visual arts and music residencies

Even prior to creating a formalized program, residencies have been a cornerstone of our mission. Before adopting the name Pioneer Works, our founding team proposed the "Museum of the Working Artist." While the name didn’t stick—the ethos did. We are deeply committed to providing emerging artists and musicians with a space to work, tools to create, and a platform to exchange ideas.

Each September, we select residents through an open call. Aided by a jury of experts and Alumni Residents, Pioneer Works welcomes those whose work is technically-skilled, genre-defying, and visionary. We also embrace those whose work exists outside the models and “norms” of their field and who will benefit from our unique facilities and culture. As such, Pioneer Works shifts and evolves to reflect the interests and work of each new cohort of residents, from public education offerings to Second Sundays, a monthly forum of artistic experimentation through activations, open studios, and performance.

All residents who complete the program join our ever-growing alumni network and are tapped for future opportunities like teaching, partnerships, and other public programs.

We host 12 Visual Arts Residents and 12 Music Residents each year.

The Visual Arts residency is 5 months, while the Music residency is 1 month.