Since 2000, Artspace has provided emerging visual artists with time and space to explore their work in a supportive and thriving open studio environment in our historic building at the heart of downtown Raleigh. Every year, Artspace selects up to two artists in an emerging stage of their professional careers to participate in this year-long residency.
Application deadline: Friday, October 03, 2025 11:59 EST
Residency dates: January 08, 2026 - January 4, 2027
During their time at Artspace, artists benefit from:
- 24-hour access to a rent-free studio space for one year. Residents will have a designated individual workspace in a shared 580 square foot studio with two other residents. The studio has natural light and a shared sink.
- Opportunities to interact with the public by participating in our city-wide monthly First Friday art walk, tours, and school field trips.
- Opportunities for professional development and collaboration with peers including access to our community of 30+ professional artists, community conversations, artist talks, studio visits, and critiques.
- Community engagements through intentional programming, including
speaking and paid teaching opportunities.
- Continued support through consultations with our knowledgeable staff, promotions on our social media channels and website, and a monthly e-news with calls for artists and other listings.
- A professionally installed solo exhibition at Artspace within 12 months of the completion of the residency.
- Residents are expected to give a presentation, artist talk and/or demonstration to the public to coincide with their residency or exhibition.
- NEW THIS YEAR: $200 monthly stipend!
ELIGIBILITY
- Artists committed to advancing their own work and professional careers.
- Artists over 18 years of age, currently living in North Carolina.
- Artists working in most media will be considered, including experimental media; however, artists working with noxious materials, hazardous machinery, etc. will not be considered due to limitations within the building.
- Artists must not be enrolled in an institutional program of study, including instructional museum programs, during the residency period. (Applicants may be in school during the application process.)
- Artists must be ready to work in an open studio setting where the public is able to interact with artists.
- Artists must work in the studio a minimum of 25 hours per week and plan to attend quarterly Family Day events and at least 10 of 12 First Friday events during the year.
- During the course of the residency the studio must serve as the resident’s primary work space.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
- Artist statement (no more than 250 words)
- Resume (no more than 2 pages)
- Statement of interest addressing the following questions (no more than 350 words):
- how this residency helps you to achieve your professional goals
- how you plan to use your time at Artspace
- what, if any, accommodations and/or tools will you need for success
- your anticipated studio work schedule
- Portfolio:
- 2D and 3D:
- Upload 10 digital images of works completed within the past 3 years
- Images must be in JPEG or PNG format
- 5MB maximum per image
- Video (if applicable):
- Upload a minimum of 3 videos completed within the last 2 years
- MPG or AVI file format only
- 5-minute maximum for each video (can be segments of longer works)
- List of your images/videos files in your portfolio. For each file, please provide:
- Title
- Media
- Dimensions for two or three dimensional work (height x width x depth)
- Year Completed
- Two letters of recommendation. Please ask the person recommending you to send their letters directly to Arts Administrator & Accessibility Coordinator, April Hagins, at ahagins@artspacenc.org
ACCESSIBILITY
Studios, galleries and all public areas are wheelchair accessible. If you have an accessibility need, please let us know in the application. Questions? Contact April Hagins, Arts Administrator + Accessibility Coordinator at 919.821.2787 or ahagins@artspacenc.org.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
We believe that access to the arts is a right; one which has the power to create positive change in communities. Through education and engagement for people of all ages and abilities, community outreach and engagement, accessible studio space, and art exhibitions, Artspace works to remove the barriers that prejudice and privilege have created so that everyone in our community has equitable access to arts and culture.