General Applications are open March 1–May 1 for residencies between January–June 2027. Submit your application here.

La aplicación también está disponible en español. Envíe su solicitud aquí.

Calls for applications are made four times a year and will open two months prior to the deadline. There are several different ways to apply, learn more about each of them and choose the option that best fits your needs.

Join the Studios at MASS MoCA mailing list to be kept up-to-date when future application rounds open.

Most applicants apply through the general application, which is typically for residencies 6–9 months out from the award date. In the regular application, candidates can opt to be considered for financial aid or one of the fully funded fellowships. Because the regular application includes financial aid, it is the most competitive option. Artists requesting financial aid typically pay between $0 – $450/week depending on their needs.
La aplicación general también está disponible en español.

Deadlines for General Applications are May 1 and November 1 each year. The application will open two months prior to the deadline. (See table below for details.)

Due to the volume of submissions close to the deadline, please consider submitting your application early to take into account any technical difficulties that may happen. We do not extend the deadline for late submissions.

The Studios at MASS MoCA operates year-round, hosting up to 10 artists at a time for 2- or 4-week residencies.

The “Early Application” is for artists who could benefit from additional lead time (announcements made 9 to 15 months ahead of residency dates) to plan their stay and to apply for outside funding from sources such as their university or international or regional arts councils. Artists applying with the Early Application will NOT be considered for MASS MoCA’s financial aid budget OR fellowships, applicants should only use this particular application if you are planning to fully fund your stay through outside grants or personal funds at the already subsidized rate of $650 per week.

Deadlines for Early Applications are February 1 and August 1.

Applications will open two months prior to the deadline. (See table below for details.)

If you’re a Studios at MASS MoCA alum, we’re thrilled that you’d like to come back! Twice per year, we have an Alumni application that puts you in a separate pool from the extremely large General Application pools so you’re only competing against fellow alumni. While it’s not as competitive as the General Application pools, we only reserve a few alumni spots each season and acceptance is not guaranteed. We prioritize alumni who have not previously had an Alumni Residency at MASS MoCA, especially alumni who have reached another moment in their career when a residency in the Studios could be particularly beneficial. We ask alums to wait two years after your first residency before applying for the Alumni Residency opportunity. At this time, alumni are not eligible for residency fellowships and instead pay a standard alumni rate of $400/wk for residencies of 4 weeks, or $450/wk for a 2-week residency. (Please note: students who have attended a workshop-in-residence are not considered eligible alumni for this opportunity.)

Deadlines for Alumni Applications are February 1 and August 1. Applications will open two months prior to the deadline. (See table below for details.)

Artists are invited to apply through the Studios at MASS MoCA’s submittable page. See table below for current application deadlines. The application is currently free to apply. You can join our mailing list to be kept up-to-date when the next application round opens.

We welcome applications from artists at all career stages, income levels, and geographic locations. We 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. We discourage applications from dancers, musicians, and other performers because the 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.

The curatorial jury is not announced in advance, but you can peruse the Studios’ jury from the previous year on the Application Review Panel page. Due to the volume of applications we receive each season, we are not able to give feedback to individual applicants either before or after the selection process.

An artist must be at least 18 in order to apply; otherwise age is not a consideration in selection.
See a full list of Studios at MASS MoCA Alumni Here

GENERAL FELLOWSHIP (ALL DISCIPLINES)

The Studios at MASS MoCA will offer multiple full fellowships that do not have geographic or demographic limitations. This means anyone who wishes to can apply for one of these fellowships, regardless of discipline or location. The fellowship funds all residency fees for up to four weeks in residence. To apply, simply select the appropriate box on the fellowships question of the general Studios residency application. There is no separate application for this opportunity. Be sure to also indicate whether you would like to be considered for a regular, partially subsidized residency at the Studios at MASS MoCA if you are not awarded one of these special fellowship residencies. All applicants must first be accepted through the regular jurying process to receive this fellowship.

