artist subsidy program details
The Artist Subsidy Program (ASP) supports New York City artists with production-ready projects through subsidized access to Powerhouse Arts’ professional fabrication services and materials.
Funding: $2,000–$15,000 in fabrication support
Applications: Accepted year-round on a rolling basis
about the program
Powerhouse Arts’ Artist Subsidy Program (ASP) helps NYC artists overcome financial barriers to professional fabrication by providing between $2,000 and $15,000 in subsidized fabrication services and materials at Powerhouse Arts.
ASP supports ambitious projects that are fully developed, ready to enter production, and have a confirmed exhibition, commission, or public presentation. The program prioritizes artists with demonstrated financial need, particularly those who have historically faced barriers to accessing professional resources and institutional support.
Selected artists work directly with Powerhouse Arts fabricators to establish a production plan, budget, and timeline based on their project's needs and available resources.
Available Fabrication Services
- Print: Silkscreen, large-scale, and experimental printing
- MGC Community Print Studio: Interdisciplinary printmaking processes
- Digital Print Lab: UV flatbed and wide-format printing
- Ceramics: Sculpture, 3D printing, mold making, slip casting, wheel throwing, and more
- The Alpha Workshops: Decorative paper and textiles
- Public Art: Design, model-making, and prototyping
ASP support is applied directly toward fabrication services and materials at Powerhouse Arts, rather than provided as a cash grant or artist honorarium. Funding amounts and production timelines are determined individually based on project scope, financial need, technical feasibility, and available fabrication capacity.
eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be based in New York City.
- Have an established artistic practice and a developed, production-ready project.
- Have a confirmed exhibition, commission, or public presentation for the proposed work and provide documentation of this opportunity.
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Be available to attend in-person meetings with Powerhouse Arts fabricators at least once per week during regular weekday business hours throughout the agreed-upon fabrication period.
- Propose a project compatible with Powerhouse Arts’ fabrication expertise and resources.
- Provide a realistic project budget and production timeline that allows for fabrication before the confirmed presentation.
- Be available to collaborate with Powerhouse Arts fabricators during the agreed-upon production period.
- Not be enrolled in a degree-seeking program or participating in another artist residency during the ASP fabrication period.
ASP is intended for artists who are ready to realize an existing project, rather than undertake research or experimentation. Artists seeking support for project development may be better suited to Powerhouse Arts’ Artist in Residence (AiR) program.
how to apply
Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly in February, May, August, and November. Artists are encouraged to apply well in advance of their anticipated exhibition or presentation date to allow sufficient time for application review and fabrication.
Application Materials
Applicants must submit the following through Powerhouse Arts’ online application portal:Detailed pitch deck guidelines and submission instructions are available through the application portal.
- Artist Information: Contact details, website, and social media handles.
- CV or Résumé: Current professional résumé.
- Project Pitch Deck: A single PDF (maximum 12 slides) introducing the artist, proposed project, confirmed presentation opportunity, project budget, fabrication support requested from Powerhouse Arts, and demonstrated financial need.
- Confirmation of Presentation: Documentation confirming an exhibition, commission, or public presentation, such as an invitation letter, agreement, or confirmation email.
Detailed pitch deck guidelines and submission instructions are available through the application portal.
selection process
Applications are reviewed quarterly by Powerhouse Arts’ curatorial team in consultation with fabrication staff, leadership, and the Community Advisory Council.
Projects are evaluated based on artistic merit, project readiness, demonstrated financial need, technical feasibility, available funding, and fabrication capacity.
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to participate in an interview or technical consultation with the relevant fabrication teams. Selected artists will be notified following each quarterly review.
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 by Sunday, January 17, 2027 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
- Artist bio (150–250 words)
- 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 on our shops.
- 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 and an outside jury of industry professionals. 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 the spring and may be required to attend a virtual onboarding session prior to the residency start date.
faq
Strong applications present an ambitious, production-ready project with a confirmed exhibition, commission, or public presentation. Proposals should demonstrate a clear need for Powerhouse Arts’ fabrication expertise, a realistic budget and timeline, and how ASP support would help bridge a financial gap.
ASP is intended primarily for early and mid-career NYC-based artists with established practices who face financial barriers to professional fabrication. The program prioritizes artists who have historically had limited access to institutional support and production resources. There is no required number of years an artist must have been practicing. Applicants should demonstrate a developed body of work and a record of professional activity.
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.
Yes. Applicants must have a confirmed exhibition, commission, or public presentation for their proposed project and provide documentation of this opportunity, such as a confirmation letter, agreement, or email from the presenting organization.
ASP is intended for projects that are substantially developed and ready to enter fabrication. While some technical refinement may occur in collaboration with Powerhouse Arts fabricators, the project's concept, form, and production needs should already be established.
Artists seeking support for research, experimentation, or project development may be better suited to Powerhouse Arts’ Artist in Residence (AiR) program.
Selected projects receive between $2,000 and $15,000 in subsidized fabrication services and materials at Powerhouse Arts. Support is applied directly toward approved fabrication costs and is not provided as a cash grant or artist honorarium. ASP does not cover artist fees, marketing, packing and transportation, general exhibition expenses, or installation costs unrelated to fabrication at Powerhouse Arts.
No. However, applicants are encouraged to have additional funding or a realistic plan to cover project expenses beyond ASP support. Applicants should clearly identify their total project budget, available resources, and remaining financial gap.
Yes. Projects involving multiple fabrication processes may be considered based on technical feasibility, scheduling, and available resources.
Fabrication timelines are determined individually based on project needs, presentation deadlines, and shop availability. Selected artists must be available for in-person meetings with Powerhouse Arts fabricators at least once per week during regular weekday business hours throughout the agreed-upon fabrication period.
Selected artists should be prepared to collaborate with Powerhouse Arts fabricators and adjust materials, processes, scale, or other production details when necessary due to technical feasibility, scheduling, or budget.
Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly in mid-February, mid-May, mid-August, and mid-November. Applicants will be notified following the quarterly review and selection process. Artists are encouraged to apply well ahead of their confirmed presentation dates to allow sufficient time for review and fabrication.
For questions or additional information, please contact artistdevelopment@powerhousearts.org
The Artist Subsidy Program (ASP) is an evolving initiative that continues to adapt in response to artist feedback, institutional learning, and the changing needs of the artistic community. Powerhouse Arts is committed to refining the program to reduce financial barriers to fabrication, expand access to resources, and support artists in realizing ambitious projects.