The Regional Workspace Residency is a 3-month program that supports emerging photographers based in the Rochester, NY region with tailored residencies to help them expand their practice and to provide professional development opportunities. This regional program is rooted in VSW’s mission to support experimental photography, film and media art. Selected artists will develop detailed project and budget plans, professional development goals (i.e. crafting an artist statement/CV, website or portfolio development, portfolio review preparation).

Selected artists will be provided with $1000 stipend for supplies and $1000 for travel. Residents will be given access to the VSW workroom and darkroom and time with VSW staff dedicated to helping complete professional development goals and feedback on project work.

Our inaugural Regional Resident is Jackie McGriff. Visit Jackie’s residency page to learn more about her work and her residency project.

Application Process

Visual Studies Workshop (VSW) seeks residency proposals from emerging photographic artists living full-time in the greater Rochester region for its Regional Workspace Residency. The Greater Rochester region includes the following counties: Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties.

The Regional Workspace Residents, with the guidance of VSW Staff, will develop photographic projects over a period of 3-months along with a culminating presentation event to occur during the following month. The Regional Workspace Residency is a program that supports emerging photographers based in the Rochester, NY region with tailored residencies to help them expand their photographic practice and to provide professional development opportunities.

Selected photographic artists will develop detailed project and budget plans, and professional development goals (i.e. crafting an artist statement/CV, website or portfolio development, portfolio review preparation). Selected artists will be provided with $1000 stipend for supplies and $1000 project-related travel. Residents will be given access to the VSW workroom and darkroom and time with VSW staff dedicated to helping complete professional development goals, feedback on their photographic project and to plan a culminating presentation of the residency project. The Regional Workspace Resident, with guidance of VSW Staff, will determine what form their culminating presentation will take (i.e. artist talk, work installation, workshop, etc).

One proposal will be selected per cycle, which consists of a 3-month workspace residency and a culminating program that will take place the following month. Applicants will be considered for both cycles and their preference will be taken into account. Accepted applicants, however, are not guaranteed their first choice. VSW Staff will do our best to accommodate schedules. 

Learn more: Regional Workspace Residency FAQs

View the work of the inaugural Workspace Artist in Residence, Jackie McGriff.

The Regional Workspace Residency cycles will take place during the following periods:

Cycle 1: June 1st through August 31st (Culminating event in September 2026)

Cycle 2: September 14th through December 14th (Culminating event in January 2027)

Call opens: February 12, 2026

Deadline: April 9, 2026

Notification: On or before May 1, 2026

Click here for the residency application.