2025 – 2026 Artist In Residence
2026 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE (AIR)
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 22, 2025
Open Call for Artists
The Paul Robeson Galleries (PRG) is pleased to announce the open call of our Artist in Residence (AiR). This residency is open to visual artists who live or work within a 10-mile radius of Newark, New Jersey. The residency is located at an initiative known as Express Newark (EN), part of Rutgers University – Newark (located in the former Hahne Department Store). This residency will be dedicated to a visual artist (defined in the broadest sense).
Theme
Our focus for this residency is someone who works with themes of science and art. This could be an artist whose work engages with the world of science, either through subject matter, choice of materials or techniques. It may include work about the natural world, ecology and environmentalism, humans’ interactions with other creatures, the impact of human activity on the planet (The Age of the Anthropocene), science fiction, future utopias/dystopias, lab-made artwork, field research studying a phenomenon, weather, and so on.
Judge & Selection Process
The judge for this round of the PRG AiR is Tarah Rhoda. Rhoda is a practicing Sci-Artist and the Bio Art Lab Manager at the School of Visual Arts, New York. Selection criteria includes an assessment of prior practice and determination about the potential impact of the program on the individual’s artistic practice.
About the Residency
• This residency will include a dedicated, private, 325 square foot studio space in the Hahne Building with 24/7 access.
• An exhibition at the end of the residency at the Robeson Campus Center Gallery.
• Expectation is that the artist will spend a minimum of 20 hours per week in the studio.
• The artist will receive a stipend of $1,200.
• Artists will receive Rutgers University ID card. They will have free access to Adobe Creative Suite, access to Rutgers Libraries and databases, and recreational facilities (gym, pool) on campus.
• No housing is provided.
• The residency will occur from September 2025 – August 2026.
• During the residency, the artist will be expected to participate in the life of PRG through programming – such as hosting an open studio, and/or at least one public program (for example, an artist talk), or a hands-on workshop.
Eligibility
Please note that the following are ineligible to apply:
- Full- or part-time Rutgers staff and faculty and their immediate families. “Immediate family” is defined by the following relationships: child, parent, sibling, spouse.
- Currently enrolled students of any institution
- Individuals who have been enrolled at Rutgers University within the last four years
- Previous Paul Robeson Galleries Artists in Residence
- Material limitations – not suitable for some materials, including any flame-based work, spray paint, certain sculptural materials. Please contact us well in advance of the closing date for applications if you need additional clarification.
Timeline
8/22/25: Emailed applications may be submitted 11:59 p.m. No late applications will be accepted.
9/2/25 Notification of outcome (please do not contact us about the status of your application, you will be notified in due course).
Residency will occur from September 2025 – August 2026
Exhibition will be August 2026 – October 2026
How to Apply
Artists applying for AiR must provide the following in the indicated file formats:
Current artist CV with all contact details (PDF)
An artist statement – 250 words about how and why you make art (PDF)
Statement about objective – 250 words potential project or goal for residency (PDF)
Up to 8 images of work created in the last two years (JPEG or TIF) or three time-based works (2 minutes in length or shorter). File names should follow the format “1_LASTNAME_Firstname”.
An image list with details – File number, title, date, medium, dimensions/duration (PDF)
A brief explanation of the artist’s Newark connection
Please create a ZIP folder for your images and written materials and label LASTNAME_Firstname #1
Please do not send any additional material, as it will not be considered.
Applications are accepted via email only: contact_prg@newark.rutgers.edu
