2026 Artist-in-Residence Open Call (Students, Alumni, Faculty) in NYC

OPEN CALL FOR ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE 2026 | AIR PROGRAM

Applications due for 2026 by October 31, 2025.

KUNSTRAUM is calling for submissions for our 2026 Artist-in-Residence Program.

Through our program, we aim to explore the relationships between artists and curators by opening our gallery spaces to those interested in exploring unconventional, engaging ideas and taking risks. Our Artist-in-Residency program offers three-month residencies for national and international artists on a quarterly cycle. For 2026, we currently have open applications for January-March, April-June, July-September, and October-December.

All resident artists are invited to pursue their independent projects, interact with our established community of artists, designers, and filmmakers, interact with the incoming artists and curators of our ongoing exhibition program, participate in the monthly studio visits, and exhibit in the Annual Members’ show in the fall. To learn more about KUNSTRAUM, please visit our Website and Instagram account.

Each Residency Includes:

• A desk-sized studio in our partitioned lofts with 24/7 access (no living). The semi-private studios inside the large open lofts range from 49 to 89 square feet.
• Access to our gallery space (4-5 exhibitions a year) and participation in our Annual Members’ Show, including studio visit, professional documentation and programming event. Sales opportunities during the show plus via an online gallery for the duration of 6 months after
• An artist community with 19 members and more than 100 alumni to meet and share with Monthly studio visits by 1-2 New York and international curators, gallerists, critics, and art advisors (see "About" on website for the list)
• Studio Visit with our Curator-in-Residence and monthly salons with artist community, social media promotion and a feature of your work on our website
• Access to our internal monthly newsletter, which includes news, events, an open call list with exhibition, grant, and residency opportunities
• Community events in which all resident and member artists are invited to attend. These community events vary and include gallery openings, curator walkthroughs, discussions, salons, and open studios.

The studio spaces have 24/7 access with 13 ft. ceilings, a freight elevator, slop sink, secure Wi-Fi, and are meant to be used for non-toxic materials only–all painters work on a non-toxic basis. Blick Art Supply, hardware stores, post office, print shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and delis are just 1.5 blocks away, and Home Depot is as close as 10 blocks.

No living is included. The resident artist is responsible for finding their own living and visa arrangements.

Fees:

The residency fee is $800 in 2026, with the following start dates: 1/2026; 4/2026; 7/1/2026; 10/1/2026;

To Apply, please submit all materials through this Google Form including:

Statement of Motivation with starting date/s and residency plans - 250 words

Statement on private or public funding plan - 100 words

Portfolio with max. 10 pages with 10-20 images (no larger than 5 MB)

Optional: 2 links to 1-2 mins video excerpts (specify cue in and out)

CV with max, 5 pages

Links to website, Instagram, recent exhibition or press

Incomplete applications will not be considered.