An art residency that was set to begin last year will be able to take shape this year as the Dome House and the Miller Art Museum are teaming up. The Al and Mickey Quinlan Artist residency will be open to artists in the midwest. The inspiration for the residency comes from Al Quinlan’s family. The Quinlan’s purchased the Dome House a few years ago and rehabbed it to the point it can now be utilized. The original intent was to make the place a creative haven, and now that intention becomes a reality, as it will serve as a haven for artists to live and work. Miller Art Museum Director Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead describes the house as the perfect platform for an artist residency. 

The program is multi-faceted, and open to two artists with a preference for one to be a local resident. The program is open to mid-career level visual artists working in the areas of the fine arts of painting, printmaking, and photography who wish to engage with area visitors and residents. Though one artist could be unfamiliar to the community, Meissner-Gigstead makes it known community involvement will be a residency focal point. 

This was planned to launch last year and even had a successful fundraiser in late 2019, but the pandemic made all parties have to rethink and strategize. The hope now is that the residency grows throughout time. The Miller Art Museum also hopes this could be a vehicle for their permanent collection and exhibits. Meissner-Gigstead also believes this will benefit the community in coming years. Interested artists are encouraged to apply at domehouseart.org as applications are accepted until the end of May.