Artist in Resilience Residency

The FEMA ArtWorks Program selects one artist annually to participate as a three-month Artist in Residence (AIR). Unlike traditional residencies, this program does not host artists at a specific location. Instead, artists are encouraged to draw inspiration from their surroundings and the potential natural hazard risks in those regions and communities. The program welcomes all artistic mediums, including visual arts, music, writing, and performance.

The residency award is $60,000 to cover all artist fees, supplies, insurance, business operations, installation, signage, permits, and all items required to perform the work. Selected artists will have access to mentorship and professional development resources provided by non-profit partner RedLine Contemporary Art Center. The residency runs from May 19 to August 15, 2025, including a one-week artist activation. By the end of their residency, artists must create a work that meets the program's criteria and guiding principles, which emphasize hope and positive solutions, clarity, emotional engagement, localized impact, interactivity, scientific accuracy, collaboration, and visual impact.

Eligibility is open to all professional artists nationwide. The art must incorporate natural hazard resilience in a meaningful way, connect to communities or individuals in a relevant manner, and be able to be showcased temporarily at the end of the residency and into the future. Artists must host at least one public program during their residency, which may include demonstrations, talks, and/or performances. A high-resolution, reproduction-quality image and/or time-lapse video in digital format (24 x 36 inches at 300 dpi) of at least one original artwork created during the residency is required within 30 days following the residency period. Application deadline: April 11, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Submit 3-5 images of previous work, artist biography, resume, artist statement if applicable, website and social media handles, and a proposed concept for work during the residency including proposed community activation and natural hazard risks the artwork will focus on.