The Bemis has been running its artist residency since 1981, long before “creative placemaking” was a buzzword. Artists from around the world come to Omaha to live and work in its downtown studios, and the galleries are free and open to the public — which means you might see work here before anyone else does.
The exhibitions lean experimental, as you’d expect from a residency program. Some shows will baffle you; others will be the best thing you see all month. That’s the deal with contemporary art, and the Bemis doesn’t apologize for it.
It’s on the southern edge of the Old Market. Admission is free, the space is striking, and the opening receptions — usually packed with Omaha’s art crowd — are worth timing a visit around.