David Barr Artist Residency at Michigan Legacy Art Park
Call Overview
Application Opens on January 31, 2026
Number of Applications Allowed: 2 per yearEntry Fee (Entry Fee): $20.00
Work Sample Requirements
Images | Minimum: 0, Maximum: 10
Audio | Minimum: 0, Maximum: 6
Video | Minimum: 0, Maximum: 3
Call Description
The Michigan Legacy Art Park Experience
Inspired by the work of artist, writer and educator David Barr, Michigan Legacy Art Park provides resident artists with time, space, support and inspiration for furthering their work by offering artist residency programs. Our primary annual residency program offers a two-week stay, a small honorarium, and an opportunity to both explore the Art Park, and work in a local art studio. Non-lodging residencies for local artists are also available on a limited basis.
We run one 2-week residency with lodging, generally in the Fall. A stipend of $1500 is included, to pay for travel, supplies, groceries, and incidentals. Local non-lodging residency artists are awarded a $500 stipend.
We work with all residents to create flexible opportunities to network and share your work with the public.
Michigan Legacy Art Park, a nonprofit arts and culture organization in northern Michigan, is seeking artists to apply for the 2025 David Barr Residency program. The annual residency is supported by the Art Park’s Charles McGee Art Fund that was established to support new and emerging Michigan artists by providing a creative retreat with lodging, studio space, honorarium, materials budget, and the inspiration of the Art Park.
Residency Dates:
Application Opens: February 15, 2026
Appliation Closes: April 1, 2026
Summer Local Artist non-lodging residency: Between June 1 and August 31, 2026. You may choose as many or as few days as you wish. The local residency includes a $500 stipend for materials and work.
Fall Residency with Lodging: Between September 1 and October 31. This is a fourteen-day residency, and you may propose to spend less time, but not more time. The Fall Residency with Lodging includes a $1500 stipend for travel, materials, groceries, etc.
A Little More about Michigan Legacy Art Park:
The Mission of Michigan Legacy Art Park (the Art Park) is to inspire awareness, appreciation and passion for Michigan’s history and stories, culture, and the environment through the arts. Since its founding in 1995, the Art Park completes this mission through the operation of a 31-acre forested, public sculpture park in Thompsonville with programs and services on-site and in classrooms across northwest Michigan. The Art Park is located in the heart of Crystal Mountain. It has over 50 sculptures in the permanent collection; a gallery of temporary sculpture by emerging artists; poetry stones with verse that reflects the natural setting; an amphitheater for concerts and events; a quarter mile accessible trail and 2-miles of natural trails; and a Discovery Grove for student activities and programs. Over 20,000 visitors are served annually including residents and visitors of Benzie, Manistee, Mason, Lake, Oceana, Kalkaska, Antrim, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Wexford Counties in Michigan.
Residency Location:
Michigan Legacy Art Park
Physical Address for GPS Navigation
7300 Mountainside Dr
Thompsonville, Michigan 49683
About the Charles McGee Art Fund
Michigan Legacy Art Park Founder David Barr (1939-2015) and Detroit artist Charles McGee (1924-2021) were colleagues and friends. Both men shared the same values and passion for community, and a belief in the unique power of art as a teaching tool.
The Art Park created a fellowship in McGee’s name to support the next generation of sculptors through residencies that provide emerging artists with precious resources: time, space, support, and inspiration they need to further their creative work.
An emerging artist is not defined by age but as an artist who is at the beginning of their career, and who has created a modest independent body of work. The Art Park will consider the significance, scope, critical reviews, and awards of an emerging artist who shows significant potential.
Working primarily outdoors, Charles McGee Fund artists in residence will be invited to use the 31-acre park as their studio and inspiration — creating artworks that may be ephemeral or more permanent in nature.
About the Jean Parsons Center for Arts & Sciences
Eastern Michigan University’s Parsons Center for Arts and Sciences is an interdisciplinary, educational center and natural area located in northern Michigan. The Parsons Center is the legacy of the late Jean Noble Parsons, renowned sculptor and potter, and is run by the College of Arts & Sciences with special attention from the School of Art & Design.
The application form will include these items:
An artist may anchor themselves in more than one way in this residency program. The selection committee is amenable to a multitude of proposals. Artists are invited to envision residencies tailored to their own interests, goals, duration, primary location, etc. The selection committee will work with residency candidates to craft a residency experience that meets the individual goals of the artist and the partner organizations. Our goal is to provide time, space, support and inspiration in order to foster the pursuit of new ideas and new works.
Letter of proposal
Include all the following: Personal Information, About Your Work, Attachments.
Personal Information
- Name:
- Contact Information:
- Note Residency: David Barr Residency at Michigan Legacy Art Park
- Lodging preference:
About Your Work
Answer at least three of the following questions that most resonate with you and your work. (250 words maximum)
- How do you foresee living, working or exhibiting in the environments created by David Barr having an effect on how you approach your work?
- How will your work further the mission of Michigan Legacy Art Park?
- How do you see your work developing through research and the creative process?
- How will you involve the public in your residency?
- Why do you think you should be considered for this residency?
Attachments
- Artist’s statement
- CV or Resumé
- Pertinent links (website, video, blog, articles, etc.)
- Portfolio of 10 to 20 hi-res images, or files of your work
- List of three references including name, title, and contact information
Submission Email
Include all documents and images in a single PDF file titled lastname_firstname.pdf and email to [email protected]
Selection Process
The Collections Committee awards the David Barr Residency to an artist whose samples of artwork submitted, artist statement, and experiences best align with and further the mission and values of Michigan Legacy Art Park.
