Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio

Residency Program

Year Long Residency Program:

Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio can accommodate up to five Resident Artists as part of our work exchange program. Residencies are typically for a 12 month period of time. Longer or shorter terms can be negotiated as necessary and appropriate.

Residents will have a weekly commitment to the following hours:

8 hours of Work Exchange (unpaid)
2 hours of Assigned Professional Development (unpaid)
3 hours minimum of Paid Work ($15/hour)

Four Focus Areas Available:

Learn more about the disciplines you can focus on during your residency below:

Ceramics Residency

Focus: Ceramics

Kiln loading/firing
Glaze and clay systems
Materials and studio process
Retail or production support when needed
Primarily studio-based and process-oriented.

Warm Glass Residency

Focus: Glass studio operations, safety, and production

Glass studio systems
Process learning and support
Equipment and materials
Production support when needed
Primarily studio-based and process-oriented.

In Studio Instruction: Multidisciplinary

Focus: Education and programming delivery within the studio

Assisting and co-teaching
Curriculum development
Programmatic teaching support
Workshop instruction (paid assignments)
In Studio weekly class instruction (paid assignments)

Outreach and Engagement: Multidisciplinary

Focus: Community Engagement and Logistics

Festival and event coordination
Outreach booth staffing
Booking and scheduling with external partners/clients
Program logistics and communication
Mobile workshop instruction (paid assignments)
This track supports visibility, follow-through, and community presence

Benefits:

Personal Work/Studio Space & 24/7 Access
$2,000 Marion C. Jacobs Moving Stipend. Only for residents requiring relocation, limit three per cycle.
Monthly Firing, $300 Annual Material Stipend
$150 Professional Stipend
Final Showcase (Exhibition or Create-Your-Own Project)
Free Enrollment to ICCGS Programs
Professional Development Opportunities
Paid Teaching Opportunities

Next Application Cycle:

June 2026 to June 2027: Applications due on April 6th, 2026

*Notification of selection will be on May 4th, 2026

“My residency will always be a deciding factor of how I identify myself as I strive to keep growing as an artist.” – Logan Jensen

Steps to Apply:

Potential Resident Artists should have completed, or are in process of completing a BA/BFA degree in Ceramics, Art, Education and/or Communications. Those who have other relevant experience or education are encouraged to apply.

Send the supporting documents below by email with the subject line “RA Application 2026”, to the following email address: Info@IowaCeramicsCenter.org

Supporting Documents Include:

10-20 high quality digital Image folder with each image labeled as: LastName-FirstInitial-ImageNumber. Required only for ceramics and warm glass residencies.
A document with corresponding image numbers with information for each photo including: title, medium, size and date. Required only for ceramics and warm glass residencies.
Artist’s Statement and statement of goals for the residency. Required only for ceramics and warm glass residencies.
Resume or CV required for Outreach and Engagement and In-Studio Instruction tracks.
Two letters of recommendation on official letterhead are required. Letters should be emailed to info@IowaCeramicsCenter.org and sent directly from the recommender.

Resident Artist Tasks May Include:

Residents will also have a weekly committment of 3 hours minimum of paid work ($15/hour)
In studio and off site teaching
Outreach and public engagement
Event staffing
Loading, firing, and unloading kilns
Maintaining daily operations and general studio upkeep: mixing clays, glazes and glass preparation
Restocking - must be able to lift 50lbs
Opening and closing the Center
Retail and Administrative Assistance

Visiting Artists

ICCGS invites Visiting Artists throughout the year to foster relationships between the Resident Artists and Established Makers. Hosting Visiting Artists offers unique opportunities for Emerging Artists to broaden their creative approaches and build valuable networks.

Some of Our Guest Artists Include:

Mel Andringa
Susannah Biondo-Gemmell
Margaret Bohls
Pattie Chalmers
Linda Christianson
Jonathan Christensen Caballero
Bede Clarke
Maggie Connolly
David Crane
Israel Davis
Chotsani Dean
Thaddeus Erdahl
Jill Foote-Hutton
Erin Furimsky
Stuart Gair
Andy Gemmell
Gerit Grimm
Al Holen
Clary Illian
Matt Kelleher
Gail Kendall
Simon Levin
Linda Lewis
Jeff Oestreich
Tim Pfiffner
Donovan Palmquist
Pete Pinnell
Joseph Pintz
Coleen Riley
Jennifer Rogers
Brad Schwieger
Kate Schroeder
Chris Singewald
Amy Smith
Steve Maxson
Nicholas Meyer
Tashiaki Mori
Von Venhuizen
Janis Mars Wunderlich
Shumpei Yamaki

Events

ICCGS hosts a Iowa Clay Conference

This bi-annual event, features concurent exhibitions, demonstrations and lectures from renowned artists around the nation and more. Resident Artists take on roles to facilitate the event’s programming and assist the presenters. This event offers invaluable exposire to new perspectives and enriches the residency experience.

Our next Clay Conference is scheduled for October 2028.

The Clay Conference is a fantastic opportunity to learn new techniques

Exhibitions

Sell Your Work

We have an adjoining 800 sq. ft. gallery which houses exhibitions throughout the year, primarily featuring ceramic and glass artists. Each Resident Artist will have a gallery exhibition toward the end of their residency, and may also have the opportunity to curate other shows. We also market and sell work through various events held at the ICCGS, and host 3-4 events per year, providing students and residents the opportunity to sell their work.