Buckham Fine Arts Project: Writer In Residence program.
The Buckham Fine Arts Project is predominantly known as the visual arts exhibition space, Buckham Gallery, in Flint Michigan. It is BFAP’s mission to present a broad range of innovative contemporary art, both visual and non-visual, of the highest quality and standard for the enrichment of its surrounding communities. With the launching of the Writer In Residence program in early 2021, BFAP taps into Flint’s rich spring of contemporary literary arts. BFAP has also identified a lack of representation and is intentionally reaching out to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) writers to be more accessible to a wider audience in our community.
BFAP’s new Writer in Residence program engages literary artists to respond to each of BFAP’s gallery exhibitions in their contemporary literary art form. Each residency culminates in a publication of writing produced during the project. The selected literary artist is awarded a honorarium for their work.
BFAP’s new Writer in Residence program engages literary artists to respond to each of BFAP’s gallery exhibitions in their contemporary literary art form. Each residency culminates in a publication of writing produced during the project. The selected literary artist is awarded a honorarium for their work.
Buckham Fine Arts Project announces Qiana Towns Williams as its sixth annual Writer In Residence! Guest Writer also selected
(Flint, Mich. – Nov. 10, 2025) Buckham Fine Arts Project announces Qiana Towns Williams as its 2025-2026 Writer in Residence (WIR).
As the resident literary artist, Towns Williams will attend Buckham Gallery’s eight exhibitions between October 2025 and September 2026. After absorbing the visual presentations, Towns Williams will create written compositions responding to her experience, as a catalyst for her literary practice. In addition to the residency and honorarium, she joins the Buckham Arts Collective with a complimentary Artist Collaborator membership, further strengthening the growing rank of writers in the collective.
“The Buckham Gallery residency offers me the gift of time and support to think deeply and create freely,” said Towns Williams. “There is much possibility ahead; I am moving forward with curiosity and courage. I’m here to write, rewrite, and be rewritten by the art and artists I encounter at Buckham.
“In community, creativity multiplies. I look forward to collaborating with partners to host discussions and workshops that center art and imagination, creating space for dialogue and shared expression.”
The Buckham Fine Arts Project’s WIR program started as an outreach project in early 2021 to unite its visual art exhibitions with literary arts and Flint’s Black, Indigenous, People of Color community. The collaboration provides an opportunity for writers to engage with their interest in visual art and gain exposure for their literary work, while engaging Flint’s marginalized communities in a meaningful way.
“This opportunity fosters growth and engagement between visual and literary arts practices,” said Executive Director Michele Leclaire. “Having had the pleasure of reading Qiana’s poetry through the submission process, I can share that she manipulates with words the way visual artists use paint and materials to create images with texture and shape. We are overjoyed to work with Qiana for the 2025-2026 residency.”
In addition, Buckham along with the WIR jurors selected Kirei as a Guest Writer to complement the 2025-2026 residency. Kirei will engage with and respond to three exhibitions during the season and her compositions will be posted on Buckham Gallery’s website with images that spark her creative process. She also joins the Buckham Arts Collective with a complimentary Artist Collaborator membership to promote the enrichment the collective can only develop with many and varied experiences, as well as offer support and community to the participating residents.
“Being invited into a Guest Writer role at Buckham this season is something I’m truly grateful for,” Kirei said. “This gallery was one of my first glimpses into the creative storytelling that takes place when writing and visual art meet. During my time in the galley, I hope to find new sparks of inspiration from the exhibits, and witness how Flint’s art and community reflect one another while I grow as a writer.”
Buckham introduced the Guest Writer as part of the residency in 2023-2024 to work with two writers during its 40th anniversary season. Since launching the residency in 2021, Buckham annually receives a number of technically accomplished and conceptually intriguing submissions from writers in Genesee County. The jurors are humbled by the breadth of works and trust in allowing them to view and consider many personal works. Often one applicant bubbles to the top of the pool, but sometimes the jurors must make a difficult decision between writers.
“This year was a particularly difficult year for the WIR jurors to select a single resident,” said Leclaire. “We were blown away by the scope of impactful writing. During the interview process, Kirei impressed us when she took the initiative to respond to one of the works currently installed without prompting. We wanted a way to work with her this year and reintroduced the Guest Writer project.”
2025-2026 BFAP: WRITER IN RESIDENCE & GUEST WRITER
Buckham Fine Arts Project's Writer In Residence and Guest Writer will receive honoraria and complimentary Buckham Artist Collaborator memberships for their participation, exemplifying BFAP’s commitment to supporting artists and contemporary arts in its community.
