What are the Residency requirements?
Before you apply, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with New City Arts’ mission and Content Guidelines. Given that the core of our mission is to foster engagement with the arts in Charlottesville, Virginia, we ask that resident artists:

• spend a minimum of 15 hours a week in the studio;

• host a community event during their residency

Do I need to spend the stipend in a specific way?
Resident artists are not expected to use the $1,000 stipend in any specific way. This funding is meant to support you and your practice in whatever way is most helpful.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for the New City Arts Research Residency, artists are required to:

• live in the Charlottesville area (including the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson and Orange counties) during the residency program.

• be at least 18 years of age.

• not be an alumni of the New City Arts Residency program.

How do I apply?
Applications are due August 28, 2026 at 11:59PM.

Applicants must fill out the Residency Application online via Google Forms where they will submit 2-3 artwork samples. Specific details and guidelines are available in the application.

Is there assistance available?
New City Arts staff are available to offer support with your residency proposal. Join us on July 16 from 5:30-6:30PM for an Application Assistance Workshop—RSVP here for the event. You are also welcome to reach out to Welcome Gallery Manager, Tori Cherry, with specific questions.

How are resident artists selected?
Applications are first evaluated to ensure that:

• eligibility criteria has been met.

• the application has been fully completed.

Residency proposals are then reviewed by a selection committee. Committee members include past Resident Artists, board members, and community members such as artists, curators, and arts workers.

The committee will invite four artists to interview with New City Arts staff before a final selection of 2 artists for the Fall and Spring residency periods.

Sign up for our mailing list and follow us on social media to be notified when we announce the Residency Selection Committee members.

What are my options for a public residency event?
This year, we are not able to offer an exhibition opportunity to resident artists. Instead, we’re inviting resident artists to host a public event or series of events. Potential formats for this event or events include but are not limited to:

• Public reading

• Performance

• Symposium

• Walking tour

• Concert

• Listening event(s)

• Activation

• Film screening

• Scavenger hunt

• Dinner series

• Gatherings

• Festival

• Powerpoint party

Our downtown Welcome Gallery space can host a small group of approximately 40 people seated, 60 people standing. We have 40 chairs and four, 6-ft tables available for artist use.

With advanced notice and in collaboration with the resident artist, we can apply for additional funding and in-kind partnership to host a larger, off-site event. If you believe your public event might require additional financial support, be sure to include a note about that in your application.

Past residency public events have included a Public Reading, a Symposium, a Poem-Tour & Downtown Tree Walk series, and a Curator Talk with Guided Game Playthroughs alongside exhibitions. You can read more about past residency projects here (scroll to the bottom)!

What do you mean by “research”?
We see research as an integral part of many artists’ creative practices. This residency is intended to support artists looking to delve deep into ideas and experiment with new processes in ways that benefit their practice.

Where can I park?
There is free, 2-hour street parking near the gallery. You can also park in either the Market Street or Water Street parking garages which have a $12 daily maximum.