Year of Uncertainty (YoU): Queens Museum Artists-in-Residence Open Call

Application Deadline

Monday, December 21, 2020 (Now Closed)

Information Session

Tuesday, December 1, 2020, 6:30pm (Click here to register)

The Queens Museum (QM) is embarking on a “Year of Uncertainty” (YoU) and is developing new strategies for connecting the Museum, our communities and constituents. YoU will be centered around themes of Care, Repair, Play, Justice, and The Future and will bring together established and emerging artists, collectives, community organizations, and specialists across disciplines. QM will dedicate space and resources to becoming a center for research, collaboration and production, opening its public-facing efforts to internal processes, and vice versa. 

QM YoU Artists-in-Residence is an 18-month-long program. Artists and cultural producers are invited to become a part of the fabric of the Museum, to work together with the QM team and our communities to reimagine how the Museum can be relevant locally and internationally.

Residents will be provided with free studio space, a stipend to make and support the production of work and will engage with the QM’s programmatic initiatives to research and produce virtual or in-person programs across strands of the Museum’s work including: Education, Interpretation, Public Programs, Community Engagement, Exhibitions, Books and Publications, Archives and Collections, Communications, Digital Content, and Visitor Services.

Participants receive:  

• access to a rent-free studio at the QM (ranging from 300 to 550 square feet) and on-site production resources (woodshop and audiovisual studio) for 18 months (February 2021 – August 2022) 
• professional development and mentorship opportunities from QM staff across all departments and 2021 artist co-thinkers and mentors 
• $10,000 budget to produce work to be presented in exhibitions or public-facing projects at QM
• $5,000 stipend for participating in the QM’s educational and community engagement initiatives
• $5,000 stipend for research time
• Residents will be supported to develop projects for and with QM constituents and communities in diverse areas, including: Education, Community Engagement, Public Programs, Teens, Family, Seniors and Access Programs, as well as Digital Content.

Six YoU Artists-in-Residence will be selected based on the strength of their work samples and an initial proposal for a project relating to one of the YoU themes — Care, Repair, Play, Justice, and The Future. Once selected, participating artists and producers will work with staff members and co-thinkers to identify ways to connect their work, interests, and expertise across the museum.

Eligibility and Qualifications

• Artists must be a resident of New York City and must have resided in the five boroughs for at least one year prior to the application deadline. Artists must reside in NYC until the end of the residency. Queens-based and connected artists are encouraged to apply.
• Practitioners working across a range of creative disciplines are welcome to apply.
• Participants must be present at the Museum at least 3 days per week.
• Participants must complete a minimum of 120 hours of teaching or facilitating community programs (inclusive of planning and development). Projects will be developed in collaboration with QM staff and based on research priorities.
• Participants may not be enrolled in a degree-seeking program, either part-time or full-time, at an institution of higher learning at the time of the application deadline or during the residency year.
• Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.
• Experience with digital platforms is welcome.
• Multilingual artists are encouraged to apply

Selection Process

A jury composed of QM staff members, artists and co-thinkers will review applications. Update: Please note that the short-listing and notification process will now conclude by the end of January 2021.  

Equity, Access, and Inclusion

We strive to offer residents and visitors the opportunity to participate in and enjoy the QM’s programs in an inclusive artistic and educational environment. We seek to provide every resident with an equal opportunity to pursue their creative practice and share their work regardless of race, ancestry, religion, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, familial status, HIV status, arrest record, domestic victim status, military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. 

The QM’s studios are situated on the ground floor of the building with gender neutral ADA-accessible bathrooms and a communal lunch area. The QM is committed to making reasonable accommodations for physical or cognitive needs. If you have any questions or would like to know more about the building and our programs in relation to your accessibility needs, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact us at idea@queensmuseum.org or by phone at (718) 592-9700 ext. 145. 

Click here to access the application form

Image: Mierle Laderman Ukeles, For ⟶ forever…, 2020. Vinyl on the Queens Museum facade facing Grand Central Parkway. 24.3 ft x 195 ft. A three-part public art initiative also on view on the large-scale digital billboard at 20 Times Square and across digital displays throughout the MTA subway and rail system. Presented by the Queens Museum, Times Square Arts, and MTA Arts & Design. © Mierle Laderman Ukeles. Photo: Hai Zhang.