The Visual Artist AIRspace Residency supports a cohort of 3 early-career visual artists for a residency at Abrons Arts Center for 20 months. Program components include full subsidized studio space at our Lower East Side Facility, an honorarium, materials stipend, studio visits, and professional development opportunities with our Arts Education program. Additionally, each Resident is paired with a professional artist mentor who is an alum of the Abrons Arts Center Visual Artist AIRspace Residency program. The mentor will support the creative and professional development of the Residents during the residency period. The residency concludes in a group exhibition at Abrons Arts Center. The Mentors are Park McArthur (Visual Artist AIRspace 2013-14), Baseera Khan (Visual Artist AIRspace 2016-17), and Elliott Jerome Brown Jr. (Visual Artist AIRspace 2019-20).
You will receive:
- A semi private studio at Abrons Arts Center for 20 months
- An annual honorarium of $7,000
- A annual materials stipend of $5,000
- 30 hours of fully subsidized studio rental time in Abrons’ dance studios. Please visit our website to learn more about our studios
- A professional artist mentor who will serve as a creative support through the duration of the residency period via monthly one-on-one meetings
- Professional development opportunities with our Arts Education department
- Studio visits with curators and arts professionals
- A group exhibition at the conclusion of the residency period at Abrons Arts Center
You are:
- In alignment with Abrons Arts Center’s Mission, Vision and Values
- A visual artist excited to develop your practice in community with other artists
- In alignment with Abrons Arts Center's definition of "early career" artist: For the Visual Artists AIRspace Residency program, Abrons Arts Center considers "early career" artists to be those who are actively making and sharing oridingal work but have not yet had many opportunities to exhibit, participate in residencies, or grow professionally. Your age and how long you've been making work are not factors in this definition
- Based in New York City and living within the 5 boroughs at the time of application submission and during the residency period
- Not in a degree granting program or a student during the residency period
- Conscientious and genuinely excited to create community with Abrons team members and Resident Artists
- Invested in and committed to building strong mentor-to-peer relations
- Reliably and consistently available for mentor sessions in person (and virtual as necessary)
- Available to attend the required residency programs, listed below in the “Important Dates” section
- A creative problem solver and a clear, respectful communicator
You have:
- Demonstrated experience and participation in the visual arts ecology
- Excellent interpersonal skills that balance warmth and clarity, with good communication skills
- Professional goals and outcomes that align with being a Resident
- A need for physical studio space
You will:
- Be actively engaged at Abrons Arts Center in your studio practice on a consistent basis
- Organize monthly one hour meetings with your mentor for creative and professional development support
- Participate in quarterly meeting with your residency cohort to discuss areas of growth and challenges
- Have paid opportunities to share work in progress and techniques from your artistic practice through public programming in partnership with the Abrons Arts Education department including Open Studios, Masterclasses, and Workshops
- Devise and guide creative solutions with your mentor during the development residency as well as during the production process of the final exhibition
Time Commitment
The Visual Artist AIRspace Residency is a 20 month commitment.
- Year 1 is defined as taking place between January 2027-August 2027
- Year 2 is defined as taking place between September 2027-August 2028
Important notes:
The residency studios are in an open plan layout. Work that generates strong fumes cannot be supported.
Residents will be paired with a mentor by the Abrons Arts Center Presenting and Residencies team in consultation with the mentor. Residents will be paired with their mentor based on a variety of considerations, including research interests, technical/production expertise, and alignment on goals for mentor/mentee relationship.
Application timeline:
- Application goes live: September 8, 2026
- Applications closes: October 4, 2026, 11:59PM ET
- Application review: October - November 2, 2026
- In person interview: November 16 - 20, 2026
- Invitations made: December 2026
- Residency begins: January 5, 2027
Important Dates: In addition to monthly cohort meetings arranged by the Resident and Mentor, Residents are required to participate in the following programming.
Year 1 (Subject to change)
- January 5, 2027 - Visual Artist AIRspace First Day & Orientation
- March 2027 - Visual Artist Resident Studio Visits
- Spring 2027 - AIRspace Fall Cohort Dinner
- Spring 2027 - Visual Artist Resident Open Studio Sharing
Year 2 (Subject to change)
- September 2027 - Fall Season Mixer
- October 2027 - AIRspace Fall Cohort Dinner
- November 2027 - Visual Artist Resident Studio Visits
- March 2028 - Visual Artist Resident Studio Visits
- Spring 2028 - AIRspace Spring Cohort Dinner
- Spring 2028 - Visual Artist AIRspace Exhibition Opening
Questions? Email AbronsAirSpace@henrystreet.org
Funding:
Abrons Arts Center’s Visual Artist AIRspace Residency is supported by the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation.