International Residency Program

Our core program, the NARS International Residency Program offers 24/7 access to furnished, private or semi-private studio spaces (250 – 300 sq ft) in our diverse artist community in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. As a studio based residency, the focus is on the artistic process  and experimentation that results from working alongside other artists, within New York’s cultural and sociopolitical context.

Artists meet with 3-4 Studio Visitors each month, gaining invaluable feedback and expanding their network of artists and professionals in New York City and internationally. Residents are provided with administrative, curatorial, and professional support to explore and expand the scope of their artistic practice through research, dialogue, and production of new projects. Presentation opportunities include a curated exhibition in the NARS gallery, bi-annual Open Studios, through which artists can introduce and share research and work through artist talks, discussions, screenings, workshops, and performances.

Residency artists benefit from a community driven program and ongoing dialogue with fellow residency artists through weekly informal gatherings, inter-studio visits and activities, as well as field trips and meals together. Residents also have the advantage of working alongside emerging and established NYC based artists in our studio facilities, who retain space year round. The program and facilities are designed to form a community, foster the expansion & exchange of artistic and cultural practices, and provide artists with exposure to New York and its art scene.

Please note: The studio is a work space only – housing is NOT provided.

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ASAP

ASAP is our weekly community gathering, hosted by two paired artists each week. Artists lead the group in inquiry-based activities such as art-making, reflection, or conversation. ASAP gives the majority international cohort an opportunity to foster cross-cultural exchange and share different traditions, perspectives and creative practices. 

Each season, the NARS Curatorial Fellow leads an ASAP session, thoughtfully crafting an experience that reflects their engagement with the artists in residence. The Curator is also an active participant in ASAP, attending weekly and contributing to the ongoing exchange.

Past ASAPs have included mind mapping, drawing sessions, a pickleball tournament, discussions at Sunset Park, screenings, craft making, artist-led conversations ranging from aspects of creative life to reflecting on personal growth, and more. These gatherings may relate to an artist’s practice or not at all. They are a dedicated space to explore, question, dissect, and share, all while strengthening the cohort’s sense of community.

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ASAP stands for many things:

Artists Sitting and Pondering 

As Slow as Possible 

Artists Sharing Artists Practices

A Space for Art and Play 

Artists, Space, Action, Process

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Artist Salon

The Artist Salon offers a unique opportunity for artists and curators accepted through our Exhibition Open Call to engage in dialogue with NARS Artists in Residence and our Curatorial Fellow. This gathering is designed as a space for each participant to share their artistic practice, discuss current projects—particularly those being created and or exhibited at NARS—and to promote meaningful connections, fresh ideas, and the growth of each other's networks.

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Residency Programs Day

The NARS Curatorial Fellow collaborates closely with our residency artists to conceptualize and produce a vibrant day of public programming. This event is designed to deepen public engagement with the artists' work and research, offering a unique window into their creative processes. Artists are encouraged to explore how their practices can be activated and shared, both within the residency exhibition and directly from their studios.

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Studio Visitor Salon

As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering dialogue and community, the Studio Visitor Salon offers a unique opportunity for continued engagement between NARS Artists in Residence and invited art professionals. Throughout the residency season, artists participate in one-on-one studio visits with curators, artists, writers, educators, and gallerists.

The Studio Visitor Salon invites a visitor back to reconnect with the current cohort and the NARS Curatorial Fellow in a more informal, salon-style setting. This intimate gathering encourages deeper conversations, nurtures lasting connections, and offers space to reflect on the residency exhibition, artistic practices, and life beyond the residency.

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For additional information or questions, please contact residency@narsfoundation.org 

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NARS residency programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and, in part, supported by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs