Organizer Information

coLAB Arts is a nonprofit arts organization based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, dedicated to fostering artistic creation, community engagement, and cultural collaboration through projects that bridge art, society, and civic life. Working in partnership with municipal, academic, corporate, and nonprofit stakeholders, coLAB Arts produces public art, festivals, mentorship programs, and creative initiatives that activate public space, celebrate cultural identity, and support economic and cultural growth within local communities. Their projects often involve socially engaged art, public murals, installations, and collaborative events designed to elevate community voices and transform shared environments.

Title & Description

Heartbeat of the City 2026 — Public Art Artist Residency Open Call coLAB Arts invites professional artists and artist teams residing in the New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania region to apply for the 2026 Heartbeat of the City Public Art Artist Residency. This residency calls for artists who can conceive and create temporary public art installations that will be displayed along a nearly three-quarters-of-a-mile corridor in New Brunswick, New Jersey, as part of the city’s inaugural Heartbeat of the City Festival, a community arts event scheduled for September and October 2026. The residency runs for 10 months (March–December 2026) and is designed to support ambitious public art projects including murals, sculptures, monuments, or site-responsive installations that reflect cultural history, placekeeping, memorialization, and social narratives. Participants will receive studio space, mentorship, community engagement opportunities, and financial support to realize impactful work in public space.

Categories

  • Visual Arts
  • Public Art
  • Installation
  • Sculpture
  • Mural
  • Site-specific Art
  • Mixed Media
  • Landscape Design & Architecture (as relevant to public art contexts)
  • Interdisciplinary Arts (since projects may integrate varied practices)

Eligibility

  • Open to professional artists and artist teams based in the New Jersey / New York / Pennsylvania region.

  • Artists must have a history of creating public art, including but not limited to murals, sculptures, monuments, or related site-responsive work.

  • Applicants may work in fine art, craft, installation, architecture, or landscape design as these relate to public art installations.
  • Projects must propose original work (digital work allowed but not created through or with AI development).
  • Selected artists must provide general liability insurance naming coLAB Arts as additionally insured.

Program Benefits & Awards

Monetary & Support Benefits:
  • $10,000 commission/stipend to support the development and realization of a new temporary public art installation.
  • Free private studio space in New Brunswick, accessible 24/7 for the full 10-month residency period (March–December 2026).
  • Participation in coLAB Arts’ monthly First Friday open studio and gallery nights, running through the residency.
  • Support for creating high-visibility public art installations along the festival corridor during the Heartbeat of the City Festival.
Professional Development & Exposure:
  • Engagement with community audiences through public events and exhibitions.
  • Opportunity to work in a collaborative environment that connects artists with civic advocates and local cultural producers.

Application Fee

None

Application Requirements

  • Biography outlining artistic background and practice.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing relevant public art or installation work.
  • Three references from prior collaborators or professional contacts.
  • Links to personal/portfolio websites or social media pages (if available).
  • Images of past public art and non-public artwork that demonstrate artistic capability.
Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis, though early submission is encouraged.

How to Apply?

Online Application

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 13 February 2026
  • Residency Period: March–December 2026 (10 months).
  • Public Art Festival: Heartbeat of the City Festival (installations on display) scheduled for September and October 2026.

Location

New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

Additional Details

  • The festival corridor spans approximately three-quarters of a mile, connecting New Brunswick’s Downtown area with the Esperanza Neighborhood.
  • coLAB Arts works in partnership with the City of New Brunswick and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority A.R.T. Phase 2 program to support this initiative.
  • The opportunity emphasizes cultural history, placekeeping, and community identity, and encourages work that reflects these themes.
  • Artists must comply with coLAB Arts’ insurance requirements if selected.

Website Link: https://colab-arts.org/hotc