Open Call for SHIFT: A Residency for Arts Workers

Each year six New York-based artists receive a shared studio space, artist honoraria and production fee, career development opportunities, group catalog production, as well as monthly peer critiques and guest studio visits. The residency period starts from January 2025, and ends in July 2025, culminating in a curated group exhibition at EFA Project Space.

Since its inception in 2010, SHIFT residency has been providing peer support, mentoring, and studio space for over ninety artists who work in arts organizations in New York (as administrators, educators, accessibility consultants, etc.), to advance the artists’ creative practices in balance with their careers. The SHIFT residency honors these artists’ commitment to the arts community with a supportive and collaborative environment.

SHIFT has hosted artists working in a range of media, from sound and installation to painting, performance, and social practice. In addition to its role as a support network, SHIFT promotes advocacy for arts workers and seeks to increase equity and representation within the field.

Requirements

• Anyone who works in the arts and still maintains an art practice is welcomed to apply. In the past we’ve hosted art educators, administrators, freelancers, museum security guards, accessibility professionals, and more from various non-profit as well as for-profit institutions. We support arts workers who feel like a shift is needed in their practice
• Applicants must be employed and working at least 32 hours a week as an arts worker at a NYC-based arts entity (non-profit/for-profit institutions, galleries, education, freelance, etc.)
• Applicants must be based in New York and are able to commit to be in-person over the course of the residency
• Applicants must be able to commit to a once-a-week meeting throughout the duration of the residency, on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 PM, and occasional weekends and evening events
• Applicants must be able to commit to participate in the final exhibition scheduled for June-July 2025, at EFA Project Space
• Applicants should also commit to participating in the exhibition’s public programming
• Applicants must not be enrolled in an academic program during the residency period*

Application Instructions