2027 erie canal artist-in-residence

In partnership with the New York State Canal Corporation (Canal Corp.), the Erie Canal Museum (Museum) is seeking two (2) Erie Canal Artists-in-Residence (AIR) for a period of one (1) year. While all artists are encouraged to apply, we are specifically seeking artists with ancestral ties to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and/or Mohican Nation and artists who live or work in New York State Canal communities.

The Residencies will focus on a year-long creative inquiry into the New York State Canal System – including the historic Erie Canal – reflecting on its past, contemplating its current condition, and considering its future. These Residencies are for Artists who wish to engage with the Canal and adjacent Canalway Trails, Canal Corp. and Museum staff, Canal facilities, New York’s Canal communities, and Canal visitors.

The 2027 Residencies will be dedicated to projects that reflect upon the Canal’s physical, environmental, and social condition and history; materiality; and context. The Artist’s project must directly address the Canal.

Applicants shall propose a specific creative visual project for their Residency that must be able to be exhibited in a gallery setting. The subject of the project shall be identified by the applicant, but proposals must be a creative inquiry of the Canal and consider a fuller, more complete account of the Canal’s past, present, and future than what has traditionally been told. The applicant shall identify their target audience(s) and how their project will be shared with that audience and with the public-atlarge. While studies of Canal communities are encouraged, the Canal and its context must be central to the project. Projects may focus on key areas of the Canal or the entire system. The New York State Canal System includes 524 miles of navigable waterways and 365 of multi-use trails. Artists should consider that scale when developing their proposal.

Residency Structure: Two (2) Artists will be selected for Residencies in 2027. The NYS Canal Corp. will facilitate introductions and connections to Canal Corp. staff and access to Canal facilities as needed. The Residency will include an exhibition of the Artists’ residency work at a museum/gallery venue TBD along the Canal corridor in 2028.

Artists must engage with the public. The two (2) selected Artists will participate in two (2) joint virtual panels discussing their work. One panel will be a brief introduction in early 2027 during a program concluding the 2026 Erie Canal Artist Residencies, and the second panel will be in early 2028 in a program concluding the 2027 Erie Canal Artist Residencies and introducing the 2028 Artists. Artists will also participate in a reception for their exhibition in 2028. Artists must also develop, in collaboration with the AIR partners, at least one (1) additional public-facing event during the course of the Residency for the public to engage with and understand the Artist’s process.

The selected artists must coordinate a visit to the Museum and a tour with the Canal Corp. prior to submitting a work plan. While a project must be proposed as part of the application, a final work plan will be required by March 1, 2027. Each Artist’s final project should include work that can be displayed in a gallery setting. Artists may incorporate text and other media into their work. It is intended that final projects from the Residencies will be used to develop a joint exhibition and catalog in 2028, as well as add to the Erie Canal Museum collection. Artists must deliver their work to the exhibit site by an agreed upon date, and the exhibit will be installed by museum/gallery staff.

In consultation with the Artist, project organizers will retain work(s) from the project, as well as the right to publish, with prior Artist approval, selections from the project. Throughout the Residency, the Artist, Museum, and Canal Corp., will have regular virtual or in-person check-in meetings to assist in project development. It is expected that the Residency is a part-time commitment for the Artist.

Location: The Artists shall focus on the New York State Canal system which includes the Erie, Oswego, Cayuga-Seneca and Champlain Canals, and the Erie Canalway Trail. A workspace is not included in this Residency