Organizer Information:

Mendocino Art Center (MAC). Located on coastal Pomo land, MAC is an emergent space responding to the times through performance, ritual, and body-based art. This residency is a collaborative step toward engaging public audiences and the natural landscape.

Title & Description:

Applications are open for the Moving Artist Residency 2026.

This month-long program is built for artists working within the body through performance, dance, and ritual. The first week features a mandatory workshop with the Mendocino Dance Project, where artists explore vertical dance suspended in towering redwood trees. The remaining three weeks are self-directed, allowing for individual or collaborative research and place-based performance in the unique coastal landscapes of Mendocino.

Category:

Dance, Performance Art, Ritual, & Body-Based Practice.

Eligibility:

  • Who: Professional artists in dance and movement. We particularly encourage Indigenous, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, two-spirit, neurodiverse artists, and those whose work engages with justice, land, lineage, and collective memory.
  • Experience: Applicants must be 18+ years of age and have at least 4 years of professional dance or movement experience.
  • Pets: No pets are allowed on site without advanced, explicit approval.
  • Vertical Dance Component: Applicants should be comfortable working off the ground and exploring movement suspended in space (vertical dance).

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Accommodation: Housing is included (private bedroom with shared kitchen and bathroom).
  • Stipends: A $300 food stipend and a $200 travel stipend are provided.
  • Community: Access to a cohort of peers, a shared communal kitchen for gatherings, and technical support.
  • Showcase: Opportunity for a final performance, exhibition, or open studio sharing at the end of the residency.

Application Fee & Program Costs:

  • Entry Fee: US$20.00.

Application Requirements:

  • Artist Statement: 500 words or less.
  • CV: Highlighting professional movement experience.
  • Portfolio (Optional): Website link or video link of previous work.
  • Submission Limit: Maximum of 7 pieces/files.

How to Apply?

Submit your application via the official Artwork Archive portal for Mendocino Art Center.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: April 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM PT.
  • Residency Dates: July 1, 2026 – August 2, 2026.
  • Vertical Dance Workshop: Takes place during the first week of July.

Location:

Mendocino Art Center, Mendocino, California, USA.

Contact Information:

Application Portal: Artwork Archive - Moving Artist Residency