No. Residents should plan to provide their own meals and other living expenses. The majority of the meals will not be provided. Occasional group dinners or special events will be offered during each residency period.

There are shared laundry facilities in PlySpace. Residents should supply their own laundry detergent.

There is wifi available in the living and studio spaces. Artists who rely heavily on discipline-specific software or programs should bring their own laptop.

Should I bring my own linens? Dishes?

It is up to you. PlySpace will have bedding, linens, and towels for residents to use. It is suggested that you bring your own towels (each resident is provided with one set of towels). PlySpace provides one set of sheets, a comforter, a light-weight blanket , and two pillows for each bed.

Dishes are also provided for resident use. If you have a food allergy or are vegetarian/gluten-free, please bring your own dishes and supplies. The shared kitchen will not be allergen-free, though all are welcome to use what we have.

The layout of Muncie makes the availability of a vehicle helpful, but not necessary. A vehicle is highly suggested for those who wish to work in sculpture or larger physical pieces which will need to be transported to and from PlySpace and the BSU wood shop. There is no storage space for projects at BSU.

There are numerous bus routes around Muncie but there are not many Uber / Lyft drivers or taxis. PlySpace residents will have use of bicycles while at PlySpace. The PlySpace staff can assist residents with weekly grocery store trips by car, if necessary. PlySpace is within walking distance of several restaurants, a small natural food store, and a fantastic farmer’s market at Minnetrista, which runs between April and September.

There is a small parking lot outside of the residence and studios, depending on location. There is also on-street parking. Muncie is an urban environment so do not leave important items in your car.

Bring:

Clothing for all weather, depending on the season. Muncie has snow and cold temperatures in the winter, and hot temperatures in the summer, with some rain.

Toiletries, Prescriptions, Insurance Information, Photo-ID

Linens and Towels (optional) - We will have blankets / comforters and some linens.

Noise-Canceling Headphones / Earplugs - Great for the studio and for the living spaces.

Closed-toe Shoes - You must have appropriate footwear if you are using any of the Ball State University School of Art facilities.

Specialty clothing - If you have an art practice that requires an apron, welding mask, gloves, or other gear, you should bring this with you.

Bike helmet and U-Lock (or similar) bike lock if you would like to use the PlySpace bicycles.

Any handheld tools, power tools, or special equipment you need to make your work. Studios will have outlets. Some studios will have sinks.

Any supplies you need to make your work (though you can order items and have them shipped to PlySpace). You must ship via Post Office. We do not have the ability to accept Fedex or UPS at this time.

Don’t Bring:

Dishes or dishware unless you are cooking meat free / allergen free meals.

Appliances (we have a full kitchen and should have everything you need).

Basic supplies like toilet paper or paper towels. The bathroom will be stocked at the beginning of your stay but you will need to provide your own toilet paper after that.

Illegal substances.

Firearms.

Mail can be received at the MuncieArts PO Box. The address is PO Box 488, Muncie, IN 47308.

If you need to have a package delivered via UPS or Fedex, please contact us before sending.

All illegal substances are prohibited in PlySpace residency spaces, including living quarters, studio spaces, parking lots, and partner collaboration spaces. Marijuana, in all circumstances, is illegal in the state of Indiana. Nicotine smoking is prohibited in PlySpace living or studio spaces, including porches and entryways. Alcohol is not allowed in any PlySpace studio spaces, around equipment or machinery, or in any community collaboration space. Please be respectful of other residents, partners, and PlySpace staff when attending the residency. Failure to follow residency rules can result in termination of the residency invitation. All residents must be over 21 years of age. 

PlySpace will clean and disinfect resident shared living spaces and bedrooms between terms. All other cleaning during a residency term is up to the residents. Cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer are available upon request.

Residents are expected to keep their personal and shared spaces clean, remove all trash from their rooms on a regular basis, and keep food in personal spaces to a minimum (no bugs please!). PlySpace will supply general cleaning supplies and toiletries, such as hand soap, toilet paper, paper towels, brooms, dust-mop, vacuum, trash bags, light bulbs, etc. Maintenance issues will be reported directly to the PlySpace Program Coordinator.

