Our Mission

Vision: To share the beauty of Tusen Takk with artists, in the form of a time and a place to create, and to connect them with audiences worldwide, sharing their efforts to make the intangible tangible.           

Mission: Named for an expression of thankfulness, the Tusen Takk Foundation nourishes artists by giving them a place to work, engagement opportunities to enrich the culture of Northwest Michigan, and a platform to share their work internationally.

Ethos: Tusen Takk’s setting in the quiet, forested dunes on a seemingly infinite body of water offers artists time to slow down and reflect in a place that is regenerative by its nature. Designed with intention and care, Tusen Takk is a functional “making place” with studios that provide artists with spaces to imagine and create their work. 

“Tusen Takk” means “thousand thanks” in Norwegian and is often used to convey appreciation for something received, like a wonderful dinner or a helping hand. It’s with this same sense of gratitude and grace that the founders of the Tusen Takk Foundation wanted to express: thankfulness to artists, writers, and composers for the transcendent truth and intangible joy they give back to the world in their work.

Excellence is the sole criterion by which artists are offered a Tusen Takk residency. We welcome and encourage applicants of all backgrounds. We believe that artists of all races, color, gender, age, religions, sexual orientations, national origins, or abilities can benefit from having a time and a place to create work. Our aim is to continually improve Tusen Takk to be a safe, supportive environment for achieving this objective.