Organizer Information
RAIR (Recycled Artist in Residency) is a Philadelphia-based artist residency situated inside Revolution Recovery, a construction and demolition waste recycling facility in the Tacony neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia that receives hundreds of tons of reusable waste material each day. Revolution Recovery was founded by Avi Golen and Jon Wybar in 2004 with a mission of keeping clean construction waste out of landfills; RAIR grew out of a collaboration between sculptor Billy Dufala and Fern Gookin, who built a relationship with Revolution Recovery that let artists access the site's waste stream, studio space, and woodworking and metalworking facilities to make new work. RAIR's stated mission is to challenge the perception of waste culture by providing a platform at the intersection of art, industry, and community, encouraging resident artists to reconsider their studio practice through the lens of sustainability and material reuse. The organization runs two residency tracks, the Standard Residency and the Biggie Shortie, and its 2027 Open Call jury includes architectural designer Ang Li, sculptor and public artist Karyn Olivier, and artist Maia Chao.
Title & Description
2027 RAIR Open Call — Standard Residency & Biggie Shortie Residency
RAIR is opening its 2027 Open Call across two residency programs, both giving artists access to Revolution Recovery's waste stream and to RAIR's staff, who work closely with all residents. The Standard Residency is a longer, traditional studio-based program suited to artists who want to dedicate 4–6 full weeks to their project and studio practice at RAIR, with full access to the shop, project space, and a private studio. The Biggie Shortie is a shorter, project-based residency that mainly takes place on weekends, typically outside the recycling facility's operating hours, allowing proposed projects to be customized to fit the residency; it suits artists with weekday commitments who can only be present at RAIR on weekends, and offers partial access to project-space tools and equipment with some ability to store materials onsite, but no private studio. Applicants are strongly encouraged to register for an in-person or virtual site tour before applying, to understand the nature and operation of the recycling facility when crafting a feasible proposal; a recording of a previous tour is also available for those who cannot attend a scheduled date.
Theme
No specific theme stated in the source. Successful proposals are described as ones that demonstrate an understanding of what RAIR offers, of working within the context of the recycling facility and alongside its workers, and that provide a realistic plan for developing and executing a project using the site's unique resources — challenging both the applicant's own artistic practice and their understanding of the waste stream and contemporary art practices.
Categories
- Residency
- Sculpture
- Craft
- Installation
- Environment
- Public Art
Eligibility
- Open to all emerging and mid-career artists based nationally and internationally
- Applicants must be 21 years of age or older
- Must not be actively enrolled in a college or university program during the time of residency (applicants who will have graduated by the time of their proposed residency are allowed)
- Open to artists from any field, not only visual artists — including designers, architects, self-taught makers, and musicians
- Applications are accepted from artist collectives/collaborative groups; only one application is needed per group, but separate bios must be included along with an indication of how long the group has been collaborating
- Applicants may apply to both the Standard Residency and the Biggie Shortie in the same cycle, but must submit two separate applications and pay two separate application fees
- Residents may bring an assistant to work alongside them; any assistant must complete all safety training and orientation
Program Benefits & Awards
- $1,000 stipend for both Standard and Biggie Shortie residents
- Travel and housing reimbursements available to artists from outside the region
- A modest project budget available for projects requiring additional support
- Studio outfitted with basic woodworking and building tools and materials; minimal welding may be available depending on project needs
- Modest budget allotment for extra hardware and additional materials not sourced from the waste stream
- Guided access to waste stream materials in the recycling yard, accompanied by RAIR staff
- Modest budget for professional documentation of work by a photographer; RAIR also owns a camera and can assist with documentation
- Professional development opportunities, including studio visits and interviews
- Possible exhibition opportunities, depending on the nature of the project
- Connections to RAIR's network of artists, collaborators, and partner organizations
- Support for planning public programming such as workshops, artist talks, performances, and screenings (optional, not required)
Application Fee
$25 submission fee (a separate $25 fee applies for each residency program applied to). RAIR holds the fee at a fixed amount and does not raise it as the deadline approaches. Applicants experiencing financial hardship may request a fee waiver by emailing info@rairphilly.org with the subject line "Application Fee Waiver," explaining their situation; waivers are granted to a limited number of applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 27 September 2026
- Notification: January 2027
- Standard Residency Duration: 4–6 weeks, scheduled March–November
- Biggie Shortie Residency Duration: 2–4 weekends, scheduled March–November
Location
RAIR, 7333 Milnor Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Additional Details
- Application materials required: 10 work samples (images or videos; file specifications detailed on the Submittable application); a project proposal (max. 500 words); 3 references with contact information who can speak to the rigor of the applicant's work; a résumé/CV
- Working hours: Standard Residency — minimum 20 hours/week, weekdays 7:00 AM–5:30 PM and weekends 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (additional hours schedulable if needed); Biggie Shortie — weekends 9:00 AM–9:00 PM, with additional site visits or material-collecting visits schedulable
- Waste stream access: residents are accompanied by RAIR staff while sorting materials in the yard; picking hours at the recycling facility are open to residents after 3:00 PM until end of day, with additional picking hours at Revolution Recovery's other locations (Allentown or Delaware) available if needed
- 2027 jury: Ang Li (architectural designer, founder of Ang Li Projects), Karyn Olivier (sculptor and public artist, Public Works Artist in Residence at the Free Library of Philadelphia), and Maia Chao (artist working across performance, video, sculpture, and public practice)
- Projects proposing robust production (e.g. additional cast/crew, actors, cameras, sound, lighting) should be prepared to seek outside funding, as RAIR's project budget typically covers only a small portion of such costs
- Proposals involving the adjacent Superfund Site are considered case by case; applicants with questions about such a proposal should contact billy@rairphilly.org before applying
- Residents rarely overlap with one another, allowing RAIR staff to give each artist individual attention and designated time to access the waste stream and studio