Gibbs Street Resident Artists 2025-2026: Free, Open Call
VisArts invites applications and proposals from local, national, and international artists for one of two six-month residencies at our studios in Rockville, Maryland. Studio space is provided free of charge. Artists receive a $3,000 stipend. Gibbs Street Artists in Residence present their work in culminating solo exhibitions.
Each year, VisArts’ Gibbs Street Artist Residency provides a unique opportunity for two dynamic individual artists or collaborative artist teams to create a new body of work, evolve an existing body of work, or develop a project in a stimulating, supportive environment over a period of six months.
Admission to VisArts’ Gibbs Street Artist Residency is highly selective, based on a review of applications by rotating panels of artists and art professionals, including painters, sculptors, film and video artists, photographers, installation artists, interdisciplinary artists, and independent curators.
VisArts is unable to provide assistance with visas for international artists.
VisArts’ Gibbs Street Artist Residency doesn’t provide artist housing.
Terms of Residency
Qualified applicants are professional individual artists or collaborative artist teams over the age of 18. Students and commercial artists aren’t eligible to apply.
Artists working in all media are welcome to apply, but VisArts can’t support the use of hazardous materials that require specific ventilation requirements.
The studio may be used only for art-making activities.
VisArts’ Gibbs Street Artist in Residence will be provided with a 169-square-foot studio, free of charge, for a period of six months. Each studio is equipped with a sink, Wi-Fi connection, and abundant natural light. Studio access is 24/7 except during special VisArts events (we’ll provide advance notice). The Artist must provide their own studio furniture.
VisArts’ Gibbs Street Artist in Residence is responsible for maintaining the studio in a safe and reasonably tidy manner, and won’t make alterations to the space without permission. The Artist must leave the studio in the state in which it was found and remove all belongings at the end of the Residency.
VisArts’ Gibbs Street Artist in Residence is responsible for acquisition of insurance and care of their materials and equipment. Artists who wish to have kilns and other equipment that require additional electrical use must obtain permission for each piece of equipment that they wish to use in their studio.
VisArts’ Gibbs Street Artist in Residence will:
- Maintain a regular presence in the Artist’s studio, with a recommended minimum of 28 hours/week.
- Participate in VisArts’ Studio Artist Program, which meets monthly to share ideas, community, and professional development.
- Attend exhibition opening receptions and artist talks, and welcome the public during them as well as at scheduled Open Studio events.
- Present an artist talk, workshop, screening, and/or other mutually agreed upon public event that engages the VisArts and greater Rockville communities and resources.
- Present a solo exhibition of work at VisArts at the end of their Residency.
Application and Selection Process
Requirements
Images:
- Applicants must submit up to 10 images of work produced during the last four years.
- Work samples can be a combination of high-resolution images and time-based media (up to 10 minutes total).
- For collaborative teams, 10 images of collaborative work are required along with a statement of the collaborative nature of the work.
- Two minutes of video, film, sound, or performance documentation equals one work.
- Artists may choose to include links to Vimeo or YouTube public accounts for time-based work samples.
Image Requirements
- .jpg, .tiff, .png, or .gif file format
- Minimum image resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Maximum file size: 5MB per image
- Files must be labeled as follows: first name last name-title of artwork-1.ext, first name last name-title of artwork-2.ext, etc. The file number corresponds with the number on the list of works form (e.g., John Doe-Untitled-1.jpg)
List of Works Form
- Applicants must provide a numbered list of artworks with the following information: artist name, title of artwork, year, and dimensions (description of artwork is optional).
- Resume/CV
- Artist bio (200 word maximum)
- Submit a third-person paragraph highlighting your professional achievements.
- Artist statement (100 words maximum)
- References
- Provide contact information for two references who can address your work as an artist
- Residency proposal
- Describe your goals for the Residency and how you might engage with the community or use community resources.
- You may include a drawing or representative images to help describe your proposal (250 words maximum)
Preferred Residency Dates:
Please indicate preferred Residency dates (first and second choice).
_____August 11, 2025-January 9, 2026
_____January 14, 2026-June 19, 2026
All of VisArts’ calls are free.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Incomplete applications won’t be reviewed.
VisArts NextGen 12.0 Exhibition: Free, Open Call
VisArts welcomes artists ages 17–27 in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area to submit their application for NextGen 12.0. The exhibit will be presented in the Gibbs Street Gallery from May 30 - July 20, 2025.
NextGen 12.0 is a unique opportunity for aspiring artists who have little or no exhibition experience to show their work in a professional gallery and participate in related programming, including: an opening reception and artist talks, conversations with other emerging artists, critiques with local curators and arts administrators - who work with young artists, and additional professional development opportunities.
Prior NextGen participants are ineligible. NextGen applicants who weren’t selected for previous exhibitions may re-apply this year.
NextGen 12.0 jurors:
Alex Ebstein - artist, independent curator, and Senior Program Manager for the Robert W Deutsch Foundation
Anisa Olufemi- artist, curator, and Director of Programs for the Hamiltonian.
Application Deadline: Friday, May 9, 2025
All application materials must be submitted online through our Submittable portal no later than 11:59 PM EST on Friday, May 9, 2025
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Submission does not guarantee acceptance. Selected artists will be notified by March 19, 2025.
Questions? Email M Aragon, Exhibition Programming Coordination, with the subject line: “VisArts NextGen 12.0 Open Call.”
Required Application Materials
· Application form
· Hi-res images with captions for up to five works of art. Images must be in .jpg, .tiff, .png, or .gif file format with a minimum image resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
· Film and video pieces are welcome; two minutes of video, film, sound, or performance documentation equals one work. You may submit up to 10 minutes of film or video in total. Videos must be in .mp4 or .mov file format.
· Artist statement (250 words maximum)
· Artist bio (150 words maximum)
· Resume/ CV
We realize it can be intimidating to create an artist resumé when you don’t have a lot of experience, but great resumés can be brief as long as they’re clear and well-organized. You can include experiences like exhibiting in student art shows, assisting at art camps, and teaching art classes.
Check out these resources, which will help you create a competitive application and develop your professional practices:
· Artist statement and artist bio
· Artist resumé
· Curriculum vitae (CV)
· Exhibition and sale of artwork
· Guidelines for presenting works in digital format
About VisArts
VisArts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our mission is to transform individuals and communities through the visual arts.
A hub for artistic exploration and social impact since 1987, VisArts brings people together through shared creative experiences, including:
· Critically acclaimed contemporary art exhibitions, programs + events
· Award-winning art classes, camps, and parties for children and adults
· Studio Artist and Emerging Curator programs
· VisAbility Art Lab and Accessible Arts Classes for artists with disabilities
· Community art workshops
· Art + Wellness programs
· Volunteer and internship opportunities
These inspire new ideas, encourage self-expression, embrace diverse perspectives, and celebrate the visual arts as fundamental to a connected community.