PUERTO RICO ARTIST FELLOWSHIP (ALL DISCIPLINES)

Having begun in 2018 as emergency support for artists affected by Hurricane Maria, MASS MoCA’s Puerto Rico Artist Fellowship provides general support for Puerto Rico artists in what continues to be a tumultuous time. This fellowship provides a fully subsidized, 4-week residency + $800 travel stipend + $100/week food stipend and is open to any artist currently living in Puerto Rico. Learn more about the Puerto Rico Fellowship.

To apply, please use the separate application specifically for the Puerto Rico Artist fellowship or the Spanish application.

UNIVERSITY FELLOWSHIPS

BARD COLLEGE MILTON AVERY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

In partnership with Bard, the Studios will be offering one fellowship for a qualifying applicant. Applicants eligible for support must have an expected graduation date of 2026 or 2027 from any of Bard’s M.F.A. disciplines. The fellowship funds all residency fees for up to two weeks in residence.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY MFA FELLOWSHIP

In partnership with Boston University, the Studios will be offering one fellowship for a qualifying applicant. Applicants must be an M.F.A student graduating from BU in May 2026. The fellowship funds all residency fees for two or four weeks in residence.

BROOKLYN COLLEGE

In partnership with the Brooklyn College Department of Art, the Studios will be offering two fellowships for qualifying students. Applicants must be either currently earning their M.F.A or B.F.A in any visual arts discipline in Brooklyn College’s Department of Art, or they must have graduated with their M.F.A. from Brooklyn College Department of Art in 2023 or after. Priority will be given to applicants within one year of graduation. The fellowship funds all residency fees for two or four weeks in residence.

BROWN UNIVERSITY

In partnership with Brown University, the Studios will be offering one or more fellowships for qualifying applicants. Applicants must be Brown University students or recent alumni with a graduation year of 2023 – 2027. All terminal degrees in any subject area are eligible applicants as long as they are in the graduating classes listed above.The fellowship funds all residency fees for two or four weeks in residence.

CORCORAN SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN 

In partnership with Corcoran School of Art and Design, this fellowship shall be awarded to one or more fellowships for qualifying applicants. Applicants must have earned or are earning their M.F.A. in Fine Arts, M.F.A. in Social Practice, or an M.A. in New Photojournalism at Corcoran School of Art & Design at George Washington University and have a graduation year of 2025 – 2027. The fellowship funds all residency fees for two or four weeks in residence.

MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN MFA FELLOWSHIP

In partnership with the Massachusetts College of Art & Design, the Studios will be offering one or more fellowships for qualifying applicants. Applicants must have a graduation date from any of MassArt’s graduate degree programs sometime between 2023–2026. The fellowship funds all residency fees for up to four weeks in residence.

MAINE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN MFA + BFA FELLOWSHIP

In partnership with Maine College of Art and Design, the Studios will be offering two fellowships for qualifying applications:

MFA FELLOWSHIP: Applicants must have previously attended or are currently attending MECAD’s MFA program (low or full residency). There are no restrictions regarding year of graduation. 

BFA FELLOWSHIP: Applicants must have previously attended or are currently attending MECAD’s BFA program. There are no restrictions regarding year of graduation. 

The fellowship funds all residency fees for up to two weeks in residence.

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
In partnership with Rhode Island School of Design, the Studios will offer one or more fellowships for a qualifying applicant. Applicants must have an expected graduation date of June 2026 from any of RISD’s BFA or MFA disciplines. The residency funds all residency fees for up to four weeks in residence.

SCHOOL OF ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO MFA OR MA FELLOWSHIP

In partnership with School of Art Institute of Chicago, the Studios will offer one or more fellowships for a qualifying applicant. Applicants must be earning their MFA or MA at SAIC in any discipline, with a graduation year of 2026. The fellowship funds all residency fees for up to four weeks in residence.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN MFA FELLOWSHIP

In partnership with UT Austin’s MFA program, the Studios will offer one or more fellowships for a qualifying applicant. Qualifying applicants must be on track to graduate from any of the University’s MFA in Studio Art programs in 2026 or 2027. The fellowship funds all residency fees for two or four weeks in residence.

If you have any questions regarding the application or selection process, please email: studios@massmoca.org.