Workspace Residency Program

The Workspace Residency is a short-term, media arts-focused residency program operated by Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center in Buffalo, New York. This program offers tailored support to artists and researchers across the United States who work within the scope of media arts. Residents receive access to a variety of resources including specialized facilities, advanced equipment, and technical consultation not only from Squeaky Wheel but also from community partners such as Buffalo Game Space, The Foundry, Mirabo Press, and Silo City. The primary goal of the residency is to foster the development of innovative media-based projects while building ongoing relationships with participating artists and researchers. Squeaky Wheel offers three distinct residency tracks: Artist Residency, Researcher Residency, and the Silo City Residency (summer only). Artist Residency supports work across a broad range of disciplines including film, video, virtual reality, game development, performance, installation, and sonic arts. Researcher Residency is aimed at scholars, writers, and curators exploring emergent media arts practices with outcomes such as publications, curatorial proposals, or critical essays. The Silo City Residency invites artists to develop site-specific performances or installations that utilize the unique sonic and architectural qualities of Marine A, a massive grain silo within the Silo City complex. Residents are expected to work independently, engaging in approximately 30 hours per week during their stay. The residency duration is two weeks in the Spring and three weeks in the Summer. Selected residents are provided with accommodations in a private room (non-local residents only) and travel reimbursements. Residents are expected to present their work publicly through two key events: a 20-minute artist talk and a 1.5–2 hour skill-share workshop. For Silo City residents, an additional culminating performance is required. Artist fees are paid for these events. Residents also participate in curated activities such as field trips, critiques, and studio visits. Eligibility requirements stipulate that applicants must have a valid U.S. Social Security Number and may not be full-time students unless nearing the end of a graduate thesis. Only one application is allowed per person, and previous local residents or solo exhibitors must wait two years before reapplying; for non-local applicants, the wait is five years. Staff and board members of Squeaky Wheel are ineligible, while contract employees may apply. All payments are issued via check. Applications are submitted via a Google Form and include a project proposal, biography, anticipated equipment usage, and a skill-share plan. Selection is handled by a panel of three community members who evaluate applications based on artistic merit, feasibility, potential impact, and the quality of the proposed skill-share. Panelists review work samples, engage in collective deliberation, and make final recommendations, which are vetted by staff for logistical feasibility. The application process does not carry a fee and typically takes 3–4 hours to complete. Squeaky Wheel encourages applicants to contact the program curator with questions and offers extensive guidance in their Application Instructions. While the Summer 2025 session has been suspended for program evaluation, future opportunities will be announced via Squeaky Wheel’s social media and newsletter.

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