PUBLIC STATEMENT: Terry Family Foundation / Edenfred Arts Residency
September 20, 2010
The Terry Family Foundation announces it will close its arts residency, Edenfred, at the end of 2010. It will continue its current programs through mid-December.
Thomas, E. Terry, foundation President said, “On September 17, 2010, the Terry Family Foundation concluded that a protracted legal disagreement with the City of Madison has become an insurmountable obstacle to Edenfred’s continued operation. Of the several issues put forth by the City, perhaps the most important is that the City fails to recognize that the Edenfred arts residency is an integral part of the Terry Family Foundation and questions whether this usage qualifies as a benevolent service for the community. It is therefore very clear to us that we are climbing a very steep and expensive hill.”
As the primary philanthropy of the Terry Family Foundation, Edenfred has been dedicated to the development of new work in the creative arts by providing the gift of space and uninterrupted time for creative work, reflection, exploration, and artistic exchange in an historic peaceful, retreat environment. Since beginning in 2004, Edenfred has provided residencies to over 400 artists, covering nearly all arts disciplines, through its Resident Fellows, Day Fellows and Partnership programs.
It has become a national model for its partnerships and collaborations with numerous arts organizations and agencies including the Wisconsin Arts Board, Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, Madison Arts Commission, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison Ballet, Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Council for Wisconsin Writers, Overture Center for the Arts, Wisconsin Wrights New Play Project, WI-Hessen Writers Exchange, UW-Madison and many others.
In addition, Edenfred has served Madison’s arts community as the host of meetings, strategic planning sessions, fundraising events for arts organizations, and a series of topical peer ‘Conversations’ – local arts funding in the economic downturn, the regional creative ecology, Native American literature, for arts curators and choreographers.
“Our efforts to develop the Edenfred arts residency as a place to nurture artists, Madison, and our surrounding community have generated enthusiastic support from our neighbors, alderman, and the local, regional and statewide arts communities,’ said David Wells, Edenfred Executive Director, “Although we are closing Edenfred with deep sadness, The Terry Family Foundation will determine how we will continue our commitment to the cultural landscape of Madison and our unflagging support of creative artists.”
Edenfred ('fred' means peace in Norwegian) is a place providing creative artists uninterrupted time to work in a peaceful setting. It is a gracious 1916 Georgian-style mansion in the Highlands neighborhood of Madison, Wisconsin, on 2.5 acres. The property has beautiful gardens, a lovely pond, a small woods and swimming pool (summer only). The Resident Fellows Program is designed as a retreat experience to pursue personal creative opportunities while sharing collegial interaction with a small group of artists.
Edenfred is dedicated to the development of the arts and culture and is especially interested in encouraging interdisciplinary dialogue. To ensure our programming efforts mutually benefit artists and the community, resident fellows are required to have some direct interaction with the Madison community during their stay. The nature of the activity derives from the artist’s interests and is planned in consultation with the Executive Director prior to a residence. The house is particularly well-suited to collaborative team residencies. Creative artists in all disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Our programs include: Resident Fellows Program (open application); Day Fellows Program (local/regional) and Cooperative Residency Program (partnerships with local and regional arts groups).
Established in 2004, Edenfred is a part of the Terry Family Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization.
Contact Information
Email:
Phone: 608.233.7702
Address: 6048 S Highlands Ave
Madison WI 53705