Open Call: The Studios at MASS MoCA
The Studios at MASS MoCA artist and writers residency program is embedded in one of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) is a former factory complex surrounded by the beautiful Berkshire Mountains in downtown North Adams. The Studios residency invites 10 artists at a time, nationally and internationally, for a residency of 2 or 4 weeks. These residencies provide essential time, space, and individualized support for artists to develop new work and ideas, with their campus being a living source of research and inspiration.
At the Studios at MASS MoCA, selected artists receive:
- Private, furnished studio space at MASS MoCA, available 24/7
- Housing (private bedroom/queen bed, shared kitchen, and bath) in attractive apartments directly across the street from the museum
- One communal meal per day in the company of fellow artists-in-residence
- An optional studio visit with a MASS MoCA curator or a guest curator
- 1 year access to Assets for Artists Online Workshops on artist career development
- 3 months of MASS MoCA member benefits, including free access to the museum’s galleries, and discounts on performing arts events and museum store purchases, plus additional access to The Clark Art Institute while in residence
- The opportunity to connect with a cohort of international creative peers.
- Chances to share your work either through Open Studios, artist presentations to your fellow residents, and/or studio visits (all events are optional)
Eligibility: They welcome applications from artists at all career stages, income levels, and geographic locations. They primarily seek applications from visual artists (painters, sculptors, installation artists, photographers, video/new media artists, fiber artists, printmakers, etc.) and writers in all literary disciplines. They discourage applications from dancers, musicians, and other performers because our studios are only well suited for artists who work quietly (nothing is sound-proofed) and who don’t require space for rehearsal / movement arts. Groups/collectives may apply to work on joint projects in the visual and literary arts. The studios have light-duty ventilation, so an art practice generating strong fumes cannot be accommodated.
Cost/Funding: The already subsidized “full” residency fee is $650/week (it’s $1000+/week of actual costs to operate the residency). However, every applicant in the regular application pool may opt to be considered for a full-ride fellowship and/or need-based financial aid to lower this fee even more. Visit their Financial Aid & Fellowships page to learn more about their many funding opportunities. If an artist can pay in full, that helps their program be able to off-set costs to offer more fellowships to those with financial need.
Deadline: 1 November 2026 at 11:59pm EST.