Surface Design Association's Artist in Residence Application

Guidelines

All current SDA members are eligible to apply to Surface Design Association’s Artist in Residence (AiR) Program. There is no application fee, but artists must be current members of SDA.

Our application closed August 15, 2025 and notifications went out in late September. Please check back in early 2026 for our 2026-27 artist in residence application.

About this Program

Surface Design Association’s Artist in Residence (AiR) Program is designed to build skills, leverage relationships, and offer support to early, mid-career and established fiber artists as they undertake studio projects that inspire artistic growth. Held virtually over the course of an entire year (September to August), SDA’s AiR removes barriers allowing artists who might otherwise be unable to attend an in-person residency the opportunity to participate. 

Annually, one artist will be selected for an SDA residency by a panel composed of SDA staff, board, and committee volunteers. Each AiR will collaborate on a standard set of activities including: studio visits throughout the year, social media programming, and meetings with the SDA community. The AiR will be provided with a $2,000 studio stipend to support projects during their residency. 

The Artist in Residence will work with SDA to identify additional programming opportunities that best fit their skills and interests and will receive up to $2,000 in compensation for these additional activities. Our goal is that each AiR receives additional programming compensation, beyond their base studio stipend of $2,000, bringing the total they receive up to $4,000. 

Our objective is to weave the artist in residence into all areas of SDA and to leverage the unique knowledge base of SDA staff and committee members to support the AiR as they hone skills that they’ll utilize beyond the residency. Several approaches are possible. For example, the AiR might work with our editorial team to develop a Surface Design Journal article, receiving support and feedback throughout the process. Or perhaps the AiR is an experienced workshop instructor but has never taught online. SDA staff would work with the AiR to develop and execute an online workshop, offering technical support throughout. 

SDA’s Artist in Residence is an annual program, with a new residency launching each September. 

This program is made possible by a generous grant from Lenore G. Tawney Foundation.

Goals

SDA’s Artist in Residence Program is designed to support artists in three main areas: 

1. Artistic Advancement: Nurture diverse early and mid-career artists during the creative process, from project conception to completed work. Underwrite studio time through dedicated stipend.
   
2. Community Engagement: Cultivate high-quality, consistent arts programming for public audiences. 
3. Professional Development: Support AiR in developing skills, sharing their work, accessing professional opportunities and building their creative network during and beyond the residency. SDA will provide mentorship throughout the residency.

Beyond that, this program is designed to serve the broader SDA community offering the opportunity to engage with one artist over the course of an entire year through a number of different platforms and public programs. 

Timeline 

September 2025: Residency begins.

September 2025 to July 2026: AiR participates in SDA programming and works on dedicated studio projects.

August 2026: Project evaluation completed by staff and artist. 

Eligibility Criteria

The Artist Residency program is open to all current SDA members. Applications from established professional artists, emerging artists, and students are welcome. We encourage US-based and international artists to apply.