident creatives will be chosen by the Greeley Creative District Board of Directors in 2026. To ensure fairness, applications will be scored against the following criteria:

1. Eligibility Screening (Pass/Fail):

Applicants must meet all of the following to move to scoring:

Graduated May 2025 or later (or planned May 2026) from Aims or UNC
Live within 20 miles of Greeley
Early-career artist with little/no professional exhibition or sales record
Complete application submitted as single PDF

2. Applicant Scoring

Eligible applicants will be scored against the following criteria:

Criterion	Weight (%)
Artistic Quality and Potential	30
Alignment with GCAC Resources and Mission	20
Commitment to Community Participation	15
Career Development Readiness	15
Professionalism and Application Strength	10
Statement of Need (Optional)	10

About the Greeley Creative District

The Greeley Creative District (GCD) is both a state-designated neighborhood zone and a nonprofit. As a region, our boundaries encompass downtown Greeley and the University District. As an organization, we believe that arts and culture are essential ingredients in any thriving city, and we strive to increase creative access to everyone in our community.

With Gratitude

The 2026 Residency is generously sponsored by SouthState Bank.

2026 GCAC Emerging Artists Residency