One of the many ways Cactus Club has evolved under owner Kelsey Kaufmann and her team is the Cactus+ Accessibility Initiative. The most visible part of that program up to this point was a push to make the venue’s 140-year-old building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This week brought another chapter in the initiative, as the club launched its “In the Clouds” artist residency program.
Dubbed a “hybrid residency,” the new effort focuses on disabled, neurodivergent and chronically ill artist, and consists of three phases as outlined by the club in a press release:
- Virtual multimedia residency (May-June 2025) — A showcase of the artist-in-residence’s work via Cactus Club’s digital channels.
- In-person residency (August-September 2025) — Access to a workspace and the option of temporary living accommodations in the on-site apartment, as well as performance and installation opportunities at the club.
- Ramp mosaic residency — An invitation-based residency tasked with creating a mosaic for the facade of the club’s ramp installation scheduled for this summer. The program provides materials, training, tools and other assistance.
The first seeds of the program were planted by Cactus Club’s artist installations, with the name stemming from the cloud installation that hangs above the stage in the live room. Bringing those elements to the club spurred a desire to “provide a more formal avenue for artists to spend time on their work with resources.”
With support from a Ruth Arts Wisconsin Special Projects Grant, the club is now able to offer residencies lasting six weeks each, with some flexibility based on the participating artist. They will also have the option of working with the club’s partnering artists for studio visits and mentorship opportunities, and will receive a $3,000 stipend for living costs and materials.
At the end of each residency, the artist will sit down for an interview to reflect on the experience and give the public a chance to learn about them, the program and Cactus+.
For the first round of residency, the club invites applications from “individuals or collaborative duos working in any medium who identify as disabled, chronically ill or neurodivergent.” Wisconsin-based artists will receive preference, although the club encourages those from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan or Minnesota to apply. The application will be open between now and Feb. 24.
You can visit the Cactus Club website to apply and to get more information on the In the Clouds artist residency program, as well as the Cactus+ Accessibility Initiative.
