BolsterArts Residency

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

BolsterArts is currently accepting applications for 2027 Cohorts 07, 08, and 09.

Each selected artist receives four months of rent-free studio space in Chinatown, NYC, along with studio visits from curators, gallerists, writers, and arts professionals, culminating in a public Open Studio event.

Cohort 07: January 1 – April 30, 2027

Cohort 08: May 1 – August 31, 2027

Cohort 09: September 1 – December 31, 2027

Scroll down to submit your application.

Application Schedule:

Applications Open: Monday, June 15, 2026

APPLICATIONS DUE: SEPTEMBER 13TH, 11:59PM ET

Application Fee Tier:

June 15 - July 2, 2026: $25

July 3 - August 9, 2026: $35

August 10 - September 13, 2026: $45

Designed for artists with developed practices and expansive ambition.

Meet the Jurors

Esther Flury

INDEPENDENT ART PROFESSIONAL AND EXHIBITION PRODUCER
Swiss-born and New York–Zürich-based arts professional Esther Flury has over two decades of experience managing international exhibitions and cultural projects with a diverse roster of artists. Most recently, she served as Managing Director of the U.S. Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Flury was previously the Project Manager for the Malta Pavilion at the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2022 and co-curated Christoph Schlingensief’s first Venice Biennale projects, Church of Fear in the Arsenale and the Pole Sitting Contest in the Giardini, in 2003. She has spearheaded projects for RxArt, commissioning contemporary artists to transform healthcare environments, and has worked as a visual arts expert for Pro Helvetia in the Department for Cultural Exchange with Central and Eastern Europe.
amber jamilla musser

VISUAL STUDIES SCHOLAR AND AUTHOR
Amber Jamilla Musser is a professor of English, Africana, and Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center. She writes about black feminisms, sexuality, and visual culture. In addition to writing for the Brooklyn Rail, she is the author of Sensational Flesh: Race, Power, and Masochism; Sensual Excess: Queer Femininity and Brown Jouissance; and Between Shadows and Noise: Sensation, Situatedness, and the Undisciplined.
AL FREEMAN

CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTIST
Al Freeman is a Brooklyn-based artist whose work transforms familiar everyday objects into oversized, soft sculptures that are both humorous and unsettling. Working primarily with vinyl, pleather, and fabric, Freeman recreates commodities such as batteries, beer cans, hammers, mirrors, and household items at exaggerated scales, rendering them partially deflated and tactile. She received a BFA from Concordia University in Montréal and an MFA from Yale University. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions at 56 Henry, Carl Kostyál, Bortolami Gallery, and Auroras, and is represented by 56 Henry in New York and Carl Kostyál in London.

How do I apply?

See Program eligibility and FAQ at the bottom of this page.

Create a SINGLE, ONE FILE PDF with all documents included to attach to the form and then pay the application fee to complete your submission.

Due to financial limitations we cannot offer any more fee waivers except in dire cases. For example, if you are facing eviction, homeless, facing food scarcity, effected by a studio fire. etc., we will work with you to accommodate your application. Fee waivers are not to be shared with others. Please email bolsterartsresidency@gmail.com to request a waiver. If you’re able to provide support of need, please do so, to expedite your waiver.

PDF Instructions

Organize a PDF on a white background in the following order and please use 12 pt font.

Label your PDF: FirstName_LastName_BolsterArtsResidency. Files may be no larger than 10MB.

Name, Email, Location
10 Images, 1 image, 1 artwork per a page (Video may replace an image, please include YouTube or Vimeo link, the jurors will watch up to 1 minute per a film)
Put your image details in 12pt font below each image at the bottom or side of each page. Format the image as large as possible on the page. Landscape or portrait works depending on the style of your images.
TIP: For best quality images, keep at 300 DPI and then reduce the size of the image to under 5” to reduce the size of the PDF.
150 Word Artist Statement
CV, no more than two pages
If you are a video, digital or photo artist please include 3 sentences on how you would use the physical space offered.

Incomplete PDFs or PDFs that don’t follow instructions will be disqualified. All application fees are non-refundable. No late applications will be accepted. No emailed applications will be accepted unless you’re experiencing technical difficulties and emailed us first, with a response.

