The newly launched Pullman Yards Arts & Film Residency is now accepting applications from visual artists, filmmakers, and interdisciplinary creators seeking to push boundaries and expand their practices in Atlanta.
Set within Kirkwood’s historic Pullman Yards campus, the program supports four artists with free studio space, a production stipend, and the opportunity to present their work across the 27-acre site. The application deadline for the first cohort is July 31.
This year’s jury includes five nationally and locally esteemed arts and film professionals: Sarah Higgins, Executive + Artistic Director of Art Papers; Kent Kelley, art collector and longtime Chief Financial Officer in the software industry; Alice Gray Stites, Museum Director and Chief Curator at 21c Museum Hotels; Hassan Smith, collector and advisor to John Legend; and Craig Zobel, film and television writer, director, and producer.
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So, what exactly catches a juror’s eye—and heart?
We asked Sarah Higgins, Kent Kelley, and Alice Gray Stites to share what makes an application stand out, how they define creative risk, and what signals that an artist is genuinely ready for this kind of opportunity.
Sarah Higgins: Editor-at-Large, Art Papers
(Photo Credit: Jill Frank)
As someone who has run residency programs herself, Sarah Higgins knows what makes a great resident. And, it’s not just talent. “The artists who thrive in residencies tend to come in with three things: a clear sense of purpose, initiative, and openness,” Higgins says. “It’s a blend of purpose and porousness that makes for the best fit.”
For Higgins, a successful residency can go far beyond career boosts. “I don’t like to emphasize ‘breakthroughs’ in terms of exposure,” she explains. “But residencies can absolutely help artists push their work harder and with more daring. Time, space, and new stimuli matter.”
Higgins is excited about what the Pullman Yards Arts & Film Residency could mean for Atlanta’s larger creative ecosystem. “I’d love to see this become a space of exchange—between artists and the surrounding neighborhoods, or between creative communities that don’t usually intersect. Art always speaks most clearly at a crossroads.”
Kent Kelley: Private Collector
(Photo Credit: Brandon McClung)
A longtime collector and supporter of contemporary art, Kent Kelley views risk as central to any great residency experience.
“Creative risk is when an artist steps away from what feels safe or familiar and tries something new,” Kelley says. “It means being open, curious, and willing to grow.”
He points to a recent MoMA exhibit of works by painter Jack Whitten, who “left behind a well-honed practice to invent something new.” Kelley looks for that same bold spirit in artist proposals.
Still, he adds, “There’s a difference between taking a risk and being inconsistent.” What impresses him most is when an artist uses a residency to push into new territory with purpose.
Kelley also pays attention to how artists talk about their work. “The ones who stand out,” he says, “are the ones who know not just what they do, but why it matters—and how it fits into the bigger picture.”
Alice Gray Stites: Museum Director and Chief Curator of 21c Museum Hotels
(Photo Courtesy of Pullman Yards)
With a background in contemporary visual art and a curatorial career that spans museums and foundations, Alice Gray Stites brings a global perspective to this local opportunity.
She sees both the artist’s portfolio and proposal as crucial parts of the application. “The portfolio shows capacity to create strong work, while the proposal reveals ambition,” she explains. “In many ways, the proposal tells me more about an artist’s willingness to take creative risks.”
Stites is also paying attention to how applicants approach the setting itself. “Pullman Yards is nurturing a unique creative community,” she says. “I hope to see applicants who are genuinely interested in connecting with fellow residents, with local artists, and with Atlanta as a whole.”
A Collective Decision
Higgins, Kelley, and Stites and their fellow jurors share a common charge: Select a cohort that is ambitious, open, and ready to make the most of what Pullman Yards has to offer.
“Atlanta has an incredible history of being a creative hub,” said Maureen Meulen and Adam Rosenfelt, co-founders of Pullman Yards, in a release announcing the residency. “We are excited to welcome artists who want to turn Pullman Yards into their next creative playground.”
For more information about the Pullman Yards Arts & Film Residency and to apply by July 31, visit: pullmanyards.com/artistinresidency
