GLEAN 2026/27
Submit 4–6 images and up to 1 video, along with bio, CV/resume, proposal, and questionnaire for a five-month artist residency creating work from gleaned materials.
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Get matched →- Deadline
- 41 days left
- Entry fee
- Free
- Award
- $3,000
- Location
- Portland, Oregon
- Exhibition window
- Apr 1, 2027 → May 31, 2027
About
Overview
GLEAN is a five-month juried residency program that invites five artists from the Portland area to glean materials from the Metro Central Transfer Station and create art from discarded materials. The program aims to inspire people to think about consumption habits, waste, and resources.
Key dates
- Submission deadline: Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT
- On-site safety training and orientation: Monday, November 2, 2026 (required)
- Residency period: November 2026 – March 2027
- Exhibition: April/May 2027
Eligibility
Applicants must be residents of Multnomah, Washington, or Clackamas County. One position is reserved for a student currently enrolled in an art program at a local college or university.
What to submit
- 4–6 images
- Up to 1 video
- Bio
- CV/Resume
- Proposal
- Questionnaire
Program details
Each selected artist will receive a $3,000 stipend, access to the transfer station for five months, monthly check-ins, studio visits, marketing support, and group critiques. Artists must create a minimum of eight pieces available for sale, with at least 95% of each piece made from gleaned materials. Artists receive 80% commission from sales at the exhibition. Recology will retain one piece per artist for its permanent collection; Metro will retain one piece per artist for public display for two years (not purchased).
Special opportunity
Thanks to the generosity of Rainmaker Craft Initiative, one of the five artists will be selected for exceptional craft level. This recognizes artists/makers with exceptional skill and experimentation with materials.
Important notes
Studio space is not provided. Artists must sign an artist agreement and attend safety training before gleaning. If COVID-19 levels increase significantly or a similar outbreak occurs, artists may be asked to switch to "GLEAN-in-place" using materials on hand at home instead of on-site gleaning.
Contact
- Award
- $3,000 stipend; 80% commission on sales at exhibition
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
- Entries per artist
- Up to 1
- Sales commission
- Organizer retains 20% on sales
- Theme
- Artists are invited to create work using materials gleaned from the Metro Central Transfer Station, exploring consumption habits, waste generation, and resource use through discovered discarded materials.
- Eligibility
- Residents of Multnomah, Washington, or Clackamas County; one position reserved for students currently enrolled in an art program at a local college or university.
- Audience
- Artists from the Portland area (Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties); one position reserved for students currently enrolled in local college or university art programs
- Contact
- [email protected]
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.