Workspace Residency Program

Squeaky Wheel’s Workspace Residency is a media arts-focused program designed to support artists and researchers through short-term residencies that enable the development or completion of innovative media-based projects. The program is open to applicants from across the United States, including Buffalo, where Squeaky Wheel is based. Participants are provided with tailored access to facilities, equipment, and technical support from both Squeaky Wheel and partner organizations including Buffalo Game Space, The Foundry, Mirabo Press, and Silo City. This collaborative network ensures that residents have the necessary resources and infrastructure to advance their creative or scholarly projects in media arts. The residency supports a wide range of practices including experimental film, non-fiction storytelling, curatorial research, sound work, video game development, installation, and performances that explore critical and historical dimensions of media. Artists can apply under three tracks: Artist Residency, Researcher Residency, or Silo City Residency. The Silo City track specifically invites proposals for public performances at the iconic Marine A structure, encouraging projects that engage its distinctive industrial and ecological features. Across all tracks, the program is tailored to accommodate project-specific needs and supports projects at any stage of development. Selected summer 2026 residents will participate in the three-week residency from August 14 to September 5, 2026. Each receives a $1,400 stipend and $300 in artist fees, with an additional $500 fee for Silo City Residents. Non-local residents are eligible for up to $400 in travel reimbursement and can request up to $1,400 in optional financial assistance for childcare or disability support. Out-of-town participants are housed in private accommodations. Residents are expected to work approximately 30 hours per week and present two public components: a 20-minute artist talk and a workshop or lecture. Silo City Residents also conclude their residency with a public performance. The submission process for the Summer 2026 residency opens on January 26, 2026, and closes on February 27, 2026. The application includes the opportunity to attend virtual information sessions on January 26 and February 3, 2026, and to book a one-on-one meeting with Curator Ekrem Serdar for individualized feedback from January 26 through February 14. Notifications of acceptance will be issued on May 15, 2026. Applications are limited to one per person, and eligibility requires a U.S. Social Security Number or ITIN. Full-time students are generally not eligible, though graduate students nearing thesis completion may be considered. The residency welcomes artists, curators, scholars, and others working with media arts to define their practices and contribute to the growing discourse around emergent technologies and their societal implications. Facilities available to residents include new high-performance Mac Studio editing stations and professional-level audio-visual equipment. The program is self-directed, yet residents benefit from structured engagements, including critiques, studio visits, and community events coordinated by the residency’s curator. Over 50 past residents have gone on to receive further opportunities with Squeaky Wheel, including exhibitions and screenings, reflecting the organization's commitment to sustaining long-term relationships with its alumni. Workspace Residency is supported by several public and private funders, including the County of Erie, National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Teiger Foundation, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. These contributions enable Squeaky Wheel to maintain a comprehensive residency experience that integrates technical access, creative exploration, and community participation. The program’s ongoing updates—such as expanded equipment access and increased stipends—demonstrate a commitment to adapting in response to residents’ evolving needs and emerging artistic practices.