The 2025-2026 residency cycle will culminate with the compilation of Towns Williams’ compositions into a publication and public reading. More details will be available in late Fall 2026.
Buckham's 2025-2026 Writer In Residence project is sponsored in part by a generous donation by the Mary Elizabeth Adams Manley Beautification Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. The 2025-2026 Guest Writer program is sponsored in part by the generous support of anonymous donors.
Buckham Fine Arts Project is supported in part by an award from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the Greater Flint Arts Council Share Art Genesee Grant Program made possible by the Genesee County Arts Education and Cultural Enrichment Millage funds.
As the resident literary artist, Towns Williams will attend Buckham Gallery’s eight exhibitions between October 2025 and September 2026. After absorbing the visual presentations, Towns Williams will create written compositions responding to her experience, as a catalyst for her literary practice. In addition to the residency and honorarium, she joins the Buckham Arts Collective with a complimentary Artist Collaborator membership, further strengthening the growing rank of writers in the collective.
“The Buckham Gallery residency offers me the gift of time and support to think deeply and create freely,” said Towns Williams. “There is much possibility ahead; I am moving forward with curiosity and courage. I’m here to write, rewrite, and be rewritten by the art and artists I encounter at Buckham.
“In community, creativity multiplies. I look forward to collaborating with partners to host discussions and workshops that center art and imagination, creating space for dialogue and shared expression.”
The Buckham Fine Arts Project’s WIR program started as an outreach project in early 2021 to unite its visual art exhibitions with literary arts and Flint’s Black, Indigenous, People of Color community. The collaboration provides an opportunity for writers to engage with their interest in visual art and gain exposure for their literary work, while engaging Flint’s marginalized communities in a meaningful way.
“This opportunity fosters growth and engagement between visual and literary arts practices,” said Executive Director Michele Leclaire. “Having had the pleasure of reading Qiana’s poetry through the submission process, I can share that she manipulates with words the way visual artists use paint and materials to create images with texture and shape. We are overjoyed to work with Qiana for the 2025-2026 residency.”
In addition, Buckham along with the WIR jurors selected Kirei as a Guest Writer to complement the 2025-2026 residency. Kirei will engage with and respond to three exhibitions during the season and her compositions will be posted on Buckham Gallery’s website with images that spark her creative process. She also joins the Buckham Arts Collective with a complimentary Artist Collaborator membership to promote the enrichment the collective can only develop with many and varied experiences, as well as offer support and community to the participating residents.
“Being invited into a Guest Writer role at Buckham this season is something I’m truly grateful for,” Kirei said. “This gallery was one of my first glimpses into the creative storytelling that takes place when writing and visual art meet. During my time in the galley, I hope to find new sparks of inspiration from the exhibits, and witness how Flint’s art and community reflect one another while I grow as a writer.”
Buckham introduced the Guest Writer as part of the residency in 2023-2024 to work with two writers during its 40th anniversary season. Since launching the residency in 2021, Buckham annually receives a number of technically accomplished and conceptually intriguing submissions from writers in Genesee County. The jurors are humbled by the breadth of works and trust in allowing them to view and consider many personal works. Often one applicant bubbles to the top of the pool, but sometimes the jurors must make a difficult decision between writers.
“This year was a particularly difficult year for the WIR jurors to select a single resident,” said Leclaire. “We were blown away by the scope of impactful writing. During the interview process, Kirei impressed us when she took the initiative to respond to one of the works currently installed without prompting. We wanted a way to work with her this year and reintroduced the Guest Writer project.”
2025-2026 BFAP: WRITER IN RESIDENCE & GUEST WRITER
Buckham Fine Arts Project's Writer In Residence and Guest Writer will receive honoraria and complimentary Buckham Artist Collaborator memberships for their participation, exemplifying BFAP’s commitment to supporting artists and contemporary arts in its community.
The 2025-2026 residency cycle will culminate with the compilation of Towns Williams’ compositions into a publication and public reading. More details will be available in late Fall 2026.
Buckham's 2025-2026 Writer In Residence project is sponsored in part by a generous donation by the Mary Elizabeth Adams Manley Beautification Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. The 2025-2026 Guest Writer program is sponsored in part by the generous support of anonymous donors.
Buckham Fine Arts Project is supported in part by an award from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the Greater Flint Arts Council Share Art Genesee Grant Program made possible by the Genesee County Arts Education and Cultural Enrichment Millage funds.
Please click the buttons below for more information on the writers.
Buckham Fine Arts Project announces Vivian Kao as its 2024-2025 Writer in Residence.
