The Artist Residency
Who We Are
The WaF (Wisconsin artist Foundry) Artist Residency , established June 2025, is a new and evolving art metals program operating out of the historic Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry based in Manitowoc, WI. The WaF Artist Residency is an open, process-focused journey welcoming artists from all backgrounds and disciplines. It is designed to cultivate curiosity and innovation, offering resources and opportunities that help participants realize their potential. Here, creativity is not measured by outcomes alone but by the skills, practices, and reflections that give shape to meaningful work.
More than a program, it is a community — a gathering of makers, thinkers, and dreamers who learn from one another and contribute to a shared creative culture. Like a golden ticket, the residency offers entry into an environment alive with imagination, exchange, and possibility — a living space for curiosity and collaboration, always ready for the next voice to join in.
WAFCO (Parent company) link Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry, a non-ferrous castings company
The Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in the early 1910s, Manitowoc WI.
Unlock Potential
At the heart of any WaF residency is the rare access to Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry and all it has to offer — a complex and extensive environment of materials, tools, and processes. This setting opens possibilities for experimentation at a scale and depth rarely available, giving artists the chance to create work that resonates beyond their time in residence.
Residents are encouraged to embrace their capabilities and strive for excellence while remaining open to discovery. With time, space, and support, each artist is free to follow their own journey, engaging deeply with ideas that matter both personally and collectively.
Meet Us
Founder and Creative Director | Traci Mia Schwartz
Traci Mia Schwartz is a fourth-generation family member of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry and serves on its Board of Directors. Born into a world of art and architecture, she has carried that foundation into a lifelong journey of creativity, from building businesses, launching community nonprofits, event planning, fundraising, and advocating for wellness, music, and the arts.
Passionate about creating atmospheres that liberate energy and potential, Traci extends this vision into the Foundry Artist Residency.
Here, artists are welcomed into an inclusive, supportive environment that encourages exploration of ideas and visions, celebrating creativity in all its forms.
The residency fosters meaningful exchange between artists and the workforce, tradition and experimentation, material and metaphor.