Organizer Information
The Violet Institute is a newly established cultural institution based in Portland, Maine, focused on collecting and interpreting contemporary trans culture. Its stated mission is to build a rich ecosystem of art, scholarship, and conversation that deepens public understanding of transness, guided by a set of core values: asking risky questions in good faith, interpreting with rigor, reaching across disciplines, geographies, and media, and preserving what would otherwise be lost. The Institute is fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas and is led by director Aubrey Calaway, alongside creative advisor Ruth Allen, strategic advisor Patricia Garza, and development advisor Travis Clough. Its 2026 Criticism Residency is supported by the Rabkin Foundation and the Maine Humanities Council.
Title & Description
2026 Criticism Residency
The Violet Institute's inaugural Criticism Residency invites writers, scholars, and artists with an established written criticism practice to spend 4–6 weeks in Portland, Maine researching and writing toward a single guiding question: what is the contemporary trans canon? Given the contested nature of "the canon," the resident is invited to engage with well-known and under-examined works across disciplines, media, and origin. Beyond independent research and writing time, the critic-in-residence will present their work-in-progress at a facilitated public event near the end of the residency and will lead one single-day workshop, seminar, or other applied scholarship programming in collaboration with the Violet. The Violet Institute hopes to support publication of the completed piece of criticism after the residency, and the resident retains copyright of their work.
Theme
What is the contemporary trans canon?
Categories
- Residency
- Art Critic
- Article
- Culture
- Research
- Writing
Eligibility
- Open to emerging, mid-career, and established applicants
- Applicants must reside in the United States
- Open to writers, scholars, and artists with a robust written criticism practice
- Applicants do not need to be full-time professional critics
- Especially welcomes those with an interest in public scholarship and trans media
Program Benefits & Awards
- $4,000 stipend, paid in two installments during the residency
- Free private accommodation for the length of the stay
- Up to $500 toward the cost of travel from anywhere in the United States
- Possible support for publication of the completed critical work after the residency
- Resident retains copyright of the work produced
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 August 2026
- Notification of Results: Mid-September 2026
- Residency Period: October 15, 2026 – December 15, 2026 (exact 4–6 week window selected by the accepted applicant)
Location
Portland, Maine, United States
Additional Details
- A blind jury of scholars, critics, and artists — Caden Mark Gardner, Wendy Chapkis, Babette Thomas, Emerson Whitney, and Sayantan Mukhopadhyay — reviews applications and recommends finalists based on the letter of intent, writing sample, and alignment with Violet's values
- Final selection is made by the Violet Institute, taking the applicant's C.V./bio and public-scholarship experience into account
- Feedback on unsuccessful applications is available upon request
- The resident's studio is on the first floor of a building accessed by a six-step staircase; applicants for whom this is a barrier are asked to contact info@theviolet.org
- Partners, children, and pets cannot be accommodated overnight due to the studio's size
- Meals are not provided, though the kitchenette includes basic cooking supplies