The 2024 - 2025 Writer In Residence collaboration invites Vivian Kao to engage with her interest in visual art, grow her creative practice, and gain exposure for her literary arts. While ensuring representation within its programming, Buckham continues to grow deeper ties within Flint’s BIPOC community. Kao’s compositions will be compiled with Buckham Gallery’s exhibition programming in a publication at the season’s end, fall of 2025.
Buckham's 2024 - 2025 Writer In Residence project is sponsored in part by a generous donation by the Mary Elizabeth Adams Manley Beautification Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. Thank you!
Buckham Fine Arts Project announces Jenifer Fernandes Veloso as its 2023-2024 Writer in Residence, with Guest Writer Xzavier V. Simon.
Photo courtesy of Jenifer Fernandes Veloso
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Buckham is pleased to announce the selection of its fourth Writer in Residence: Jenifer Fernandes Veloso.
This cycle will include new perspectives with the residency’s first Brasilian-American writer. Veloso’s compositions will be compiled with Buckham Gallery’s exhibition programming in a publication at the season’s end, fall of 2024. |
Photo courtesy of Bryce Mata
40th Anniversary Guest Writer: Xzavier V. Simon
This 2023 - 2024 season presents three artists selected from 2022’s “BIPOC Is The Theme!” national juried exhibition whose awards include future exhibitions and honoraria in support of Buckham’s commitment to building relationships with BIPOC artists. In addition to the resident writer, Buckham chose a Guest Writer, Xzavier V. Simon, to engage with and respond to the solo shows of Kiara Aileen Machado, Ariana Vaeth, and Gerardo Castro. Guest Writer Simon brings a Black Queer-eye perspective to his introspective responses to these artists. Simon also joins the Buckham Arts Collective with a complimentary Artist Collaborator membership.
This 2023 - 2024 season presents three artists selected from 2022’s “BIPOC Is The Theme!” national juried exhibition whose awards include future exhibitions and honoraria in support of Buckham’s commitment to building relationships with BIPOC artists. In addition to the resident writer, Buckham chose a Guest Writer, Xzavier V. Simon, to engage with and respond to the solo shows of Kiara Aileen Machado, Ariana Vaeth, and Gerardo Castro. Guest Writer Simon brings a Black Queer-eye perspective to his introspective responses to these artists. Simon also joins the Buckham Arts Collective with a complimentary Artist Collaborator membership.
Buckham Fine Arts Project is pleased to announce its third Writer in Residence, Bob Campbell
Photo courtesy of Jerry Taliaferro
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“Serving as a Writer in Residence with Buckham Fine Arts Project is a great honor and will help nurture my growth as a creative writer by challenging my sense of observation and perception. It’s also a tremendous responsibility to the featured visual artists, whose work I will support with the written compositions produced over the next year, and to the Buckham Fine Arts Project for placing its confidence in me.” Campbell said.
Bob Campbell is a local writer who was born and raised in Flint. His debut novel, Motown Man, was published in November 2020 by Urban Farmhouse Press. In The News: Flintside: Bob Campbell explores a "different kind of writing" as Buckham Gallery's 3rd Writer in Residence LINK Flint Beat: Flint Native Bob Campbell selected as Buckham Gallery's Writer in Residence LINK |
Buckham is pleased to announce the second Writer in Residence, Natasha Thomas.
Photo courtesy of Lyn Williams
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“We are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with Natasha and promote her literary arts. Buckham is always looking to support artists while providing opportunities to engage with challenging contemporary art and experience new ways of looking and thinking,” explained Buckham Executive Director Michele Leclaire.
Natasha Thomas is a writer, performance artist, political organizer, community strategist, and visual curator with 20 years of experience working in the fields of arts-activism, public administration, public health, holistic wellness, spirituality, and advocacy. She is the current founder/director of The Nadoma Center for Social Justice & Spiritual Transformation and the Genesee County Coordinator for the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health. In both her personal and professional lives, she is guided by the values, principles, practices, and rituals of liberation movements and ancestral wisdom traditions. |
Photo courtesy of Emily O. Photography, copyright 2021
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BFAP’s first writer for the residency is Shea Phire Cobb, a.k.a. Phire Sis.
Shea Phire Cobb lives and works in Flint, Michigan, where she was also born and raised. She is an artist, mother, author, musician, and founder of The Sister Tour, a platform that promotes female artistry. In 2014, she began an ongoing collaboration with LaToya Ruby Frazier focused on the Flint Water Crisis. With Frazier and The Sister Tour, Cobb has traveled across the country telling the story of her community and the Flint Water Crisis. She has led programs at, among others, Gavin Brown’s Enterprise in New York, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, where she also performed an original play, Surviving Womanhood. In the news: Flintside: Get to know Buckham Gallery's first Writer in Residence Link |
