Create Change Residency

The Create Change Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program supports the development of participatory and community-attuned creative projects by artists of color working within their communities. Projects may take place anywhere in the five boroughs, either in person or virtually, across various community sites, from laundromats and urban gardens to playgrounds and community centers. AiRs develop and execute detailed art projects that address relevant issues and engage the community. They participate in community events, lead workshops or public discussions, and collaborate with other artists and community members. The program includes workshop sessions alongside the Create Change Fellows, monthly cohort coaching sessions, and professional development mentorship. Per year, AiRs receive an honorarium of $20,000, a $10,000 production budget, and access to in-depth resources, including specialized materials and advanced professional networks, per year in the program. Starting in 2026, the AiR program operates on a 2-year cycle to deepen artistic practice, strengthen community relationships, and increase long-term neighborhood impact.

● Year 1: Focus on deepening practice in place, early-stage project
development, and collaborative exploration through Open Studios. Includes individualized coaching, peer learning, and early planning for public work.

● Year 2: Focus on project implementation, leadership, and partnership engagement aligned with community priority areas (Climate Justice, Economic Justice, Health Equity, Displacement Prevention). Culminates in GATHER, an annual celebration featuring a conversation with and reflections from our 2026 Create Change Artists-in-Residence.

Up to 4 Create Change Artists-in-Residence will be selected to participate in the 2026-2027 program.

Candidates must live in one of the five boroughs, be committed to co-creating a community art project, and have familiarity with the cultural history and local issues impacting the neighborhood they propose to work with.

They should also be at least 21 years old and not enrolled in a degree-seeking program. Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to community engagement and an interest in developing long-term artistic projects that involve community collaboration. Diverse perspectives and backgrounds are encouraged, with a focus on projects that drive significant social change.

The Bed-Stuy AiR program is specifically designed for artists of color who have historically lived or live in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. It is a localized program with a strong emphasis on community engagement within the community the artist seeks to serve.

All application materials and eligibility details are available through a single Submittable link. Within the form, applicants may select their track—Fellow, AiR, or Bed-Stuy AiR—and indicate interest in additional programs

Yes, you are eligible for both programs. We realize that some artists may not identify as community-based artists or social practitioners, but are curious about making work in this way. We created the Fellowship program to provide a space where artists can build on their approaches to community-based art making while building community impact.

Create Change is not a typical series of professional development workshops. Some of the
topics and themes covered every year include: cultural arts organizing, building community partnerships, deep listening practices and storytelling, understanding public policy, decolonizing thought, and more. We believe in the tenets of popular education and draw from the immense and diverse knowledge of the cohort participants throughout the program.

This experiential form of learning is central to The LP’s mission and core values, which we imbue in all of our programs. Besides concrete skills and experiential learning opportunities, one of the greatest benefits we offer our artists is a network of like-minded practitioners and supporters.

Artists working in any art form are eligible to apply as long as they are interested in
community-based art making. For The LP, art includes visual, media, literary, and performing arts (dance, music, acting, comedy, singing etc.) as well as curation, scholarship, education, healing, community organizing, and other cultural traditions, productions, technology, design, and other creative practices. You do not have to consider yourself an artist to apply.

We recognize that there are many creative practitioners who do not identify themselves as “professional artists” and/or do not earn their living solely from art-making. Successful applicants are able to demonstrate a record of artistic experience; and analytical thinking skills to contribute to the collaborative learning environment.

All workshops will take place in-person over a 3-day period and public programs are in-person.

The fellow planning sessions with community partners and professional development offerings such as office hours and working sessions will sometimes be facilitated by way of Zoom or Google Meet.

For virtual/hybrid participation in workshops/sessions, you will need the following:

● Access to reliable and consistent internet connection
● Access to a computer or tablet with camera and a microphone (not a phone if possible)
● A Zoom account set up and familiarity with the features (you can open an account for
free here)
● A Google Meet account (you may access it via a gmail account, open a free account
here)

Yes, only artists that are currently based in NYC are eligible to apply for the Fellowship and Residency programs.

Due to the high volume of applicants, we only share feedback with candidates who advance to the interview stage of the application process. We will also offer info sessions in each borough of New York City which will be an opportunity to connect with our staff and ask specific questions regarding the application and process.

Solo production of art works made for personal practice. Proposals with no involvement, impact, or engagement with additional stakeholders or a broader community.

Create Change Artists-in-residence will spend roughly 50 hours participating in workshop sessions and related programming, and should plan to spend additional hours attending professional development offerings, work sessions with their cohort, coaching sessions, and open studios. Artists-in-Residence will also spend a substantial amount of time developing their independent projects.