Workspace

LMCC seeks to create a welcoming, diverse, and dynamic cohort of individuals working across disciplines, including but not limited to visual arts, film, performance art, social practice, design, digital media, and the literary arts.

Workspace is a good fit for applicants who are:

• Generating new and original work and engaged in a contemporary dialogue
• Seeking to foster a rigorous practice by dedicating time and focus to the creative process
• In need of studio space in which to experiment and develop work
• Seeking a community of peers for creative and professional exchange over nine months in Lower Manhattan
• Seeking to make connections with a network of curators, critics, and other arts professionals working in and around New York City
• Interested in opportunities to share in-progress work with audiences

Artists who work independently or as a collaborative pair (no more than 2) are eligible to apply. Eligible collaborative applicants should submit one application and a joint biography and resume that demonstrate a history of collaboration.

International artists are eligible for this program. Please note that LMCC only offers studio space. If accepted, international participants are responsible for their own visa, travel, living and housing expenses and arrangements. LMCC can only offer minimal assistance to international residents in securing necessary immigration documents. The small stipend/materials fee will not be sufficient for living expenses.

Applicants need not identify solely with one discipline to apply; applicants may select as many disciplines as applicable to their practice on the application, and there are options to submit different types of work samples (images, text, and/or links).

Participation Requirements:

Workspace participants should make a serious commitment to the program for the entire nine-month session.

Workspace participants are expected to utilize the studio actively and consistently (on average artists are in their studios 20–40 hours per week). In addition, regular attendance at Salon Evenings and participation in public programs like Open Studios is required. It is vital to the success of the program that Workspace participants fully take advantage of the unique resources we are able to provide. For this reason, Workspace participants cannot simultaneously participate in another residency, professional development, or degree-granting program while participating in Workspace.

Applicant Restrictions:
The following applicants are not eligible for Workspace:

• Artists who will be participating in another residency or professional development program from SeptemberOctober 2023–June 2024;
• Artists who will be matriculated as students or enrolled in an academic program from September  2023–June 2024;
• Artists who have been previously participated in served by LMCC’s Studioscape, World Views, New Views, or Workspace residency programs;
• Artists who have been selected for any other LMCC artist residency program during 2022.

24/7 access to a semi-private studio within a larger, shared space (ranging from 150–300 sq. ft.)

• Basic work tables and chairs
• Basic overhead lighting
• Electricity
• Wi-Fi
• Heat and air conditioning seasonally during regular business hours

Please note:

• Housing is NOT provided – artists must secure their own accommodation in NYC for the duration of their residency

• • Studios facilities do not offer access to medium- or technique-specific amenities such as a woodshop, print or media lab, or a dance floor. (Contingent upon availability, limited access to a rehearsal studio may become available). Please take this into consideration in preparing your proposal and residency goals

• Artists must provide their own tools; restrictions apply

It is important to remember that LMCC’s Workspace program operates out of unique, temporarily vacant, minimally adapted commercial space in Lower Manhattan, which is generously donated to LMCC each year.

The Workspace studio location is subject to change each session. Studios are not open to the public, with the exception of planned Open Studio events.

Community Building & Professional Development: An integral aspect of Workspace is the opportunity to grow a network of peers, curators, critics, and other arts professionals working in and around New York City and to share work with new audiences.

• Salon evenings are required, weekly, participant meetings currently scheduled on weekday nights that include one-on-one studio visits, professional development workshops, a guest artist lecture series, potluck dinners, and more.
• Open Studios are required events where the general public is invited to visit participants’  studios and learn more about artists’ process and work.

Publicity: Participants are announced annually and listed on LMCC’s website as well as featured on other digital communication channels. Open Studio events are promoted as part of LMCC’s calendar of Public Engagement events.

Stipend: A one-time stipend of $1,500 is provided. There is NO monthly living or housing stipend.

Visiting Artist Status: Workspace participants have the opportunity to apply for visiting artist status at partner institutions to gain access to specialized facilities and equipment. Currently, LMCC holds partnerships with Harvestworks, School of Visual Arts MFA Computer Arts Department, and NYU’s LaGuardia Studio. Program offerings are subject to change.

March 6, 2023 – Application Opens (on Submittable)

March 29, 2023 - Virtual Drop-in Hour 

April 18, 2023, 5PM EST – Application Deadline

July, 2023 – All Applicants Notified

Late July, 2023 – Finalist Interviews

August, 2023 – Final Notifications

LMCC receives a high volume of applications for Workspace each year. Applications are reviewed by a jury of artists and arts professionals to assess applications according to the following criteria:

• Merit of Past Work, taking into consideration the artistic vision, goals, and context in which the applicant is working.
  • Based primarily on submitted Work Samples. 
  • We value experimenting, questioning, learning, and understanding as essential to creative development.
• Career Record, as demonstrated by a deliberate commitment to a studio practice.
  • According to narrative biography and resumé.
  • We seek to engage artists whose artistic approach and experience is well suited for this residency at this time in their professional career
• Proposed Project and Ideas, taking into consideration the feasibility of creative ideas in relation to the residency's offerings and duration. 
  • As expressed in the proposal and artist mission statement.
  • We seek to invest in artists who are interested in building relationships and will take advantage of the space, community, introductions, and public programs.

LMCC is committed to assembling cohorts of artists in residence that collectively reflect the cultural and creative diversity of the field including artists of diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, sexual identities, genders, ages, physical abilities, and artistic genres and forms.

2022-2023 Workspace Cohort 

Rachelle Dang
Sherese Francis
Caroline Garcia
Anu Jindal
Jessica Lagunas
nia love 
Firoz Mahmud
Matthew Sandager
David Wilson
Julia Izumi
Gabriel Garcia Roman  - (Workspace 2019-2020 alumn, On-Site Assistant)