Organizer Information
This open call is issued by VisArts (VisArts at Rockville), a contemporary visual arts organization based in Rockville, Maryland, United States. VisArts is a multidisciplinary art center that supports artists through Residencies, exhibitions, education programs, and community-engaged artistic initiatives.
The organization operates studio facilities, galleries, and educational spaces designed to foster experimentation and professional development in contemporary Visual Arts practices. VisArts regularly hosts rotating residency programs that bring together emerging, mid-career, and established artists to develop new work in a structured yet open-ended studio environment.
Through its Gibbs Street Artist Residency program, VisArts emphasizes artistic production, public engagement, and critical exchange, connecting resident artists with local communities as well as broader professional art networks.
Title & Description
Gibbs Street Resident Artists 2026–2027 – International Studio Residency Program
The Gibbs Street Resident Artists Program 2026–2027 is a six-month Residency opportunity offering selected artists dedicated studio space, financial support, and professional development within VisArts’ facilities in Rockville, Maryland.
This open call invites artists or collaborative teams to develop new bodies of work, expand ongoing projects, or experiment with new methodologies in a fully supported studio environment. Each residency culminates in a solo exhibition, public programming, and community engagement activities.
The program encourages interdisciplinary and experimental practices across all forms of contemporary Visual Arts, fostering dialogue between artists and local audiences through talks, workshops, and open studio events.
Residents are expected to actively engage with the VisArts community while maintaining an ongoing studio practice, contributing to a dynamic environment of exchange, production, and public interaction.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Installation
- Photography
- Video/Film
- Mixed Media
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- New Media
- Performance
- Curatorial Practice
Eligibility
- Open to international, national, and local applicants
- Professional artists and collaborative artist teams over 18 years old
- Students and commercial artists are not eligible
- Artists working across all contemporary Visual Arts disciplines
- Applicants must be able to work in a studio-based environment
- International applicants must note that visa support is not provided
- Applicants must not require specialized hazardous material ventilation systems
Program Benefits & Awards
- Free 169-square-foot private studio for 6 months
- Monthly stipend of $3,000 USD ($500 per month)
- 24/7 studio access (except during scheduled events)
- Final solo exhibition at VisArts gallery space
- Participation in monthly studio artist professional development sessions
- Opportunities for public engagement (talks, workshops, screenings, open studios)
- Integration into VisArts’ artistic and professional network
- Visibility within regional and international contemporary art communities
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Up to 10 images of recent work (created within the last 4 years)
- Time-based media samples (up to 10 minutes total) if applicable
- CV or resume
- Artist bio (max 200 words, third-person)
- Artist statement (max 100 words)
- Residency proposal (max 250 words), including:
- Artistic goals
- Community engagement plan
- Use of resources
- Two professional references
- Numbered list of works with title, year, dimensions
- Optional: links to Vimeo or YouTube for video work
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 May 2026
- Residency Period Option 1: 24 June 2026 – 8 January 2027
- Residency Period Option 2: 13 January 2027 – 18 June 2027
Location
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Additional Details
- Selection is highly competitive and based on panel review by artists and curators
- Studio use is strictly for artistic production
- Residents must maintain approximately 28 hours/week studio presence
- Artists are responsible for insurance, materials, and equipment
- No housing is provided
- Studios must be returned in their original condition after residency
- Public engagement with the community is a core requirement of the program
- Final outcomes include both exhibition and public programming components
- Incomplete applications will not be reviewed