2026 Emergence Artist Residency

Culture Lab LIC's Emergence Artist Residency is a developmental performing arts program geared toward the support and creation of new work. It offers artists & companies free rehearsal and performance space to develop and produce a new performance-based work. Each project will be showcased on one of our stages and presented and promoted as a part of Culture Lab LIC’s "New Works Festival" in November.

Always wanted to find the space and time to write your tech-hybrid dance show? Well, this is the residency for you!

Mediums accepted

We accept proposals from all genres (theater, music, dance, performance art, puppetry, etc.), as long as the work is performed live. This residency is not open to previous participants.

Artists retain creative rights to the work created.

Community Engagement & Performances
As part of Culture Lab LIC’s commitment to fostering sustainable artistic careers and connecting artists with audiences, residents must be willing to participate in additional public events, performances, or presentations throughout the year.
These opportunities are designed to:

* Showcase residents’ work to the Culture Lab LIC community, local audiences, and funders
* Strengthen professional visibility and potential for future collaborations
* Create a dynamic dialogue between artists and the Queens cultural ecosystem

Program Timeline
February-October

Artists are encouraged to experiment, write, sing, dance and develop their project. A part of this process will be monthly check-ins with their fellow EAR peers and with Culture Lab LIC's Artistic Director, Tess Howsam.

Please note meeting dates are as follows:

February - Tuesday 10, 7-9pm

April - Tuesday 14 , 7-9pm

June - Tuesday 9, 7-9pm

August - Tuesday 4, 7-9pm

November - December

"New Works Festival"

Artists will be presented as a part of Culture Lab LIC's "New Works Festival." This festival presents each selected artist/company (4 selected) each weekend in November and the first weekend in December.

Presentation Dates are as follows:

Artist/Company One: November 5-8

Artist/Company Two: November 12-15

Artist/Company Three: November 19-22

Artist/Company Four: December 3-6

Applicants must be able to present work during one of the four weekends listed above.

Submission Timeline

Opens November 12, 2025

Closes 11:59PM on January 5, 2026

Select applicants will be contacted for an interview mid-January

2026 Emergence Artists selected and announced February 1, 2026

• Name of applicant:*

First NameLast Name

Please list your preferred pronouns*

• Phone number of applicant:*

Area CodePhone Number

• Email address of applicant:*

example@example.com

Are you applying as an individual or company?*

IndividualCompany

If you are applying as a company what is your company's name?

Link to website

What is the medium/genre you will be working in? We accept proposals from all genres as long as the work is performed live. Please select all that apply:*

Give us a three to five production highlights from your creative history. The residency is largely self directed so seeing your highlights lets us know you and your work better. These highlights should be presented as follows- TITLE of show, writer/creator, director/choreographer, location, date - one sentence summery and one sentence why it is a highlight. EXAMPLE: "Inside Martha's House" written by Betty Bathhouse, The Tank (May 2024). This theatrical hybrid show explores what it means to belong as told through dance and audience created installation art. Highlighted to illustrate how I use dance and audience integration in my work similar to my how my proposed project would work. *

Working Title of Proposed Emergence Residency Project*

Give us a one sentence pitch for your project:*

Culture Lab LIC is interested in supporting the developmental process. We aim to offer space to artists to create something new and boundary pushing! Please select what best describes the proposed work.*

In its concept stage! But I know what I want it to be.I have a team and we have been talking about this project but have not been able to find time or resources to begin work.It has received a workshop presentation or reading but nothing more.

•Tell us more about your project, and why it is a good fit to become a part of the Emergence Residency at Culture Lab LIC? Why do you feel Culture Lab LIC would be a good home for your work and process? (300 words or less):*

0/300

Tell us about YOU! This is your opportunity to introduce us to you and your work. The format for this section is flexible! Choose between video upload or written. If choosing a video please upload a 2 minute video (no longer than 2 min!) telling us about you, your process, influences, what excites you, etc. OR Upload an artist statement no longer than 300 words. We know this is short! *

Browse Files

Applicants must be able to present work created during one of the four weekends listed below. November 5-8, November 12-15, November 19-22, December 3-6. If selected confirm that you and your team be able to present during one of these weekends. Please select all options for your group.*

A part of this process there will be monthly check-ins with their fellow Emergence peers and with Culture Lab LIC's Artistic Director, Tess Howsam. Single absences or absences due to illness are excused but attendance is considered mandatory and a part of the peer review element of the residency. Dates are as follows: February - Tuesday 10, 7-9pm April - Tuesday 14 , 7-9pm June - Tuesday 9, 7-9pm August - Tuesday 4, 7-9pm*

Yes, I can attend all meetingsI cannot attend every meetingOther

Excluding any space rental cost, what is your estimated budget for this project? Keep in mind Culture Lab LIC cannot provide fiscal support to projects.*

Lead Artist Resume / CV*

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How did you hear about this program?*

Social Media- Instagram, Facebook, etc.Word of MouthMailing ListPrevious Emergence Resident

Have you worked with us before? (If so, when/how?)*

• Upload Image #1*

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Descriptive text for Image #1:*

• Upload Image #2

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Descriptive text for Image #2:

• Upload Image #3

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Descriptive text for Image File #3:

• Upload Image #4

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Descriptive text for Image File #4:

• Upload Image #5

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Descriptive text for Image File #5:

Video file

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MP4 preferred; file size limit: 10 MB

• Video URL (Youtube, Vimeo, etc.)*

Example:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0FlK5QwjapyxkC2dYwRkBg

• URLs #1: If you're on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, or other music or video platforms, list URL here:

Example: https://marielaflorolivo.bandcamp.com/ or https://soundcloud.com/mariela-flor-olivo

• URLs #2: If you're on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, or other music or video platforms, list URL here:

Example: https://marielaflorolivo.bandcamp.com/ or https://soundcloud.com/mariela-flor-olivo

Descriptive text for Video File:

Upload PDF

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Add Supplementary Material - Upload Additional Documents/Images (Optional)

Browse Files

Accepted file formats: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf, jpg, png, xls, xlsx, csv

• Official Website - What is the URL of your official website?

Example: https://www.culturelablic.org/

• Instagram Name/Handle

Example:@culturelablic

• Instagram URL

Example: https://www.instagram.com/culturelablic/

• Facebook Name/Handle

Example: @culturelablic

• Facebook URL

Example: https://www.facebook.com/culturelablic/

• Twitter Name/Handle

Example: @CultureLabLIC

• Twitter URL

Example::https://www.twitter.com/CultureLabLIC

Emergence Artist Residency 2026

GENERAL INFORMATION

Work Sample - Images

Work Sample- Video

Work Samples

Websites & Social Media