Yes. In order to facilitate an immersive experience for residents and community members, we request that all residents live at PlySpace for the entire length of the residency. 

Residents applicants cannot be from Delaware County, IN.

Notify the staff immediately if you become sick, injured, or show symptoms of Covid-19. Do not attend the residency if actively showing symptoms of sickness.

If you become sick or are injured and need to see a doctor, there are several options. Two blocks from the residency is Open Door Health Services, which offers a wide range of medical services by appointment. There are several emergency walk-in services centers in Muncie as well, accessible by car.

You should bring your insurance ID card with you in case you need it! Critical injury or illness services can be found at Ball Memorial Hospital, located 1 mile from the residence.

PlySpace is not responsible for any injury that occurs on the residency premises or during the residency. We will do our best to make sure the living and studio spaces are safe and free from potential hazards.

Unfortunately, PlySpace cannot accommodate overnight visitors during a residency term. If your family or friends would like to visit you while you are in residence, we can recommend many good Air BnBs that are nearby!

The studio spaces will allow artists to pursue their own work in a clean, quiet space but will also offer the opportunity for collaboration, discussion, and critique. Residents are offered a “white-box”, lockable, private studio space in downtown Muncie. The spaces are a minimum size of 200 sq ft. Spaces are acquired that fit each resident’s needs and are located within walking distance of the residence. Please let us know if you have specific studio requirements in your application. Processes involving heat / fire will not be allowed in traditional studio spaces and will need to be relocated to a special facility.

Can I work in the studio spaces at night?
Yes, most artists will have 24-hour access to the studio spaces. Some spaces may be open during specific hours, but if you are a night owl, let us know that this is your priority and we will find the right space for you!

Can I put holes in my studio wall to hang work?

Studio walls are sturdy and constructed with drywall and steel studs. You should be able to hang most artwork on the walls, but heavy installations may require special consideration. Any holes or damage to the walls at the end of the residency term must be repaired by the artist before leaving. Failure to repair spaces may forfeit the second half of the residency stipend.

Does the studio have ventilation?

Most studio spaces will have ambient ventilation, so processes that involve chemicals or strong smells will not be allowed in these spaces. However, artists with specific needs may be granted access to other facilities with ventilation. Please be clear about your needs when applying to the program.

Can I use flammables? Resins? Chemicals?

Fire is not allowed in the studio or residency spaces. If this is part of your practice, please explain what you will need to use clearly in your project proposals. We will try to accommodate artists with the appropriate facilities, though you will not be able to use these materials in the studio.

Artists should plan to bring the majority of their own equipment. However, we love to help artists find collaborators that have the tools that they need to have a successful residency. This can include limited access to a number of specialized facilities within the school, including The Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass, ceramic studios, sculpture and wood shop spaces, computer and photo labs, among others. There are also many local businesses and nonprofits with fantastic collaborative opportunities, including Cornerstone Center for the Arts, Tribune Showprint, and local industrial businesses. Artists should be clear about their process and equipment needs in both their personal and collaborative project proposals.  If you have specific questions about the availability of certain facilities, please email hello@plyspace.org.

Artists should expect to bring or acquire everything they need to produce their work. No art supplies will be provided. There is a small art store in Muncie (Art Mart - www.artmartmuncie.net) that can order specialized materials for you. they have a selection of commonly requested items. Muncie also has several chain box stores such as Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Menards and Lowes. The city of Indianapolis is a 60-minute drive away and has numerous specialty stores. Residents may pay to ship their materials to the residency before their arrival but please contact us for the correct address before you ship. We cannot accept Fedex or UPS at this time. All materials brought to PlySpace must be taken home or donated locally of at the end of the residency term.

No. Please plan to take anything produced outside of the community collaborator project with you when you leave the residency. We do not have storage space for any items left behind.

We have worked with numerous writers, dancers, and musicians over the years.

Writers have often found that working in the residency space has been the most comfortable, though separate studio spaces can be provided if requested. There are a number of co-working spaces available in downtown Muncie for writers who like to be in a busier atmosphere.

For dancers and musicians, our collaborator, Cornerstone Center for the Arts has fantastic facilities for dance as well as some recording spaces for podcast or music. Musicians can also be placed in a space that works best for their instrument.