Abrons Arts Center’s Curatorial AIRspace Residency, presented in partnership with Artists Alliance Inc (AAI), will provide one New York City based curator or curatorial collaborative with an honorarium, production budget, materials budget, and office space to support the curation of 2 exhibitions.
The word “sanctuary” comes from the Late Latin word “sanctuarium,” which means a sacred place or a shrine. A sanctuary evokes ideas of spirituality and protection yet it also brings forth the idea of a hideaway that suggests an imminent threat.
Abrons’ curatorial focus for our Spring 2024 season is “sanctuary”. The 2023–2024 Curatorial AIRspace Resident will curate one proposal based exhibition and the Visual Artist AIRspace Exhibition based on this theme.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be based in New York City and living within the 5 boroughs at the time of application submission and during the residency period.
- Applicants and all associated collaborators who will be onsite at Abrons during the residency and production period must abide by the Center’s COVID-19 Safety Policies.
- Collaborative groups are invited to apply and must submit only 1 application. Collaboratives that submit more than 1 application for the same project will be disqualified from the review process.
- Curators who are enrolled in degree-granting programs or will be students during the residency period are not eligible to apply.
- As the arts pillar of the historic Henry Street Settlement, Abrons Arts Center is committed to the belief that artistic practice is key to a socio-politically engaged and healthy society. Applicants should closely review the Abrons Arts Center’s Mission Statement and Declaration of Inclusion before applying for the Residency.
- Availability to attend the required residency programs, listed below in the “Important Dates” section.
Important Dates
- Application opens: March 20 2023 11:59pm ET
- Application deadline: April 23, 2023 11:59pm ET
- Applicants notified of status: Mid to late May 2023
- Office move in and orientation: July 6, 2023 2pm
- Fall Cohort Dinner: October 5, 2023 5–7pm
- Residency Photoshoot: October 12, 2023
- Spring Cohort Dinner: April 11, 2024, 5–7pm
- Project Based Proposal (Exhibition 1): Winter 2023
- Visual Artist AIRspace Exhibition (Exhibition 2): June 14–Aug 31, 2024


