Organizer Information
The Kolaj Institute is a premier international cultural entity dedicated exclusively to the study, documentation, and dissemination of collage as a core medium, an independent genre, a vibrant community, and a definitive 21st-century movement. Operating a multi-faceted network of critical publications, research databases, and international symposia, the Institute works to elevate the historical and contemporary standing of collage within the global art world. By providing specialized infrastructure, historical paper archives, and curated display environments, the organization serves as an active catalyst for independent practitioners pushing the boundaries of pasted media.
Title & Description
Kolaj Institute Solo Residencies.
This flexible, self-directed program provides contemporary visual artists, independent curators, and creative writers with dedicated time, physical studio space, and material resources to advance a specific project. Rather than enforcing rigid institutional themes, the residency welcomes a broad spectrum of research-led or production-heavy ideas. Priority is given to applicants who articulate clear, structured goals for their stay—particularly those whose conceptual frameworks directly benefit from or intersect with the unique local geography, community archives, or cultural texture of New Orleans.
Permissible Project Frameworks:
The selection panel is highly open to innovative proposals, including but not limited to:
- Completing a dedicated series of physical or digital collage artworks.
- Executing primary research utilizing the Institute’s specialized collections and paper archives.
- Exploring and making site-responsive art centered on New Orleans as a place.
- Progressing or finalizing a collage-focused book manuscript or a collection of collage poetry.
- Creating time-based media, such as a stop-motion collage film or animated short.
- Developing large-scale works, preparing collection items for upcoming solo exhibitions, or archiving and documenting one's historic art practice.
Categories
Collage, Collage Poetry, Stop-Motion Collage Film, Writing, and Curatorial Practice / Research (Specifically targeting collage-based or paper-cut methodologies).
Eligibility
- Global Scope: Open to international and domestic artists, writers, poets, and curators at any stage of their creative career (from promising emerging voices to highly established practitioners).
- Self-Direction: Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to work independently and adhere to a self-structured project plan.
- Age Restraint: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.
Program Logistics and On-Site Resources
- Historic Live/Work Setting: Residents stay inside the Institute’s charming, second-floor headquarters situated at the intersection of Saint Claude and Saint Roch Avenues in New Orleans' historic Marigny neighborhood. The space features a private bedroom, a wrap-around balcony overlooking the iconic St. Roch Market, and access to a shared kitchen and full bathroom with a shower (Alternative, off-site housing configurations can also be arranged by request).
- The Gallery Workspace: Production takes place directly within the Kolaj Institute Gallery, providing 24/7 access to work tables, digital printing equipment, and an abundant supply row of collage-making tools (scissors, cutting knives, mats, and professional adhesives) alongside raw materials (vintage books, magazines, and specialty paper stocks).
- Pre-Residency Assessment: Once formally admitted, staff members host a dedicated pre-residency assessment session with the artist to identify hyper-local community partners, historical repositories, and specialized resources to optimize their production plan. A final review meeting concludes the term to discuss next career steps.
Fees, Tiered Pricing, & Financial Support
- Application Fee: None (Completely free to submit portfolios).
- Residency Participation Fee Structure:
- 1-Week Residency Block (Includes 6 nights accommodation): $900 USD
- 2-Week Residency Block (Includes 13 nights accommodation): $1,400 USD
- Companion Fee Tiers: If traveling accompanied by a partner, spouse, or creative collaborator sharing the living space, an additional fee of $400 USD per week applies.
- Financial Aid Grants: A limited pool of $250 USD fee-offset grants is available for selected applicants who demonstrate severe, verified financial hardship.
- Funding Exclusions: Institutional grants are strictly limited to reducing the baseline residency fee; no financial aid is available to cover international or domestic travel tickets, local ground transit, daily meals, or the auxiliary companion fee. Outbound expenses remain the sole responsibility of the artist.
Application Requirements
Dossiers must be uploaded in English through the official Submittable engine. Ensure your texts are thoroughly proofed before locking, as finalized files cannot be edited post-submission. The selection committee scores files based on project clarity, portfolio quality, and the necessity of New Orleans as a site. Submissions require:
- Complete personal identity information and preferred residency lengths/dates.
- Artist Biography: Highlighting your creative path, past landmarks, or education (Between 50 to 250 words max).
- Statement of Artistic Practice: Articulating your relationship to collage as a medium, your core concepts, and techniques (Between 50 to 300 words max).
- Project Proposal Narrative: A brief text mapping out the specific visual or textual works you intend to develop while in residency.
- Support Portfolio: Upload between 5 to 7 high-quality images or document sheets representing your recent representative work.
How to Apply?
Authenticate your user credentials on the centralized Submittable platform, fill out the statement and bio modules, detail your proposed project, attach your visual artwork images, and submit your dossier. Apply to the Kolaj Institute Solo Residencies.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Ongoing / Reviewed on a Continuous Rolling Basis. There is no fixed annual expiration date.
- Residency Term Windows: Formatted across custom 1- or 2-week blocks throughout the year, with specific final dates mutually agreed upon between the selected artist and the Kolaj Institute directors based on gallery calendar availability.
Location
United States, New Orleans, LA (Marigny District Base, corner of St. Claude and St. Roch Avenues).
Additional Details
By processing an application, creators confirm that they hold absolute copyright authority over all uploaded text and visual elements. Selected laureates grant Kolaj Institute a non-exclusive, timeless permission to adapt, replicate, and feature their project images solely for archival cataloging, promotional highlights, and digital marketing features across the platform's social networks.