Open Call for the 92Y Jewelry Center Artist Residency 2026

For 150 years, 92NY has been a world-class cultural institution where people around the world connect through culture, the arts and entertainment.

92NY’s Jewelry Artist Residency is a juried residency for cutting-edge, emerging and established jewelry artists to develop their work in the multifaceted New York City art scene. For a month during the summer, the Residency will provide the opportunity for an international artist with a studio-based practice to develop a new body of work or complete research while engaging with NYC’s cultural community. A rotating panel of experts and professionals in the arts and humanities will independently review applications and materials.


Jonathan Wahl, Director of 92NY’s Jewelry Center said, Now in its seventh year, this residency is unique, the only one solely devoted to jewelry artisans and based in NYC, and we look forward to welcoming another artist. The International Jewelry Artist Residency includes housing in a 92NY Residence, access to a 24-hour private studio working space, and travel expenses to and from NYC. It offers the opportunity for an artist to share their distinct aesthetic, technical or design style with the NYC design community through a two-day lecture and workshop at the 92NY Jewelry Center during the last weekend of the residency, and through professional meetings with participating cultural institutions while expanding their artistic and professional development.

Proposals for the self-directed residences must be compatible with available working studio spaces, facilities, and resources. Artistic merit and promise are the basis for selections, but the relevance of how the NYC environment will affect the artist’s work is weighed highly in the selection process. Mature as well as emerging artists are encouraged to apply. The residency is awarded to one artist each year.

Eligibility
Residencies are intended as professional development opportunities for jewelers and metalsmiths. Proposals for self-directed, creative residencies must be compatible with available working studio spaces, facilities, and resources. Artistic merit and promise are the basis for selections but the relevancy of how the New York City environment will affect the artist’s work is weighed highly in the selection process.
Mature as well as emerging artists are encouraged to apply. The residency is awarded to one artist each year.

Deadline
Applications and supporting materials must be submitted by April 1, 2026 (with notification by May 1). Incomplete applications will not be accepted for review.

Duration of Residency
One month, August 18-September 14, 2026.

Awards
A rotating panel of experts and professionals in the arts and humanities independently review applications and supporting materials.
The International Jewelry Residency is for an individual artist and is not open to couples or collaborators. Unfortunately, the residency cannot accommodate spouses, children or partners during the term of the stay.

Reapplication
After one year has passed, previous residents may reapply for a residency by submitting a new application with new work. Artists who have applied previously may reapply by submitting a new application and new work.

Work Sample Requirements

• Work completed in the past two years.
• 10 digital images.

Residency Program Location
The International Jewelry Residency Program at The 92nd Street Y, New York is located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, New York City. The location is close to Museum Mile, which includes some of New York’s most important fine art and decorative art collections and connections on the 4, 5, and 6 subway lines to all major transportation.

Facilities
Residencies provide time, space and facilities for research, experimentation and production for work and ideas in jewelry and light metalwork. Residents are at liberty to structure their own time and activity. The resident is encouraged to have a plan of work and or study and an agenda of what they would like to accomplish during their stay. They may choose to maintain their privacy or to engage with New York City’s cultural institutions and relevant professionals. The Director of the program will help facilitate these meetings.

The resident is offered separate living accommodations and workspace. The living accommodation is a studio apartment with private bathroom and cooking facilities. The resident will have access to all four of the Jewelry Center’s studios, with one studio to be used as a permanent space to work for the duration of the program. The studios are equipped with soldering areas, relevant jewelry tools and equipment, silversmithing stakes and hammers, centrifuge casting equipment, polishing, grinding and tumbling equipment.


Applicant Financial Liability
There are no fees charged for the residency. Once the residency has been formally accepted, the applicant is responsible for any financial expenditures on their behalf relative to the residency if the applicant cancels their participation.

Children
Accommodations for children and family members are not provided.

Pets
Pets are not allowed.

Visitors
Accommodations for visitors are readily available in New York City.

Smoking
The 92nd Street Y, New York, is a smoke-free environment.

Privacy
All application materials and work samples are confidential and retained for use of the 92nd Street Y International Jewelry Residency Program only.

Community
Although no services are expected of residents during their stay, interaction within the community is welcomed and graciously supported.


More information, guidelines, and application submissions are available here.