Free Artist Residencies in New York

ADKX Artist-in-Residence

New York, United States

The ADKX Artist-in-Residence program at the Adirondack Experience museum offers four one-month residencies in June, July, August, and September, where artists create work inspired by the Adirondack environment and museum collection while engaging the public three days a week on the grounds and two days in the Art Lab makerspace. Selected through a competitive application process open to various mediums, residents receive on-site housing, a $5,000 stipend, and $500 travel allowance, with access to collections and staff.

Art on the Block NYC

New York, United States

Art on the Block NYC offers a vibrant short-term residency program, transforming New York City storefronts into dynamic spaces where art and community engagement intersect. This residency provides artists the opportunity to turn these spaces into both a working studio and a public gallery. Throughout their three-week stay, artists are expected to be on-site five days a week, facilitating various interactive programs for youth, families, and adults. The residency aims to support and advocate for artists while fostering community collaboration and hands-on engagement with art. Artists receive a stipend of $5000 for their participation, and have the opportunity to sell their artwork under a separate sales contract.

Fire Island Residency

New York, United States

The Fire Island Artist Residency (FIAR) is a non-profit program founded in , the first U.S. residency exclusively for emerging LGBTQ+ identifying visual artists, providing free live/work space in the historic Cherry Grove community on Fire Island, New York. Artists participate in a four-week summer program featuring studio visits, discussions, and public lectures by renowned curators, scholars, and artists. FIAR offers lodging, studio space, stipends for meals and travel, and an honorarium.

Lower East Side Printshop

New York, United States

The Lower East Side Printshop in New York City offers two primary residency programs: the Keyholder Residency Program and the Publishing Residency Program. The Keyholder Residency provides emerging artists with free 24-hour access to printmaking facilities for six months, supporting them in developing new work and advancing their careers. Artists work independently in a shared studio environment, with access to basic printmaking supplies and consultation hours with the Printshop’s staff. Each year, eight artists are selected through a competitive process by a panel of esteemed art professionals, with a $500 stipend and opportunities to exhibit new work through the Printshop’s exhibitions and public events. The Publishing Residency invites artists to collaborate with a master printer to create a new body of work. These projects are fully published by the Printshop, and the final editions are shared between the artists and the organization. Artists are nominated by invited artists and art professionals, with the Printshop making the final selections. This program is highly selective and supports the creation of significant new work in the printmaking field.

Pratt>FORWARD

New York, United States

Pratt>FORWARD, facilitated by Pratt Institute in New York, is a transformative platform designed to nurture emerging artists by connecting them with prominent practitioners and mentors in the field of fine arts. This unique program is co-directed by notable artists Mickalene Thomas and Jane South and features a blend of intense mentorship, professional development, and community engagement. The initiative offers emerging artists studio space, exposure to creative thought-leaders, and a rich program of dialogue sessions and studio visits, aimed at bolstering career development skills and fostering a sustainable artistic life. The residency is particularly notable for its commitment to providing a free, supportive environment where artists can explore innovative artist-led models for cultural engagement and advocacy.

The Glasshouse Project

New York, United States

The Glasshouse Project is an artist-led residency program launched in , focused on durational performance art and visual performance, inviting professionals such as artists, curators, and scholars to develop new works engaging local communities in New Paltz, NY. Residencies typically last one week, providing on-site accommodation, studio access, and a modest $250 honorarium. It emphasizes neo-domesticity, sharing the founders' home as a space for research and public interventions.

TNT Residency

New York, United States

Tiger Strikes Asteroid New York and Transmitter Gallery offer the TNT Residency, a 6-month fully funded program for professional working artists, both national and international. This residency provides a 430 square foot studio space adjacent to both galleries, culminating in a solo exhibition or open studio event. It prioritizes underrepresented artists and those creating works not typically viable in traditional commercial markets. The residency includes a $250 honorarium and professional installation shots. Artists from all educational backgrounds are encouraged to apply, with work from artists across the United States and internationally welcomed. Housing is not provided, so residents must secure their own living arrangements in New York City. The selection process includes studio visits and a submission fee, with fee waivers available to support operating expenses of the volunteer-run galleries. Residents will have access to a private studio and are required to use the space a minimum of 20 hours per week.

Upper Jay Art Center

New York, United States

The Upper Jay Art Center in Upper Jay, New York, hosts the CA+MP (Creative Arts and Multidisciplinary Performance) artist residency program, providing artists across all disciplines with 1-4 weeks of time, space, housing, and creative freedom in a historic Adirondack setting to create, dream, and perform. The program supports working artists by offering stipends to offset costs and aims to share new creative perspectives with the local community through performances and exhibitions. It welcomes musicians, writers, filmmakers, visual artists, dancers, theater practitioners, and others, though applications are not being accepted.