artist-in-residence (AiR) program 2026–2027
The Powerhouse Arts Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program is a paid, six-month residency supporting early-career New York City–based artists in the development and production of ambitious, fabrication-driven projects.
The 2026–2027 AiR cycle runs from August 24, 2026 through March 5, 2027 and supports a cohort of three artists.
Applications are open through June 28, 2026.
about the program
The Powerhouse Arts Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program is a paid, six-month residency supporting early-career New York City–based artists in the development of ambitious, fabrication-driven projects. Designed for artists at a pivotal stage in their practice, AiR provides financial support, fabrication and materials funding, studio space, curatorial mentorship, and access to Powerhouse Arts’ fabrication facilities and expert technicians.
The 2026–2027 AiR cycle runs from August 24, 2026 through March 5, 2027 and supports a cohort of three artists. Each resident receives a $10,000 honorarium and $17,000 in fabrication and materials support, along with access to studio space and fabrication facilities.
AiR supports the full lifecycle of a project, from early experimentation and proposal development through fabrication and public presentation. Residents work directly with Powerhouse Arts fabrication teams across print, ceramics, textiles, public art, and digital print, gaining hands-on experience in production workflows, budgeting, technical collaboration, and project management. Each residency cycle culminates in a public exhibition of newly commissioned work.
Artists are not required to apply with a fully developed proposal. The program values experimentation and process, creating space for artists to test ideas and develop projects in dialogue with available resources, materials, and technical expertise.
residency structure
The six-month residency is structured across four phases:
Research & Development (6 weeks)
Artists focus on experimentation, material exploration, prototyping, and concept development through mentorship and access to fabrication resources. Residents are encouraged to explore Powerhouse Arts shops and community studios before defining a final project direction.
Proposal Development (3 weeks)
Residents refine ideas into production-ready proposals, including timelines, budgets, and fabrication plans. This phase introduces how projects are scoped, scheduled, and managed within a professional fabrication environment.
Fabrication (3 months)
Once projects are approved, artists collaborate directly with Powerhouse Arts technicians and fabrication teams to realize final works. This phase emphasizes production workflows, material decision-making, and collaborative problem-solving.
Exhibition & Public Program (6 weeks)
Completed works are presented in a culminating exhibition accompanied by a public program reflecting on the residency process and outcomes.
what artists will receive
- Communal studio space at Powerhouse Arts during open building hours
- Financial Support
- $10,000 artist honorarium
- $17,000 fabrication and materials stipend, which may also be used toward Powerhouse Arts studio memberships and classes
- Opportunity to work with Powerhouse Arts fabrication facilities during operating hours, including:
- Powerhouse Print: silkscreen, large-scale, and experimental printing
- Manhattan Graphic Center (MGC) Community Print Studio: interdisciplinary printmaking processes, including lithography, silkscreen, woodcut, and etching
- Digital Print Lab: UV flatbed printing and wide-format latex printing
- Powerhouse Ceramics (Community Studio and Fabrication Shop): ceramic processes including mold making, slip casting, wheel throwing, and more
- The Alpha Workshops: decorative paper, wallpaper, and textiles
- Public Art: design, model making, prototyping, woodworking, metalworking, and 3D printing
- Technical consultations and production support from fabricators and shop staff
- Professional development workshops focused on budgeting, production planning, and project management
- Curatorial mentorship and studio visits with artists, curators, and arts professionals
- Inclusion in a culminating group exhibition with professional documentation and public programming
- Access to free materials through Materials for the Arts (MFTA)
- 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
- Commit a minimum of 15 hours per week onsite at Powerhouse Arts throughout the residency
- Actively participate in all aspects of the residency, including check-in meetings, workshops, consultations, and milestone reviews to ensure projects remain aligned with timeline, budget, and production scope
- Document the creative process for communications, archival, and storytelling purposes
- Participate in designated open studio opportunities, allowing visitors to observe works in progress
- Work collaboratively with staff and fabricators throughout proposal development and production
- Complete a final project for presentation in the AiR exhibition at the conclusion of the residency
- Participate in a public program connected to the final exhibition
- Submit a final evaluation to support the continued development of the program
who we serve
AiR is designed for early-career New York City–based artists at a pivotal stage in their practice, regardless of age, who are interested in expanding their work through fabrication and technical collaboration.
The program supports artists who have not yet had sustained access to fabrication infrastructure through institutional resources or gallery representation, and who would benefit from dedicated time, space, mentorship, and financial support. We are particularly interested in supporting artists for whom this residency could have a meaningful impact on the development of their practice and career.
Powerhouse Arts places particular emphasis on supporting artists from historically underrepresented backgrounds and those impacted by systemic barriers to access within the arts.
eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be based in New York City
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Identify as an early-career artist
- Not be enrolled in a degree-seeking program during the residency term
- Not be participating in another residency during the program dates
- Be able to commit a minimum of 15 hours per week and participate fully in all required program components, including check-in meetings, studio visits, workshops, and key program milestones.
