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 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.

APPLICATIONS OPEN JANUARY 1, 2026

2026 Aurora Workspace Residency

The Aurora Workspace Residency offers a two-week intensive work period for experimentation, research, and development of new or ongoing projects.

While the Aurora Workspace Residency is open to proposals without limitation to subject, style, or working method, priority for the residency will be given to projects that require use of Aurora’s darkroom and/or digital lab.

Read more about the equipment and chemistry available in Aurora’s darkroom and digital lab here.

TIMEFRAME OF RESIDENCY

Upon acceptance, Aurora will work with the resident to schedule the two-week, continuous period of the residency in 2026, with the possibility of also scheduling the 2026 residency in January 2027.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE RESIDENCY

Up to two (2) Aurora Workspace Residencies will be awarded in 2026. The residency includes:

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

* Aurora darkroom and digital lab access. Free to residents: Basic darkroom chemistry and use of Aurora’s flatbed and camera-based scanners. Digital printing rates apply to all prints made by residents: .09 p/sqi if you use our paper, or .05 p/sqi if you bring your own paper.

* Lodging for out-of-town residents. Residents of Marion County will not receive lodging.

* 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.

Indiana and Indianapolis residents are eligible and encouraged to apply.

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

Aurora will remain open to the public and its members during the Aurora Workspace residencies. Every effort will be made to schedule member usage of the darkroom and digital lab to not conflict with the residency timeframe.

After the 2026 Aurora Workspace Residents are announced, Aurora’s staff will work with each 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.