About The Residency

Rooted in VSW’s mission to provide support to experimental photo, film and media art artists, the goal of the Project Space Residency is to provide time, space, and resources to artists so they can create.

The 4 week residencies are open to artists at any stage of their career and take place at VSW in Rochester, NY. Project Space Residents receive 24/7 access to a private studio, digital printing equipment and an analog darkroom. They also receive a stipend of $1000, plus $250 for supplies, and a $500 travel budget for those traveling from outside the Rochester region.

We provide accessible housing for national/international artists in an apartment within walking distance to VSW. All of our Residents receive the support of VSW’s digital printing technician, program assistants, consultations with curators on staff and research support in VSW’s collections. The Project Space Residency also provides opportunities for artists to engage with the public through public lectures and Open Studios. 

Application Process

VSW welcomes applications from both U.S. based and international artists working in photography, film or media art. Proceeds from application fees contribute to administrative expenses related to the submission and review process. 

Jury Panel

Each year, a jury panel consisting of VSW staff, past resident artists and guest curators review applications to select up to 16 artists for 4-week terms. This year our jurors are Almudena Escobar López, Independent Curator, Assistant Professor on Film History, Film Preservation and Collections Management, Toronto Metropolitan University; Asha Iman Veal, Associate Curator, Museum of Contemporary Photography; Aaron Turner, Artist, Assistant Professor of Art and Director of the Center for Art As Lived Experience at the University of Arkansas School of Art; Nilson Carroll, Artist, Assistant Curator, Visual Studies Workshop.

Project Space Fall 2024 – Fall 2025 Cohort | Row 1: Melissa Ferrari (CA): photo by Angel Origgi, Myah Asha Jeffers (UK): photo by Libby Mai, Zhao Yanbin (CA): photo by Luc Yikai Wu, Sydney Mieko King (CT): photo by Sophie Schwartz; Row 2: Tetsuya Maruyama (Brazil): photo by Beatriz Lima Santos, Jessica Chappe (NY): photo by Melinie Metz, Allie Tsubota (NY): photo by Andria Lo, William D. Caballero (CA): photo by Sheldon Botler; Row 3: Carmen Lizardo (NY): photo by Viktorsha Uliyanova, Valentina Alvarado (Spain): photo by Lucia del Valle Ramirez; Jamie Ho (TX): photo by Lorena Molina, Jackie Liu (NY): photo by Isaiah Winters

Applications for 2024 are currently closed

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VSW Project Space Residencies are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the New York State Legislature, Monroe County, and Joy of Giving Something. Photography-based artists participating in the program receive support from the Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation.

Current/Upcoming Residents