Smack Mellon Studio Program 2026-27

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APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

  • You can submit a maximum of 10 still images OR a maximum of 2 videos and 5 still images. Please choose the one that best suits your practice. 
  • PLEASE NOTE: due to the high volume of applications we receive, your submission may not exceed the amount of works allowed: 10 images OR 2 videos + 5 images. If you try to submit MORE than 5 images AS WELL AS videos, the panelists will prioritize the videos and not consider the final 5 images as part of the application. 
  • Videos in your submission should show your original time-based work (media or performance) or installation of it in a physical space. Videos should NOT be used to show documentation of still work or a single channel installation. 
  • Videos in your submission should NOT be a reel, but one continuous excerpt. Title credits should be listed in the "video information" section.
  • You can submit only one application per residency cycle
     

Program Eligibility 

All applicants for the Studio Program should be emerging or early career artists. We define an emerging artist as one who is at the beginning of their public artistic career and would greatly benefit from the opportunities we provide, such as regular studio visits with New York City curators, public open studio events, and free studio space. Artists may have some experience participating in group shows, solo shows at lesser-known art spaces, some press recognition, and/or are recent graduates of BFA or MFA programs. We do not consider artists emerging if they have had solo exhibitions at widely recognized galleries or institutions; already received consistent production opportunities, awards, and press; and/or if they have 10 years or more of consistent public experience as an artist. Age is not a determining factor. 

Applicants must also be legal residents of NYC and file their taxes in NYC for minimum one year prior to the application deadline. Applicants must be residing in NYC at the time of the application process and for the term of the residency. If you become a finalist and are invited for an interview, you must be able to provide a tax return for proof of residency. All applicants must be United States citizens or legal Permanent Residents of the United States, 18 years or older, may not be enrolled in any degree program, and must be able to demonstrate need for a studio. Applicants may not be a resident artist in another studio program at the same time as the Smack Mellon residency. 

The 2026-2027 program begins September 5, 2026 and ends August 5, 2027.        

All six of the artists selected for the studio program will receive a fellowship, three will receive a New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellowship. The New York Community Trust’s Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund provides support for talented, culturally diverse, economically disadvantaged young people who are seriously dedicated to a career in the arts.       

*Applicant Requirements for The New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellowship are to support artists who are seriously dedicated to a career in the arts, reside in New York City, identify racially and or culturally with a historically underrepresented community, age 30 or younger, and have a demonstrated need for financial assistance to advance their artistic career. If you feel you are qualified and would like to be considered for one of Smack Mellon’s (3) Van Lier funded studios you will have a place to indicate your interest in the application form. Please note that if you have received a Van Lier Fellowship from another organization, you are not eligible for this.*       

For those who are not eligible for the Van Lier Fellowship, the other three slots available in Smack Mellon’s Studio Program are for emerging artists of any age who are New York City residents.  

Selection Process

A panel of arts professionals and artists will review applications and select artists for the 2026-2027 season. Artists will be selected based on the quality of their work and their potential for making the most of their time in the program. The 2026-2027 program begins September 5, 2026 and ends August 5, 2027. Notifications go out in late May 2026. Please do not call or email the office for selection results. 

Before applying, we encourage you to read about the Artist Studio Program, by clicking here. 

FORMATTING IMAGES

  • Each image file must be titled: LastName_FirstName_image number. Example: Smith_John_01.
  • File type: JPEG, 1000px maximum in any direction
  • Image information: title, medium, date, and dimensions for each entry
  • Image script: Enter up to 50 words of description about the content or context of each image or series of images. This information will be reviewed by the panel when your work is viewed.

FORMATTING VIDEOS

  • Each video file must be titled: LastName_FirstName_video number.  Example: Smith_John_01.
  • File types: Mp4, AVI, MOV, MPG.
  • Video information: title, medium, production date, and total run time. 
  • Video script: Enter up to 50 words about the content of your video. This information will be reviewed by the panel when your work is viewed. 

For any inquiries about the program please email: info@smackmellon.org        

For technical questions go to: http://help.submittable.com/

We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.
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