Apply 2024 Aurora Project Residency

Aurora PhotoCenter’s residencies offer invaluable opportunities for artistic development and highlight our Indianapolis arts community as a center of creative production. In collaboration with our partners, including Herron School of Art + Design and Tube Factory Artspace, Aurora offers two residencies in 2024: The Aurora Project Residency and the Aurora + Herron Residency. Artists may apply to both opportunities for 2024, if appropriate for their creative goals.

2024 Aurora Project Residency

The Aurora Project Residency offers a two-week intensive work period for experimentation, research, and development of new or ongoing projects. While the Aurora Project Residency is open to proposals without limitation to subject, style, or working method, priority for the residency will be given to projects that engage and incorporate the place and people of Indianapolis. Upon acceptance, Aurora will work with the resident to schedule the two-week, continuous period of the residency in 2024.

Up to two (2) Aurora Project Residencies will be awarded in 2024. The residency includes a $2,000 stipend*, a place to stay; and complimentary access to Aurora PhotoCenter’s workspaces for the duration of the residency. The residency is open to all artists working in photography or photo-based media. Artists from any country or region may apply; artists are responsible for travel arrangements to and from Indianapolis, Indiana, for the residency, with travel reimbursement up to $500.

Artists are expected to manage their own work schedules and goals; artists will also manage their own meals and laundry. During the residency, interaction with the local arts community will be encouraged and facilitated. Residents will be asked to give a talk about their work and residency experience at a mutually-agreed upon time after the residency.

Please note that due to limited space and resources, Aurora does not currently support friends, family members, children, or pets accompanying artists during residencies.

* Collaborative projects will split the $2,000 stipend.

2024 Application Timeline and Selection Process

Application Opens: January 1, 2024
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024
All Applicants Notified of Status via Email: On or before May 1, 2024

All submissions must be received by the stated deadline in order to be considered. Due to the high number of applications, Aurora is not able to provide individualized feedback on applications.

The 2024 Aurora Project Resident(s) will be selected by a review panel comprised of Aurora PhotoCenter board members, Indianapolis art community members, and art advisors and professionals. The primary criteria for selection include: 


* Artistic merit: Quality, nature, and consistency of the work samples and degree to which samples support proposed residency goals.


* Project merit: Potential for the creation of new and significant research/work during the residency.


* Engagement merit: Degree and nature of proposed engagement with the place and people of Indianapolis.


* Feasibility merit: Potential for artist to maximize residency opportunity and resources. 

The Aurora Project Residency would not be possible without the following partnership.

Pending scheduling, Tube Factory Artspace will donate lodging for this residency in their artist bed and breakfast located on Cruft Street in the Garfield Park area of Indianapolis. Aurora PhotoCenter thanks Tube Factory Artspace and Big Car for generously supporting this residency. Our partnership is part of a program for visiting artists working in different genres staying and working at the Tube Factory campus all year.