Interviews are mandatory upon request.

Contact bolsterarts at gmail . com for questions.

APPLY NOW

Residency Program FAQ

What is the program?

BolsterArts is a selective studio residency for visual artists with distinct, developed practices. Each year, the program supports three cohorts of two artists, offering rent-free studio space in Chinatown, New York City for four months.For the 2027 cycle, the residency dates are:

Cohort 07: January 1 to April 30, 2027
Cohort 08: May 1 to August 31, 2027
Cohort 09: September 1 to December 31, 2027

Each resident receives monthly one-on-one studio visits with curators, writers, gallerists, or other arts professionals, totaling four visits per artist. The program also includes public-facing opportunities, including an Open Studios event.BolsterArts is designed for artists seeking focused studio time, critical exchange, and meaningful professional visibility in New York.

How are artists selected?

Artists are selected through a competitive, multi-stage review process led by BolsterArts staff in consultation with a professional jury of artists, curators, writers, gallerists, and cultural workers.Applications are reviewed for artistic merit, clarity of practice, program fit, and readiness for the residency. Finalists are invited to interview before final selections are confirmed.The review process considers the strength and cohesion of the work, the distinctness of the artist’s voice, their ability to make meaningful use of the studio, and their fit within an intimate two-person cohort.Applicants should apply with one body of work, or works that are clearly in conversation with one another, rather than multiple unrelated series.

Where is the program located?

The residency studio is located in Chinatown, New York City, near the B/D trains at Grand St and the N/Q/R/W/6 trains at Canal St.

What is the studio like?

The studio is approximately 360 square feet, roughly 12 by 25 feet, and is located on the fourth floor of a walk-up building with no elevator.The space is shared by two artists in each cohort. Residents have 24/7 studio access.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must be 21 years or older.Applicants may not be currently enrolled in a BFA or MFA program. Recent graduates are eligible to apply if they are no longer enrolled during the residency period.Applicants must be able to live in the United States for the full duration of the residency. At this time, BolsterArts cannot assist with visas.Applicants must be available for the full four-month residency period. Applicants who cannot participate for the entire duration are not eligible.Residents may not maintain a separate external studio or participate in another residency during the BolsterArts residency period. Applicants with a home studio may apply. Applicants who plan to sublet or pause use of another studio during the residency period may also apply.Collaborative duos are not eligible.

Do you provide housing?

No. Artists are responsible for their own housing.The studio is for work only and may not be used as a living space.

What are my responsibilities as a resident artist?

Residents are expected to: Spend a minimum of 20 hours per week in the studio. Attend all scheduled studio visits, residency check-ins, and Open Studios events. Meet with the residency director once per month to discuss work progression and residency participation. Maintain the condition of the studio, including shared areas such as the restroom and sink. Provide and transport all materials, tools, and artwork at their own expense. Work with the residency team to provide images, updates, and other content needed to promote the residency and the resident’s work. Participate in the residency with professionalism, care for the shared space, and respect for the other artist in the cohort.

Are there limitations on materials or media?

The studio is best suited for visual artists whose practices can be safely accommodated in a shared, non-industrial workspace.Fume-producing or dust-producing materials may only be used with prior approval and mutual agreement between the two residents.Excessive noise and heavy power tool use are not permitted. Limited tool use may be allowed within reason.Materials, equipment, or processes that create fire risk are not permitted.Pets are not permitted in the studio.Groups of three or more are not permitted in the studio without prior approval.

Is there a financial award or stipend?

No. BolsterArts does not currently offer a stipend, financial assistance, or material support.The residency provides rent-free studio space, monthly studio visits, public-facing opportunities, and professional visibility through the BolsterArts network.

Can I share my studio with a spouse, partner, assistant, or collaborator?

No. The studio is only for the artists awarded the residency. Occasional visitors may be permitted with prior communication, but the studio may not be shared or used as a workspace by anyone other than the selected residents. Collaborators are acceptable on the one condition that only one is working in the space, and one is remote.