CYCLE 10 (JANUARY 2026 - DECEMBER 2027) PES ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

About the Open Call

Project for Empty Space (PES) is a multifaceted arts organization that includes Exhibitions, Artists Residencies, Public Art initiatives, subsidized Artist Studios, and Artist Professional Development/Granting opportunities. Our programs lean into social discourse, including narratives that have been historically and systemically erased. We strive to course-correct historic instances of forced marginality, inequity, and invisibility. Today, in our efforts to support socially-oriented artists, we maintain a commitment to holding space for both looking back and looking to new potentials and futures. This open call is for the 2026–2028 Artist In Residence Program, now in Cycle 10. This two-year residency invites four visual artists to join our Newark, NJ–based community to create work that centers social impact and engagement. The mission of the program is multifaceted, designed to benefit both the Artists In Residence and the broader public, aiming to create a symbiotic relationship between artist and audience, serving as a conduit for new artistic practices and socially driven interventions. The program strives to not only support individual artists; but also, to cultivate conversation around social equity and engagement that are often swept by the wayside. We see the AIR program as a bridge between artist and community, as well as community and community, to push important dialogues forward.

What is Offered

Two years of free studio space at Project for Empty Space in Newark, NJ, a $5,000 unrestricted honorarium, a $2,500 materials stipend, a culminating solo exhibition at one of our Newark-based gallery locations, support for community-facing programming and public engagement initiatives, and access to professional development, including studio visits, feedback sessions, and networking opportunities.

Requirements

This residency invites four visual artists to create work that centers social impact and engagement. Please note that housing will not be provided.