Organizer Information: The Rabbit Island Residency provides a unique platform to challenge creative practices within a remote, wilderness environment. Situated on an unsettled and undivided island, the program is grounded in the belief that the intelligent organization of wild spaces is one of the most civilized things society can pursue. The residency fosters direct engagement with the landscape, encouraging artists to respond to notions of conservation, ecology, and sustainability.

Title & Description: The 2026 Open Call invites artists to live and work on Rabbit Island for 2–4 weeks. The residency is seeking proposals that create interpretations and solutions to issues of global importance, such as climate change, loss of natural habitat, and the value of pristine watersheds. Important Note: This is not a standard "time and space" residency. Proposals that simply seek isolation to complete unrelated work are unlikely to be successful. The organizers specifically look for work that demonstrates an understanding of the context-specific nature of the island and engages with contemporary environmental thought.

Category: Interdisciplinary. (Accepts Visual Art, Writing, Audio, Film, Moving Image, and Performance).

Eligibility: The call is open to individual artists and collaborative groups. For group proposals, a collective artist statement describing the collaborative practice is required.

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Financial Support: The program provides financial support (honoraria per 2026 residency is $4,000 USD.) to successful applicants.

  • Wilderness Access: Exclusive access to live and work in a pristine, off-grid environment on Rabbit Island.

  • Duration: A residency period of 2 to 4 weeks.

Application Fee: $20 USD application fee

Application Requirements: Applicants must submit:

  • Artist Statement (1,200 characters).

  • Proposal (2,000 characters) outlining the specific environmental inquiry.

  • Work Samples: Up to 5 samples (Images, PDF for writing, MP3 for audio, or URL links for video).

  • Strict Formatting: Files must follow a specific naming convention (e.g., 01-Firstname-Lastname-Artwork-Title-Year.jpg). Failure to follow this may result in disqualification.

How to Apply? Applications are submitted online. Candidates are strongly advised to download and review the Residency Application Guide and FAQ before submitting.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: February 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

Location: Rabbit Island, USA (Lake Superior).

Additional Details: The organizers emphasize that art serves as a symbol for human constructions; if artists do not define the principles of our relationship to natural reality, who will?

Website: Apply Here & Download Guide