New Creative Pathways: Grants, Residencies, and Craft Programs for Artists in the U.S.
- Art Dealer Street
- May 25
- 3 min read
As we move through the creative calendar of 2025, new doors are opening for artists ready to grow, explore, and share their work in meaningful ways. Across the U.S., a wave of respected institutions is offering support to visual and performance artists through a diverse mix of residencies, unrestricted grants, and immersive craft programs. Whether you're drawn to community-based practice in Minnesota, deep studio work in New Jersey, or expanding your visibility through national awards, this week’s selection highlights opportunities that offer both resources and resonance. These programs aren’t just about funding—they’re about giving artists space to breathe, experiment, and connect.
1. Lanesboro Early Career Artist Residency Program
Location: Lanesboro, Minnesota
Application Deadline: May 30, 2025
A rural Minnesota town hosts this community-engaged residency for emerging artists. Supported by the Jerome Foundation, Lanesboro Arts awards two to three residencies per year to early-career artists of any discipline. Residents get dedicated live/work space and uninterrupted time to create, while collaborating with locals on projects that “activate the people & places of Lanesboro”. This is a place-based, community-focused program: past residents have built public art, murals, and interactive installations with community members (see image above). The program provides a private studio or workspace, housing, and a creative stipend, all within a small-town setting. The two-stage application process begins with a short Round One submission (due May 30, 2025), after which selected artists are invited to develop fuller proposals. All early-career visual, performing, and interdisciplinary artists are encouraged to apply, especially those interested in socially engaged or site-specific work..
2. Artadia San Francisco Bay Area Awards
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California
Application Deadline: June 1, 2025
Artadia’s prestigious annual awards grant unrestricted $15,000 prizes to three outstanding visual artists in the Bay Area. The juried process involves a preliminary local panel selecting six finalists, then national curators interviewing candidates before choosing the winners. Awardees also join the Artadia Network, gaining exposure through an online registry and connections with curators and collectors. Notably, these awards are not project-specific grants – they are flexible funds that winners use to fuel their practice. Applicants must live and work in one of the Bay Area counties (SF, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, etc.) and have at least two years residency there. Artadia’s rigorous yet transparent process ensures a high-profile selection; recent Artadia winners often see gallery shows and prize announcements (e.g. several have been featured in the Whitney Biennial).
3. Center for Contemporary Printmaking Artist-in-Residence
Location: Norwalk, Connecticut
Application Deadline: July 1, 2025
The Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP) offers a specialized printmaking residency in its dedicated Helen Frankenthaler Cottage studio. Residents live and work on-site (in furnished cottages across the street) with 24/7 access to an excellent print studio. Artists-in-residence can choose a 1- or 2-week session during the academic year: Winter residencies (Nov–Feb) require application by July 1, 2025, and Summer residencies (May–Sept) have a January 1 deadline. In CCP’s program, you’ll use traditional and innovative print techniques free from distractions: “uninterrupted time and privacy 24/7 in a well-equipped studio”. The experience is ideal for experimentation and skill-building – many alumni expand their techniques and create new editions during their stay. A nominal application fee ($35) applies. Residents are also expected to give a short public demo or talk to engage the local arts community.
4. Peters Valley School of Craft Residency Program
Location: Layton, New Jersey
Application Deadline: July 2, 2025
Peters Valley, located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, offers fully funded craft residencies in disciplines like ceramics, printmaking, metals, wood, and glass. The program awards two-week and four-week residencies in a beautiful rural campus setting. Accepted artists work in fully-equipped studios and stay on-site, with a small co-pay fee (around $10–$15) to apply. The residency is ideal for advancing craft-based projects: “a limited number of artists will be selected to spend two weeks or one month each in fully equipped studios immersing themselves in time dedicated to their craft”. This is a hands-on residency: past residents often experiment with new materials, collaborate with instructors, and present work at a public open studio at session’s end. The single application deadline for summer residencies is July 2, 2025. Grant funds cover most expenses, making this a rare opportunity for emerging and mid-career craft artists to focus intensively on their medium (metal, wood, glass, clay, etc.)..
Each of these opportunities represents more than just time and support—they offer a shift in perspective, a chance to evolve your practice, and the platform to engage new audiences. Whether it’s a printmaking residency in Connecticut or a prestigious grant in the Bay Area, these programs are designed to empower artists to dig deeper and aim higher. Take the time to prepare your best work, review the deadlines carefully, and submit with intention. This could be the moment your next breakthrough begins.
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