- Demonstrate interest in working across Powerhouse Arts fabrication areas, including print, ceramics, public art, digital print, and textiles
- Be open to adapting project plans in collaboration with staff based on budget, timeline, and technical feasibility
how to apply
To apply, please submit the following materials through the Submittable portal here by Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Early submission is encouraged.
Application Materials:
- Contact Information (Full name, email, phone number, address)
- Website
- Social media handles (optional)
- Current CV or résumé
- Portfolio or dossier (optional)
- Artist bio (150–250 words)
- 5–10 high-resolution images of previous work, along with a separate document including captions
- Statement of intent describing how the residency will support your artistic practice and career development
- Desired fabrication areas or shop interests within Powerhouse Arts. Please refer to the fabrication section of the website for more information.
- Optional initial project idea or area of inquiry (fully developed proposals are not required)
selection process
Selection is based on an open application and multi-phase review process led by curatorial, learning, and fabrication staff at Powerhouse Arts. Applications are evaluated based on artistic merit, readiness for the residency, collaborative capacity, and alignment with available fabrication resources and support.
Finalists will be invited to participate in a virtual interview with members of the review team. Selected applicants will be notified in mid August and are required to attend a virtual onboarding session prior to the residency start date.
faq
We recognize that artists follow many different paths. "Early-career" refers to an artist's stage of professional development, not their age.
We are looking for artists who have established a serious and committed practice and are at a pivotal moment in their career where access to fabrication resources, mentorship, and institutional support could have a meaningful impact. Early-career does not necessarily mean emerging. For example, applicants may have participated in group exhibitions, biennials, artist residencies, or presented solo exhibitions at smaller galleries, nonprofits, or alternative spaces, while still being in the earlier stages of their professional trajectory.
Residents have access to Powerhouse Arts' fabrication facilities, including ceramics, public art, print, digital print, and textiles. We encourage applicants to review the Fabrication section of our website to learn more about the specific facilities, equipment, and services available.
Access to fabrication resources is not automatic and will vary depending on each artist's project, goals, timeline, and production needs, as well as the overall capacity of the fabrication shops. Throughout the residency, artists will have opportunities to consult with fabricators and technical staff to develop project plans, budgets, and production schedules. The Associate Curator serves as the primary liaison between residents and fabrication departments, helping coordinate consultations and fabrication support.
Artists may also choose to allocate a portion of their fabrication and materials support toward memberships in the Ceramics Community Studio or the MGC Print Community Studio, allowing them to produce certain aspects of their work independently. These arrangements will be developed in consultation with the Associate Curator and relevant studio staff.
Yes. Gallery representation does not automatically disqualify an applicant. While AiR is designed to support artists who have not yet had sustained access to fabrication resources, institutional opportunities, or other forms of professional support, we recognize that artists' careers develop in many different ways. Applications are evaluated holistically, and gallery representation is only one factor among many considered during the review process. We are ultimately interested in identifying artists for whom the residency's resources, mentorship, and fabrication support could have a meaningful impact on the development of their practice and career.
We recognize that not every artist maintains a formal portfolio or dossier, and we want the application process to remain accessible. The portfolio or dossier is optional and typically provides a broader overview of your practice, including additional images, project documentation, exhibition history, publications, reviews, and written materials. The 5–10 high-resolution images are required and should represent the strongest examples of your work that you would like the review panel to consider.
We welcome artists working across disciplines whose practices could benefit from fabrication resources, technical expertise, and collaborative production. Successful applicants will demonstrate curiosity, openness to experimentation, and a willingness to engage with Powerhouse Arts' fabrication staff and facilities. We are particularly interested in artists whose ideas may benefit from the unique opportunity to work across multiple fabrication disciplines under one roof, whether through interdisciplinary approaches, material experimentation, or ambitious new directions in their practice.
No. Prior fabrication experience is not required. We welcome artists at a range of experience levels and are particularly interested in those who are excited to learn new processes, explore unfamiliar materials, and work collaboratively with fabricators and technical staff.
No. The $17,000 fabrication and materials support is specifically designated for residency-related production at Powerhouse Arts. This funding functions as a fabrication and materials credit that may be used toward fabrication services, materials, community studio memberships, and eligible classes or workshops offered by Powerhouse Arts. The funding cannot be used to support projects unrelated to the residency.
Residents may propose projects that relate to exhibitions or opportunities taking place during the residency period. These situations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on project scope, feasibility, and fabrication capacity. The residency is structured to support a collaborative process that includes research, project development, budgeting, scheduling, and fabrication. Production timelines established during the residency must be respected to ensure equitable access to fabrication resources for all residents and to accommodate the broader production schedules of the fabrication shops.
Finalists will be interviewed in late July and early August 2026. All applicants will be notified of their status by mid-August 2026. Selected applicants will be notified in mid-August and are required to attend a virtual onboarding session prior to the residency start date. The residency begins on August 24, 2026.
For questions or additional information, please contact artistprograms@powerhousearts.org.
AiR is an evolving program that continues to grow in response to participant feedback, institutional learning, and the changing needs of artists. Powerhouse Arts remains committed to refining the residency to better support artistic experimentation, collaboration, and professional development.