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 Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis (CAMi), Aurora offers two residencies in 2026: The Aurora + Herron Residency and the Aurora Workspace Residency. Artists may apply for both residencies depending on eligibility.

APPLICATION OPENs JANUARY 1, 2026

2026 Aurora + Herron Residency
August 10-21, 2026

The Aurora + Herron Residency, a collaboration between Aurora PhotoCenter and Herron School of Art and Design/IU Indianapolis since 2021, offers a two-week intensive work period in the Herron darkroom facility and studios for experimentation, research, and development of new or ongoing projects.

While the Aurora + Herron Residency is open to proposals without limitation to subject, style, or working method, priority for the residency will be given to projects that require the use of the world-class darkroom facility available at Herron.

Read about former Aurora + Herron Residents and their projects by clicking on their names: Tarrah Krajnak, Eli Craven, Priya Kambli, William Camargo, and Shawn Bush.

Read more about the Herron Photography Department’s darkroom and studios facility, click here.

Timeframe of Residency

The 2026 Aurora + Herron Residency will take place from August 10-21, 2026. The timeframe for this residency is fixed and can’t be rescheduled.

While there is some flexibility on arrival and departure days, please do not apply for the 2026 Aurora + Herron residency unless you can commit to the full duration of the residency from August 10-21, 2026.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE RESIDENCY

One (1) Aurora + Herron Residency will be awarded in 2026. The residency includes:

* A $1,000 unrestricted stipend. Collaborative projects will split the $1,000 stipend.

* Darkroom access with basic chemistry supplied. Please inquire about specific chemistry supplied.

* Onsite darkroom and studio support by Herron Photography Technician Benjamin Martinkus

* Lodging on the CAMi campus

* Up to $500 travel reimbursement for approved travel expenses to and from the residency. Travel expenses incurred without prior approval will not be reimbursed.

Artists in residence will purchase and manage their own:

* Materials and supplies outside of the basic chemistry supplied
* Meals
* Laundry
* Transportation during the residency

Please note that while residents are not excluded from future exhibition opportunities at Aurora, an Aurora exhibition opportunity is not included in the residency.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR 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 for approved travel expenses.

Artists who exhibited at Aurora PhotoCenter in 2025 are not eligible to apply for the 2026 Aurora + Herron 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.

Residency Expecations

Artists in residence will work independently and manage their own work schedules and goals; artists will also supply and manage their own meals, laundry, and transportation. During the residency, interaction with the local arts community, or public talks or performance, will be encouraged and facilitated, but not required.

Residents will be asked to give a talk about their work and residency experience at a mutually-agreed upon time, either during the residency or after the residency via Zoom.

Lodging for the 2026 Aurora + Herron Residency will be on the CAMi campus. Residents will respect all rules and guidelines required of residents staying at CAMi.

After the 2026 Aurora + Herron Resident is announced, Aurora’s staff will work with the resident prior to arriving in Indianapolis to make any introduction and connections that may be helpful. Aurora’s staff is also available for support and feedback on work during the residency.

2026 Application Timeline and Selection Process

Application Opens: January 1, 2026
Application Deadline: March 31, 2026
All Applicants Notified of Status via Email: On or before May 1, 2026
2026 Aurora + Herron Residency Period: August 10-21, 2026

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 2026 Aurora + Herron Resident will be selected by a 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.


* Facility merit: Degree and nature of proposed Herron darkrooms and facility use.


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

The Aurora + Herron Residency would not be possible without the following partnerships.

Herron School of Art + Design will supply darkroom access, basic chemistry, and onsite support during the residency. Aurora PhotoCenter thanks Herron School of Art + Design for its generous support of this residency.

The 2026 Aurora + Herron Resident will stay at CAMi in their artist bed and breakfast located on Cruft Street in the Garfield Park area of Indianapolis. Aurora PhotoCenter thanks CAMi for generously supporting this residency. Our partnership is part of a program for visiting artists working in different genres staying and working at the CAMi campus all year round.