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Home > About the Center: Flying E Ranch Residency Program

The Project

The Flying E Ranch, located in historic Wickenburg, Arizona, offers artist residency programs designed to foster the creative, collaborative and performance projects of established and emerging performing artists.  Each residency is designed to allow artistic companies the opportunity to pursue new projects, mount work or collaborate with other artists, free from every day pressures.

These residencies are intended for companies wishing to add to their repertoire a new piece of work or a piece that is new to them, in preparation for a tour or at a minimum, multiple performances.   The disciplines eligible for residency during the 2009-2010 season include: music, dance, theatre and film.  The Flying E Ranch residencies are curated by the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts. 

The Webb Centers’ curatorial staff awards up to 3 residencies per year.  Each company works closely with the curators to determine the parameters and needs of the residency in advance of their arrival in Wickenburg.  These parameters focus primarily on the scope of the project, while also providing opportunities for the local community to connect to the artist and art form through open rehearsals, readings or performances.  Local rehearsal space is secured according to the artistic discipline and creative needs of the project.  Residencies are often the beginning of a long-term, working relationship with the Webb Center, which will result in a performance on the Webb Center’s stage upon project completion.

The Flying E Ranch

Founded in 1946, The Flying E is a working dude and cattle ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona.  Located on 20,000-acres of wide open range land in the high Sonoran desert, the “E” is surrounded by the Bradshaw mountain range.  Just 65 miles northwest of Phoenix at 2400 feet, the Ranch site is 4 miles west of Wickenburg.  The town of Wickenburg was founded on gold mining and is landmarked by the famous Vulture Peak, home of the historical Vulture Gold Mine. The ranch is a rural and serene environment in which to work creatively without distractions.

While the “E” is a working cattle ranch year round, the dude ranch is open to guests October through April each year, when the weather in Arizona is the envy of every other tourist destination.  During the three residency periods annually, the ranch will be exclusively available to artists or companies only.

Facilities

Fourteen guest rooms and three suites surround the main lodge and pool area.  The rooms are immaculate, comfortable and delightfully western with all the comforts of home.  The capacity of the Ranch is 34 people.  Electrically heated and air-conditioned, each room provides the ideal starting place for daily activities or a quiet retreat for a restful night. All rooms have a private bath, wet bar and refrigerator, television, two twins or one king-size bed. 

The Lodge features a stone wood burning fire place with oversized comfortable furniture, game room, piano and wireless internet.  All meals are served family style in the lodge.

Funding

The Flying E Dude and Cattle Ranch was purchased by George and Viola Wellik in 1952.  After George passed, Viola Wellik operated the Ranch until her death in 2004.  Viola Wellik left a legacy, The Wellik Foundation, to support non-profit organizations in the Wickenburg area and maintain the Flying E Dude Ranch.  The Wellik Foundation  provides grant support to the artists or companies selected to participate in one of these residency programs.  This grant provides lodging and meals at the Flying E Ranch.  In addition, Wellik Foundation provides grant funding to the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts to curate the residency program.  The Wellik Foundation is a support organization of the Arizona Community Foundation. 

To Apply

To apply for a Flying E Ranch Residency Program please contact:

Residency Dates:

Residencies are flexible in length up to 4 weeks. The dates for the 2009-2010 season are:

• October 15 – November 1, 2009
      American Ballet Theatre II
• November 8 – November 21, 2009
      Northwest Dance Project
• January 17 – January 30, 2010
      The American Place Theatre

Eligibility Requirements:

To apply for a Flying E Ranch residency, companies must:

• Have been in operations for the last three years
• Be in financial good standing
• Represent any genre of music, dance, theatre or film
• Have a minimum of 14 company members, including artists, managers and associated production staff, in attendance during the residency, with a maximum of 34 members
• Be willing to conduct open rehearsals, educational outreach programs for students and adults, and public performances

Residency Details:

Companies, including artists, managers and associated production staff up to 34 members, are provided guest rooms, maid service, 3 full meals a day, rehearsal space and ranch amenities.  Meals and activities will be scheduled completely around residency work and artistic schedule.  The Flying E Ranch’s staff and service team are available during the entire residency period.

Companies are responsible for transportation to and from Wickenburg and local ground transportation.  Also, if the work being prepared is a commissioned piece, the company is responsible for any associated fees.

If a company agrees to present a public performance at the end of their residency, a ticket revenue split with the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts may be arranged to help offset any company expenses.  The public performance and open residency activities will be scheduled and marketed as an integral part of the “Webb Center Presents” series and must be deemed appropriate for patrons by the Webb Center’s Director.

Amenities:

The Flying E Ranch offers the following amenities and “things to do” will be based around residency programming and work:

• Horse Back Riding*
• Hay Wagon Rides
• Team Penning
• Camp Fire Cookouts under the Stars
• Hiking
• Stargazing
• Tennis
• Heated Swimming Pool & Jacuzzi
• Bird watching
• Golfing nearby*
• Hot Air Ballooning*
• Desert Jeep Tours*
• Small Sauna and Exercise Room
• B.Y.O.B. Bar with deck overlooking desert

*indicates additional charge