2026 Post-Graduation Residency at the Torpedo Factory Art Center

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2026 POST-GRADUATION RESIDENCY

TORPEDO FACTORY ART CENTER

FREE TO APPLY   .   DUE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31 BY 12:00 PM (NOON) 


The Torpedo Factory Art Center Post-Graduation Residency is a competitive juried program that provides meaningful support and a three-month term studio space in the nation’s longest continually operated community of publicly accessible artists’ studios in a converted industrial space.  


The 2026 Post-Graduation Residency will offer two guaranteed residency opportunities: 

  1. February – April 2025 
  2. May – July 2025 


Additionally, there may be two opportunities available in the latter half of the year, offered to applicants of this call. 

  1. August – October 2025 
  2. November 2025 – January 2026 

 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM 

The 2026 Post-Graduation Residency is open to recently graduated art students who earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the visual arts from an accredited university or college. This residency program is unique because it addresses the critical post-graduation juncture in an emerging artist’s career, offering an opportunity for professional development, interaction with the public, and a chance to define independent work process outside of the academic context.  

Selected artists will receive a free studio space and will have the opportunity to be active participants in the Art Center’s unique creative community, benefiting from engagement with local, national, and international artists. Artists will be encouraged to be active in the Art Center's programing. 

Artists may apply as partners to share a studio (two artists), or apply solo, depending on preference. If two artists are accepted together, they will share the studio space for the residency term and the stipend. The application is free. More information below.  

 

TO APPLY:  Complete the application found here. Each artist shall: 

  • Upload 10 images (or video) of their most recent body of work. Image should be high-resolution (300 DPI). 
  • Rank preference of Residency dates (listed above). 
  • Provide a short Biography of 150 words or less. 
  • Provide a short Artist Statement of 200 words or less. 
  • Provide a short Statement of Interest of 200 words or less. This should address how you would benefit from having a residency at the Art Center. 
  • Provide a short Statement on Community Engagement of 200 words or less. This should address residency goals related to engaging with visitors of the Art Center. 
  • Provide a short Artist Process statement of 200 words or less. This should explain how you make your art, including what materials or equipment you use. 
  • Upload a current Artist Resume or CV. 
  • Upload proof of living in the greater Washington DC region, defined below, such as a driver’s license, local or federal ID containing your address, or other proof of residency such as a utility bill addressed to you. 
  • Provide the contact information of two references who can speak to your work ethic, university experience, and/or community participation. References will only be contacted for applicants who advance to Phase II.  


ELIGIBILITY  

  • Completion of Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree with a focus on the visual arts from an accredited university or college within the past 5 years. 
  • Must have residency in the greater Washington DC region, defined here as being within 40 miles, or less than a one-hour commute, from the Art Center. 


RESIDENCY BENEFITS  

  • Free use of an exclusive highly visible studio in Torpedo Factory Art Center with utilities included. 
  • $500 stipend per residency term for supplies or other expenses. Opportunities for additional income may be offered throughout the year. 
  • Featured on torpedofactory.org with images, links, and artist statement. 
  • Support from Torpedo Factory Art Center staff and the network of Art Center studio artists and galleries. Potential public presentation opportunities. 
  • Opportunities to interact with the Art Center’s more than 500,000 annual visitors. 
  • Access to the studio between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m., which includes use of utility sinks, a spray booth, mail delivery, loading dock, bathrooms and an on-site building manager during public hours. 
  • Ability to sell art from the studio, with no commission, with a City of Alexandria business license. Selling art is not required. 
  • Within walking distance from dining and entertainment and easily accessible from the King Street Metro Station, Alexandria VRE, DASH Bus stops, and Capital Bikeshare. 

Housing and travel are not included. If selected, please contact the staff, at least a month before your residency, if you require special equipment or accommodation. This residency does not include access to a kiln, printmaking equipment, or a dark room. 

 


ARTIST REQUIREMENTS  

  • Selected artists must commit to working in the studio for a minimum of 24 hours per week during the building’s public open hours (a minimum of 36 hours is required if two artists share the residency). The Art Center is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. with occasional early closures for private events. See TorpedoFactory.org for full list of center hours. 
  • Selected artists are required to lead one public facing program during the term of their residency, coordinated and supported by Art Center staff. 
  • Art media/artwork restrictions include: media that produces toxic fumes and artwork that requires continuous loud noise. For artists wishing to use media of a toxic or hazardous nature, please consult the Operation Rules and Procedures for applicable requirements and regulations. A spray booth of limited size is available for toxic media. 


