In The Clouds Residency
Milwaukee’s creative scene is alive and thriving, but the funding creatives receive is almost nonexistent. According to a BizTimes article, Wisconsin ranks 49th in the nation in allocating $0.14 per capita in annual state support for arts and culture compared to the surrounding states, which average around $7 per capita. It is no shock that many creatives leave the city to receive the support it takes to thrive as a creative. To provide a cushion for Milwaukee creatives, the Cactus Club created its first-ever artist residency, In The Clouds Residency (ITC).
The Cactus Club, located on Milwaukee’s Southside, has been a hub for local artists, creatives, and everything in between to share their talents with the world. ITC will be hosted through Cactus Plus, the arts education non-profit partner of Cactus Club.
ITC is a six-week hybrid residency, and its first year will focus on disabled, neurodivergent, and chronically ill artists. Artists can apply for a virtual residency in the spring or an in-person residency in the fall. Selected artists-in-residence will receive a stipend of $3,000 for living costs and materials.
Cactus Plus Program Coordinator Gosha Ananchev said the team imposes no restrictions on artists’ work or spending and chose the $3,000 stipend based on living wages.
“For art to be a viable career path for artists, it has to be sustainable,” said Ananchev. “…a lot of people in the city…if they’re not interested in the art,s they don’t know what is happening in the city regarding the arts. I think a lot of people would be surprised there’s a lot going on.”
According to the site, ITC consists of four initial residencies: a virtual multimedia residency, two in-person residencies, and an invitation-based residency tasked with a mosaic facade on the forthcoming ramp to the front door.
This residency is just one part of the Cactus Plus’s Accessibility Initiative. Cactus Plus has been working to improve accessibility to its 140-year-old building. The Cactus Plus team is currently working on adding a 23-foot ramp to the Cactus Club’s front door.
In 2024, Cactus Plus Accessibility Initiative received a Wisconsin Special Projects Grant from the Ruth Foundation for the Arts, which launched ITC.
“One thing I love about the Milwaukee arts scene is there’s more humilit,y and it’s genuine. More people are interested in building community through art,” said Ananchev.
Tips on How to Apply
On January 27, 2025, the Cactus Club opened applications to apply for ITC. Applications close on February 24, 2025.
According to a press release, artists of all ages and stages of a career working in film/video, painting, writing, printmaking, music/sound design, ceramics/clay, fibers, drawing, photography, dance/performance, sculpture, design, and digital media/internet art are encouraged to apply.
Wisconsin-based artists will be given preference, but artists from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota are welcome to apply.
Artists in residency will have the option to connect with partnering artists for studio visits and mentorship opportunities. Cactus Club is partnering with local organizations to offer opportunities for artists in residency to use facilities and equipment not available at Cactus Club.
Ananchev provided three tips on how to stand out when applying for ITC.
- Read everything before applying. There’s a Q&A section below the form that breaks down what the residency is and what to expect.
- Be as close to the character count as possible. The team was very intentional about the character limit they chose, so make sure to use it all. They want to know who you are and what you do.
- Email Ananchev if you have any questions before submitting.
To apply for ITC, click here.
