artist in residence program
The Powerhouse Arts Artist in Residence (AiR) program supports emerging to mid-career New York City-based artists working in print, ceramics, public art, and textiles who have been historically underrepresented in traditional AiR programs, specifically Black, Indigenous, artists of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and low-income artists.
This year’s jury: Ivan Forde, Narumi Nekpenekpen, Larry Ossei Mensah, Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, Mariana Ramos Ortiz
Deadline to apply: August 10, 2025 at 11:59pm.
about the program
New York City artists face increasing barriers to sustain a creative practice. Powerhouse Arts’ AiR program aims to holistically address the needs of working artists: equitable, affordable access to the tools, space, knowledge, practices, safety and support needed to make art and earn a living, at all stages of one’s artistic career.
Over the course of three months, the AiR program provides three mid-career to emerging New York City-based artists with a $10,000 honorarium and a $5,000 materials stipend. Artists are expected to commit to a minimum of 20 hours per week at Powerhouse Arts and each artist will work in up to two of our shops:
- Print (silkscreen, large scale, and experimental printing)
- Digital Print Lab (UV flatbed printing and wide-format latex printing)
- Ceramics (sculpture, 3-D printing, mold making, slip casting, wheel throwing, and more)
- Public Art (project planning, conception/design, fabrication, assembly, installation)
- The Alpha Workshops (textiles)
- MGC Community Print Studio (interdisciplinary printmaking processes)
Selection is based on an open application and a juried review process that considers artistic vision, project feasibility, and the potential impact of the residency on the artist’s career.
what artists will receive
- Access to Powerhouse Arts’ state of the art fabrication facilities with support from fabricators and studio technicians during hours of operation
- Communal studio space within Powerhouse Arts with access during open building hours
- Access to free materials from Materials for the Arts (MFTA) in Long Island City, Queens
- Professional development opportunities, critiques, and mentorship by staff, established artists, and guest curators
- $10,000 artist honorarium
- A $5,000 material stipend for project supplies and/or membership fees in the Community Ceramics Studio and MGC Community Print Studio
- All artists that complete the program will join our ever-growing alumni network and future opportunities, including PHA Learning, exhibitions, and other public programs
what artists will contribute
- Dedicate a minimum of 20 hours per week at Powerhouse Arts
- Document the creative process throughout the residency
- Allow visitors to observe work in progress during open studios
- Select one public program to lead and participate from our menu of options, including an artist talk, workshop, demo, or exhibition
- Submit an evaluation, providing in-depth feedback about experience to improve future programs
who we serve
We aim to prioritize Black, Indigenous, artists of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and low-income artists. This also encompasses artists with little to no institutional support or gallery representation.
Eligibility:
- We will prioritize artists that self-identify with marginalized identities (see above)
- Must be a New York City-based artist
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Cannot be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (e.g., MFA, BFA), participating in an artist residency, nor be represented by a gallery between October to December of 2025
- We will prioritize interdisciplinary artists working in PHA fabrication mediums of print, digital print, ceramics, public art, and textiles
- Must be flexible to collaboratively modify the residency based on fabricator feedback and budget limitations
Applications include:
- Brief statement of intent that addresses how a residency and access to fabrication shops at Powerhouse Arts will support your creative process and career goals.
- A project description, expected list of materials, and up to two fabrication shops for collaboration. Our fabrication teams will work with the artist to allocate funds and to finalize materials once accepted.
- 5 past work samples and 5 relevant images, sketches, or mockups for the project (up to 10 files).
- Optional CV submission
- Optional narrative box to share any factors for financial need.
The Artist in Residence program is subject to change. Each year, we anticipate that the structure of the program will be modified and improved based on feedback from the participants to better meet their needs. As a result, artists can expect continual enhancements and adjustments aimed at enriching their artistic growth.
Deadline to apply: August 10, 2025 at 11:59pm.