Four Month Residency
Contemporary Craft’s National Residency program supports artists living outside of a 100 mile radius of Pittsburgh and working in small metals, jewelry, blacksmithing, fibers, weaving, papermaking, book arts, and small-scale woodworking. We will offer two, four-month residencies beginning at the end of August 2026. A Fall Residency from August 31-December 20, 2026, and a Spring Residency from February 1-May 23, 2027. Applicants should be practicing artists who are comfortable working independently in a studio environment.
National Artists-in-Residence will receive free furnished housing in a four bedroom home just a quick three-minute drive from Contemporary Craft, a private studio at Contemporary Craft, and access to our fully equipped community Studio spaces.
The National Residency is an independent, studio-focused residency.
Application Deadline: January 12, 2026, 11:59pm
Online Interviews: Late January / Early February
Notification: February 23, 2026
Residency Jurors:
Allison Hilton Jones, Director of Programs and Residencies, Contemporary Craft
Rachel Saul Rearick, Executive Director, Contemporary Craft
Dongyi Wu, Former CC National Artist-in-Residence, Contemporary Jeweler
Eligibility and Requirements
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and must be a non-Pittsburgh resident.
- Applicants must work in a medium that can be supported by the Studios at Contemporary Craft. Artists working in small metals, jewelry, blacksmithing, fibers, weaving, papermaking, book arts, and small-scale woodworking are encouraged to apply.
- Residents are responsible for travel to and from Pittsburgh.
- Residents must have their own transportation during the residency. Please note that a Google Map view of the distance between the residency house and Contemporary Craft does not accurately reflect the size of the hill between the two.
- Residents must bring all personal tools, equipment, and materials they need to complete their work (outside of tools available in the community Studio spaces).
- Residents will be required to select at least two options from the following menu to engage with the Contemporary Craft community during their residency:
- Teach a half-day or full-day workshop (residents will receive additional compensation for teaching above their residency stipend)
- Give an Artist Talk about their work and residency
- Sell work through the Store
- Engage with youth through Contemporary Craft’s community engagement programs
- Give an artist demo at a CC event
- Residents will be required to serve as an evening workshop greeter at least one evening per week to assist with directing students to respective studios and to engage with the student community.
- Residents will be required to donate a piece of their work to CC’s annual gala auction in the spring.
- Residents must complete a successful background check prior to the start of the residency.
Benefits
- Four-Month Residents receive free furnished housing in a 4 bedroom home just a quick 3-minute drive from Contemporary Craft. Residents will have a private bedroom, shared bathroom, full kitchen, living space, laundry, and parking.
- Residents will receive a $1,200 monthly stipend.
- Residents have access to Contemporary Craft from 9am-9pm daily.
- Residents receive private studio work space in the Raphael Building as well as access to all of Contemporary Craft’s community studio spaces.
Two-Week Summer Residency Retreats
Contemporary Craft is pleased to offer multiple Two-Week Summer Residency Retreats for artists in any stage of their career who are comfortable working independently in a studio environment. Artists should work in a medium supported by our Studios such as small metals, blacksmithing, jewelry, fibers, weaving, papermaking, book arts, and small-scale woodworking.
CC will offer two-week sessions throughout the summer and will host two Summer Retreat Residents per session. Residents will share a studio space in the Raphael Building at Contemporary Craft and receive housing in a four bedroom home just a quick three-minute drive from Contemporary Craft.
Application Deadline: January 12, 2026, 11:59pm
Online Interviews: Late January / Early February
Notification: February 23, 2026
Eligibility and Requirements
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and must be a non-Pittsburgh resident.
- Applicants must work in a medium that can be supported by the Studios at Contemporary Craft. Artists working in small metals, jewelry, blacksmithing, fibers, weaving, papermaking, book arts, and small-scale woodworking are encouraged to apply.
- Residents are responsible for travel to and from Pittsburgh.
- Residents must have their own transportation during the residency. Please note that a Google Map view of the distance between the residency house and Contemporary Craft does not accurately reflect the size of the hill between the two!
- Residents must bring all personal tools, equipment, and materials they need to complete their work (outside of tools available in the community Studio spaces).
- Residents must complete a successful background check prior to the start of the residency.
Benefits
- Access to Contemporary Craft from 9am-9pm daily
- Access to Contemporary Craft’s Community Studios
- Two weeks of uninterrupted studio time and the opportunity to meet and work with other artists
- Pittsburgh is Craft! The opportunity to visit other cultural institutions in an urban environment during your stay in Pittsburgh.
Residency Terms
- July 6-18, 2026
- July 27-August 8, 2026
- August 17-29, 2026
Fees
- Application: Free
- Residency Fee: $500 for the two-week residency retreat
- Housing Fee: $350 for two weeks (bedrooms will be assigned based on acceptance dates of residency offer.)
- Studio Fee: Additional studio fees may apply depending on studio consumables