SELECTION PROCESS 

Artists will be selected through a two-phase process: 

  • Phase I: Applications will be ranked by an external panel of jurors based on selection criteria below. 
  • Phase II: The top finalists will be invited to participate in a virtual interview with staff and members of the task force. Applicants will discuss their commitment to the opportunity and their personal goals for the residency. References will be contacted for Phase II finalists. 

Top scoring applicants will be offered a residency and date selection based on the ranking of their scores. A wait list will be created based on scores. Visit torpedofactory.org/resources to find helpful tips for applying. 

 

JURORS 

TBA 

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

PHASE I  

Note that quality of artwork and the artist statement are most heavily weighted in the review process. 


QUALITY OF ARTWORK AND ARTIST STATEMENT:  50% 

  • Does this applicant exhibit a strong understanding of contemporary art practices? 
  • Does the artwork reflect a strong understanding of visual and technical skill?
  • Does this artist display a clear vision and cohesion of artwork in their portfolio? 
  • Does their work and statement offer a perspective through subject matter, theme, or medium? 
  • Does their statement and artwork display a cohesive connection and comprehensive body of work? 


ARTIST PRACTICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: 25% 

  • Does the artist articulate their art making practice in a way that represents a mastery of their chosen medium(s)? 
  • Does the artist describe their practice and process in a way that is accessible to an average visitor? 
  • Does the artist demonstrate a clear understanding of their intentions for the residency? 
  • Does the artist articulate successfully how they will utilize the given studio space? 
  • Does the artist clearly and successfully describe how they will engage with the public while in the studio? 


PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT: 25% 

  • Based on the content of the application and resume, does the artists display strong professionalism and commitment? 
  • Does this artist based on their responses and resume show a commitment to the DC metropolitan arts community? 


PHASE II

  • Interviews with the finalists from Phase I will be conducted with questions expanding on community engagement, artist practice, logistical needs, commitment to a public studio space, and adherence to the Operating Rules and Procedures of the Torpedo Factory Art Center. 
  • Finalist’s references will be contacted via phone or email during the interview phase. 


 

TIMELINE 

OCTOBER 31 BY 12:00 PM (NOON): All applications due via Submittable.  

BY DECEMBER 3: Notification of Phase I announced to applicants and selection of interview times. 

DECEMBER 8-11: Interviews of Phase II applicants.  

BY DECEMBER 19: Notification of outcome to Phase II applicants and selection of residency dates. 

FEBRUARY 1, 2026: First Residency Begins. 

 


TRANSPARENCY  

Torpedo Factory Art Center is committed to a transparent application process. Applicants will receive written feedback from the jurors on their application if requested at the conclusion of the process. 

 

EQUITY  

The Art Center values a diverse community of artists at all stages of their careers, regardless of formal art training, that reflect different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds, and different artistic media, styles, and forms of expression. 

For translation or reasonable accommodation, call 703.746.4570, Virginia Relay 711, or email torpedofactory@alexandriava.gov. The application will ask for applicants’ gender identity, disability status, language, ethnicity and/or race, and age. This information is voluntary and will not be shared with the Jurors and will hold no bearing on the scores. 

 

ABOUT THE TORPEDO FACTORY ART CENTER  

Torpedo Factory Art Center is the nation’s longest continually operated community of publicly accessible artists’ studios in a converted industrial space. A Washington D.C.-regional landmark for more than 50 years, the Art Center is located in a century-old munitions factory on Alexandria’s Potomac Riverfront. Each year, approximately 500,000 people visit. The community of about 80 working artists creates in a wide variety of media—painting, ceramics, photography, jewelry, glass, fiber, printmaking, sculpture, and more—in 70 studios and 10 galleries. Learn more at torpedofactory.org. 

The City of Alexandria owns and manages the Torpedo Factory Art Center through the Office of the Arts, a division of the department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. The City is currently considering new management options for the Art Center.  

 

QUESTIONS? CONTACT: torpedofactory@alexandriava.gov 

 

All applicants shall attest that all submitted information and work samples, including artwork and statements, is the applicants own work and comply with all provisions of the application. If found to be untrue, applicants will be removed from the process and/or will lose privileges awarded because of this process. The Art Center and City of Alexandria reserve the right to make changes during the application process to achieve the stated objectives of the City of Alexandria, alexandriava.gov. Aside from a written legal agreement signed by the City, the Art Center and the City of Alexandria are not bound to any specified course of action and will act in the best interest of the residents of Alexandria. If a juror recuses themselves from scoring an applicant based on a conflict of interest outlined in the juror’s agreement, or if a juror is unable to perform their duties for any reason, then the applicant shall be scored based on a percentage of the remaining jurors scores. As the Art Center is managed by the City of Alexandria, it is subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and therefore applications may be public information. Applicants shall not take actions to influence the jurors outside of the process outlined herein.  

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