Speculating on Plurality Emerging Artist Open Call (2026)

Thank you for your interest in Eyebeam’s Speculating on Plurality’s Residency for Emerging artists in the five boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island) of New York City. Before you apply, please refer to the information below: 

• Thoroughly review our Open Call page on our website before you begin the application process.
• The Eyebeam residency will be on-site at NYU Tandon @ The Brooklyn Navy Yard, a 14,000-square-foot production and research facility that includes two production studios and other systems for working with emerging media technology. Selected residents will receive 9 AM to 9 PM weekday access to shared workspace and a dedicated desk, alongside the option to work with an NYU graduate assistant for technical production support for the following: 3D Design, XR/AR/VR development and production, Motion Capture, TouchDesigner, Coding, AutoCAD, Web Development, Videography, Unreal Engine, etc.

Six New York-based artists will be selected for a 12-week spring-to-summer residency that will include:

• $4,000 Stipend*
• Engagement with partner organizations, visiting professionals, and Eyebeam’s alumni network

*Please note that all grant payments are subject to up to a 30% withholding tax by the IRS for US citizens, residents, and those with visas to work and live in the US.

Application Process

The application consists of four parts: 

1) An eligibility form: In order to apply you must meet all of the requirements.

2) Applicant information: you will be asked to submit personal information such as your first and last name, geographic location, date of birth, email address, short bio (200-words), and a CV/Resume.

3) Application materials, which include a statement of purpose, a series of four short essay questions, and two work samples (to upload). The statement of purpose and a series of three (3) short-answer questions can be submitted in one of these formats: written via form (no upload required), video, or audio.

3(A) For the statement of purpose (300-word limit) you can describe your body of work and creative practice, which should include information on disciplinary fields you’re engaged in, that will help give the jurors context on your work or any major communities you collaborate or are a part of. The statement can also include influences on your work. Tell us what defines your creative path so far, and what you hope to see in your artistic practice in the future?

3(B) Questions: After, please answer all three questions concisely and clearly: These questions are tailored further to reflect the themes and priorities outlined in the open call—300-word limit for each question. **

• How do you plan to engage with your peers in the residency cohort?
• In what ways have you actively worked to center care, community, and solidarity in your practice, and how do you plan to continue doing so?
• How do you interpret this residency’s themes and questions, and how do they show up in your project and practice?

** If you are opting to submit answers via video or audio format, please include your statement of purpose and the series of three (3) questions in a single file. Please try to limit your video or audio to 90 seconds per question. With video or audio submissions, please include captions.   

3(C) Work Samples: Please upload two work samples. One work sample can be of a work in progress, but at least one has to be of a complete work. 

• To note for audio/video or multimedia work sample uploads:
• If you are uploading a Video file, it should be approximately under 300 MB, and any audio must be captioned. If the file is a longer-format piece (over 10 minutes), please upload an excerpt that is no longer than 5 minutes.
• If a work you are submitting is a multimedia piece, you can include it in a text document, PDF, or slides, which should not exceed 3 pages. This file can include multiple links to documentation, as long as the files correspond to a single piece of work.
• Uploads that exceed these lengths will not be considered, due to the capacity of our jurors and staff.         

4. An optional demographic survey, for which responses will remain confidential and will only be reviewed by Eyebeam staff members. Demographic data will be compiled for internal learning and shared in the aggregate for reporting to funders and partners. Personally identifying data will be removed prior to sharing.

Timeline

3/2:  Open Call for residency opens; submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis 

3/20: Deadline for submissions at 11:59 PM EST

3/20 - 3/27: Panel review

3/27: Notification of acceptance

4/1: Residency period begins

4/2- 4/10: Residency orientation

4/9: Residency awardees are announced

6/30: Residency concludes

DEADLINE

Friday, March 20, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard.

No late applications will be accepted. For questions not covered here, please email info@eyebeam.org. Following the application review, shortlisted candidates may be considered for a finalist interview.