The Dual Workspace Residency Program, presented in partnership by Artists Alliance Inc and Dieu Donné, is entering its third year!
With a focus on experimentation and collaboration, the joint residency will offer artists the opportunity to explore paper pulp as an artistic medium. The program encourages emerging visual artists to explore the creative possibilities inherent in the hand papermaking process, and to develop this medium as a contemporary art form.
Applicants for the dual program must be available March 1 – August 31, 2026 to complete the studio-based portion of the residency.
Offered in tandem with Dieu Donné’s Workspace Residency, applicants can opt-in to be considered for a dual studio-based residency in Artists Alliance’s LES Studio Program. Based in Lower Manhattan, the LES Studio Program provides free six-month residencies to under-represented, emerging and mid-career artists. One out of the four 2026 Workspace Residents will participate in this dual residency. Please note that AAI’s studio space is shared between four artists and individual studio space is approximately 170 square feet and partitioned without a door. The studio is located on the 4th floor of the Clemente building, which does not have an elevator at the time of this application (elevator is under construction with estimated completion date of fall 2025), nor is it currently accessible to individuals with certain physical disabilities. If applicants have questions about the accessibility of the studio space or would like to request accommodations, please email Jodi Waynberg at jodi@artistsalliance.org.
In addition to the studio component of the program, the selected artist will receive a solo exhibition at AAI’s Cuchifritos Gallery + Project Space in 2027, and will be considered for participation in Public Works, AAI’s collaborative commission-based program that aims to integrate contemporary art practices with the missions of institutions within and outside of the art field. AAI’s 2026 Public Works programming will focus on collaborations with LES public school students who participate in artist-led workshops. Separate artist fees and material support are provided for these activities.
Competitive applications for the dual Dieu Donné x Artists Alliance Workspace Residency will convey a clear vision of how the Artists Alliance studio space will enhance the creative practice and/or artistic output of the residency. Applicants for the dual residency opportunity will simultaneously be considered for the standard Dieu Donné Workspace Residency.
DUAL WORKSPACE RESIDENCY BENEFITS
- An introduction to the medium and process of hand paper making;
- One-one mentorship with Dieu Donné papermakers;
- Five days in the Dieu Donné studio with a dedicated collaborator (non-consecutive);
- A $500 honorarium;
- All the benefits of the Traditional Workspace Residency;
- Fully-funded shared studio space in historic Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Education Center in the heart of the Lower East Side. The furnished studio has 24-hour access and WiFi;
- The opportunity to present work to curators and critics through AAI-organized studio visits (conducted in person and/or over Zoom);
- A solo exhibition at AAI’s Cuchifritos Gallery + Project Space in 2027;
- Consideration for participation in Public Works, AAI’s collaborative commission-based program that aims to integrate contemporary art practices with the missions of institutions within and outside of the art field.
For more information about the program please visit the Artists Alliance FAQ page.
RESIDENCY CRITERIA
- Applicants should identify as emerging visual artists.
- Applicants must be residents of the New York metropolitan area, which includes the counties shown on this map. Please note that the New York metropolitan area includes select counties within the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. For a list of qualifying counties, please see the frequently asked questions section at the bottom of this page.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have the right to work lawfully in the U.S.
- Applications will not be accepted from students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs or other intensive programs during the program year.
- Applicants should have availability on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 10:00 am – 4:00 pm to schedule studio days. Dieu Donné is not open on Saturday and Sunday.
- No prior papermaking experience is required.
- Artists from all disciplinary and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applications are only accepted via our online Slideroom portal; please do not mail or e-mail materials.
Artists apply for the Workspace Residency and Dual Residency on Slideroom, due by 11:59pm EDT on April 30, 2025, which requires answering a few questions, providing a current resume, and uploading up to eight portfolio images.
A rotating jury of artists, curators, critics, and art professionals select finalists based on the quality of the work samples and and cultivate a residency cohort that encompasses diverse points of view and a range of disciplinary backgrounds. Seven finalists from the juried application round advance to a second round of in person interviews with the Dieu Donné studio team, and four final residencies are awarded.
Due to the volume of applications, we cannot offer individual feedback at this time. There is no application fee.
SELECTION TIMELINE
approximate and subject to change
2025
March 3: Application opens.
April 30, 11:59 PM ET: Application closes. Grace period of three days if the application was started before the deadline.
May through June: Jury deliberations.
Mid-June: Finalist interviews.
August: All applicants are notified of application status.
2026
February: Workspace group orientation.
March – September: Studio work days.
December: Residency cycle ends and culminates in group exhibition in 2027.
