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 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 February 26, 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.

• 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

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• 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

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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.

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

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 [AiR fabrication guide for more] information. 
• Optional initial project idea or area of inquiry (fully developed proposals are not required)

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.

For questions or additional information, please contact artistprograms@powerhousearts.org.

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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.

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