Best Art Residencies in New York 2025
Top 10 Prestigious Programs for Visual Artists

New York is home to some of the world’s most respected artist residencies, offering time, space, and support for artists to develop their work at the highest level. From fully funded fellowships to dynamic community-based programs, these residencies provide studio access, financial support, and invaluable connections within the contemporary art world. This list highlights ten of the most prestigious and competitive programs in New York State, each recognized for its exceptional alumni, unique resources, and contribution to the global arts community.

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#1 Whitney Museum Independent Study Program (New York)

The Whitney Museum’s Independent Study Program (ISP) is a nine-month, tuition-free fellowship that supports 25 participants annually—15 artists, 3–4 curators, and 6–7 critical scholars—with dedicated studio or workspaces, a modest stipend, and round-the-clock access to its Roy Lichtenstein studio. Central to its uniqueness are weekly seminars, reading groups, workshops, and visiting critiques that merge rigorous theoretical study with studio practice. With alumni like Jenny Holzer, Félix González‑Torres, Andrea Fraser, and LaToya Ruby Frazier, ISP is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and intellectually influential art programs in New York.

Link: Whitney Museum ISP

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#2 Yaddo Artist Residency (Saratoga Springs, NY)

Yaddo offers 2–8 week interdisciplinary residencies on a historic 400‑acre estate, providing room, board, and private studios at no cost. There are no production requirements—residents are simply given uninterrupted time and space to create. Peer-reviewed selection and modest financial aid for supplies or travel make it accessible and competitive. Known for its storied history and alumni (Pulitzer, MacArthur, even Nobel winners), a stay at Yaddo is considered one of the most prestigious artist retreats in New York, offering unparalleled creative focus and professional credibility.

Link: Yaddo website

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#3 Art Omi Residency (Ghent, NY)

Art Omi offers four-week summer residencies for around 26 internationally active visual artists, providing fully funded accommodation, studio space, and meals. The program’s setting—a 120-acre sculpture and architecture park—encourages experimentation, cross-disciplinary exchange, and public engagement, with open studios and artist-led events. A competitive jury process ensures a diverse, high-caliber cohort. Artists enjoy uninterrupted creative time balanced with critical dialogue and community-building. With its international outlook and distinctive campus, Art Omi is widely recognized as one of the top contemporary visual arts residencies in New York State.

Link: Art Omi website

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#4 Watermill Center Artist Residency (Water Mill, NY)

Watermill’s International Summer Program offers a 3–4 week fully funded residency for ~20 multidisciplinary artists, including visual practitioners. Accommodations, meals, local transport, workspace, and studio access are included, along with a modest stipend for travel and personal expenses. What sets it apart is the communal, experimental environment, participants collaborate across disciplines, engage with Robert Wilson, explore vast archives and gardens, and present work in a culminating festival. This interwoven laboratory of art, performance, and research makes Watermill one of New York’s most dynamic and unique visual art residencies.

Link: Watermill Center website

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#5 Studio Museum in Harlem – Artist‑in‑Residence Program (New York)

Each year, the Studio Museum offers an 11‑month, tuition‑free residency to three emerging visual artists, providing private studio space and a $37,500 stipend. Residents engage in public open studios, studio visits, professional development, and a group exhibition. Unique among residencies, it centers artists of African and Afro‑Latinx descent and embeds them within a culturally specific institutional context. With alumni like Kehinde Wiley and LaToya Ruby Frazier, this program is regarded as one of New York’s leading arts residencies.

Link: FAWC website

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#6 International Studio & Curatorial Program (Brooklyn, NY)

ISCP offers 3–12 month residencies in a former factory with 35 private, 24/7 studios and shared communal spaces. While accommodation isn’t provided, many residents receive stipends for housing, travel, living, and materials via partner sponsorships (e.g., fully funded 3–6-month fellowships with $3,000+/month). The program centers on visiting critics, open studios, field trips, and public events, fostering international exchange and professional growth. Recognized as New York’s most comprehensive international residency, ISCP supports artists and curators from 90+ countries, creating a vibrant global network, solidifying its place among the top art residencies in New York.

Link: ISCP website

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#7 Sharpe–Walentas Studio Program (DUMBO, Brooklyn)

The Sharpe–Walentas Studio Program awards year-long, rent‑free private studios to 17 visual artists, selected by jury from roughly 1,700 applicants. Residents receive 24/7 access to high‑ceiling workspaces in a premier Brooklyn arts district. Unique in offering uninterrupted space without program obligations, it emphasizes focused creation and peer community. Its 1% acceptance rate underscores its competitiveness. Founded in 1991 and sustained by artist-driven governance, the program provides crucial time and professional credibility. It’s consistently ranked among New York’s top art residencies for both emerging and mid-career practitioners.

Link: Sharpe–Walentas website

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#8 Light Work Artist-in-Residence Program (Syracuse, NY)

Light Work offers a one-month, fully funded residency for 12–15 artists working in photography and image-based media. Participants receive a $5,000 stipend, furnished apartment, private digital studio, darkroom access, 24/7 facility use, and staff support. In addition, work created is published in Contact Sheet: The Light Work Annual and added to the Light Work Collection. With a highly selective ~1–2% acceptance rate, access to top-tier facilities, and a strong legacy—including alumni like Cindy Sherman and Carrie Mae Weems—Light Work ranks among New York’s best residencies for photographers and visual artists.

Link: Light Work website

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#9 Millay Arts Core Residency (Austerlitz, NY)

Millay Arts offers 2-week to 1-month fully funded residencies (April–November) for 6–7 multidisciplinary artists per session. The program provides private bedrooms and studios, communal meals, groceries, access to darkroom, libraries, and shared living spaces—only a small refundable deposit is required. Using a blind-jury process, Millay selects participants on artistic merit, often offering additional fellowships and stipends. Housed on Edna St. Vincent Millay’s historic estate, its intimate cohorts, scenic setting, and legacy of Pulitzer, MacArthur, and Guggenheim alumni make it one of New York State’s most respected contemporary art residencies.

Link: Millay Arts website

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#10 Eyebeam Residency (Brooklyn, NY)

Eyebeam offers 11-month, fully funded residencies for up to 13 artists working at the intersection of art and technology. Residents receive a $22,000–$30,000 stipend, shared lab space, cutting-edge equipment, and access to a global creative community. With over 500 alumni and a legacy of artistic and technological innovation, Eyebeam is consistently ranked among New York’s most influential art-tech residencies.

Link: Eyebeam website