About Middle Gray
Our vision is to provide artists with the resources and environment to deepen their practice while building meaningful connections with the community and contributing to Detroit’s vibrant and evolving arts landscape.
We host four artists each year for one-month residencies, offering a stipend, private accommodations, and full access to digital and analog facilities, including printing, darkroom, gallery, and event spaces. Residents collaborate with our program director to create programming that fosters growth for both the artist and the broader community. In alignment with Little Village’s values of accessibility and creative engagement, Middle Gray is committed to cultivating an inclusive environment that supports artists, local institutions, and community groups, offering a welcoming hub for photography and the wider visual arts.
The residency program at Middle Gray, based in Detroit’s Little Village, enables artists to be immersed in a supportive environment dedicated to photography and lens-based practices.
Artistic Production
Middle Gray offers essential facilities for both digital and analog production, including a darkroom, printing lab, studio space, in addition to a gallery screening room and library curated in collaboration with Black Arts Library supporting the full scope of still and moving image work.
Sustaining Traditional Photography Processes
We are committed to sustaining and advancing traditional film-based practices by providing the space, resources, and mentorship that many artists no longer have access to. Residents are encouraged to share these skills with the community through collaborative programming, passing knowledge on to younger generations who otherwise may not have introductions to analog processes.
Education & Youth Engagement
Engagement with youth and schools is central to our mission. We intend to create opportunities for students under 20 to learn directly from resident artists through workshops, talks, and hands-on experiences in professional facilities.
Showcase & Exchange
Resident artists are invited to present their work through exhibitions, film screenings, performances, open reviews, and talks, all of which are documented through publications and postings for exposure. Our adjacent residency model welcomes both live-in and live-out artists, ensuring space for Detroit and Metro Detroit artists while also bringing in diverse perspectives from beyond the city to broaden dialogue and foster exchange of skills and experiences.
Resources & Membership
Alongside the residency, Middle Gray hopes to eventually provide resources for both artists and non-artists. Local photography collectives and individual artists would be granted access to production facilities, while community members are invited to participate through public programs, fundraising galas, and other events.