2025 LAB MFA - Summer Residency and Exhibtion

Opportunity: LAB MFA - Summer Residency and Exhibition  

Application Deadline:  11:59pm EST March 16th, 2025

Eligibility: Artists currently enrolled in MFA studio art programs in the U.S. during spring 2025 

*first, second or third year students can apply

Join us for an info session on Sunday March 2 at 1pm PST/4pm EST. - click for zoom link

*Residency opportunity dates: May 23 - July 7th, 2025

*Artists can stay as long as they wish during Residency opportunity period, minimum 30 days, as long as their installation is completed by June 14th and they are present for any committed public programs. Note residence second bedroom may be occupied by another artist at some point during this time period. 

Exhibition dates: June 14- July 7th, 2025

Opportunity Description: 

LAB MFA is an opportunity for graduate-level students in the U.S. to kickstart their career with a show in a nationally-recognized alternative art space. Artists have one month to submit project proposals for activation/exhibition in our 625 sq. ft. Project Room. The Residency opportunity, with accommodations provided, is May 23-July 7 with final projects, performances and/or activations presented in the Project Room between June 14-July 5, 2025. Residency dates are flexible, but 30 days required.

This year’s focus is on digital and new media projects that push the boundaries of art and technology-driven artistic practices. We’re looking for proposals that expand an artist’s conceptual scope, scale, or media, with a strong emphasis on interactivity and hybrid approaches integrating physical and/or virtual experiences. Artists working in AI-generated art, VR, AR, video-based works, and code-based art are encouraged to apply along with all visual arts disciplines - all innovative approaches to incorporating new media and technology in your practice are considered. 

SEE EXAMPLES FROM RECENT DIGITAL COMMISSIONS 

Open Call review by rotating panel of past LAB MFA artists, and local academics, and curators. Notification before April 30.

Selected artists receive a $1,500 stipend, a $1,750 production budget covering materials, shipping, fabrication, travel support, access to AV and other equipment and workspace, and a four-week residency in Miami. 

Artists can apply as individuals or two-person collaboratives presenting a singular project splitting fees and sharing the residence. Special consideration will be given to artists presenting work directly related to their MFA studies, thesis, or artists who have never realized a solo exhibition before. Projects can be existing thesis works in-progress. Locust Projects is not a commercial gallery; we do not offer artist representation.

To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in an MFA program during the spring of 2025.

LAB MFA RESOURCES AND SUPPORT

• Artist stipend: $1,500.
• Production budget: Up to $1,750 (includes production, fabrication, equipment rental, materials, specialized lighting, professional/technical support, and public programs).
• Travel support: $500 stipend towards travel to/from Miami for out-of-town artists.
• Residency accommodations: Free accommodations for approximately four weeks near Locust Projects.
• Basic infrastructure: Access to AV equipment, tools, and supplies; up to 20 hours of preparator/contract labor assistance during install/de-install.
• Public programming: Artists will commit to creating public programming, such as DiLL conversations, performances, or collaborations, paying collaborators based on W.A.G.E. standards.
• Cross-disciplinary collaborations with Miami-based organizations or individuals are encouraged.
   

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS. Please provide the following information in Submittable.  

1. Project proposal (350 word max.) Provide a summary of your proposed project, describing both its conceptual and physical aspects and how it will be realized. If you are graduating this year, explain how this project builds on your MFA thesis work. If you are graduating in the future, describe how it leads to your MFA thesis project. (350-word max)
2. Draft floor-plan/rendering of proposed project - see attached PDF for floor plan and images
3. Artist Statement (max. 150 words); can also be a 1 min video submission
4. Letter of recommendation from a current professor (it can be attached or emailed directly to submissions@locustprojects.org. If it is emailed, please include an attachment in your application noting who is sending the recommendation and that it will be emailed directly to submissions@locustprojects.org).
5. Work Samples. Upload 6 images of recent/ related work. If you have video based work you can put up to 3 video links in your application. You must provide at least 2 examples of previous work.
6. Work Sample Descriptions. Please list the image file name with title, medium, dimensions and year for the images you attached in the image samples section.
7. Artist resume or CV. Please include artist contact information (no more than 2 pages).
    

 Please send questions to submissions@locustprojects.org.