RESIDENCIES AT
THE NICHOLSON PROJECT

The Nicholson Project’s Residency Program provides artists with the time, space, and support needed to further their practice. Click here to meet our current and past residents.

Welcome to The Nicholson Project! 2310 Nicholson Street SE, Washington, DC is a historic home, thoughtfully renovated into a stunning studio space for a full-time residency. These pictures show you the Residency Suite.

The Nicholson Project was founded with a deep commitment to providing artists with the time, space, and support to create and further their practice. We want you to feel 100% supported during your time at Nicholson and beyond. As part of your acceptance, you will receive the following:

• 10-week Artist Residency at The Nicholson Project (2310 Nicholson St. SE)

• $5,000 artist stipend

• Time and space to create

• Private access to the Residency Suite including an apartment with an artist studio attached. The apartment includes a fully furnished bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. See more details about the Residency Suite below.

• One-on-one support from our Managing Director and our Programs Manager

• Studio visits and consultation with a guest curator throughout your residency

• Introductions to other artists, curators, and others you would like to meet for research related to your practice

• Promotional support (press releases for residency, social media promotion, etc)

• Professional documentation of your work and headshots

• Up to $2,000 and staff support to develop and implement a Residency Project. Residency Projects are optional and you must apply for this funding after you are accepted into the Residency Program, see details below.

APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 RESIDENCIES ARE NOW CLOSED. APPLICATIONS FOR 2026 RESIDENCIES WILL OPEN SPRING 2025.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

WHO CAN APPLY?

We welcome emerging, mid-career, and established visual artists & designers, but also dancers, poets/writers, makers, chefs, gardeners, architects, engineers, and scientists too! Just let us know what you’re into and why Nicholson is a fit. Local and national creatives are encouraged to apply. Although our residencies are open to all artists, our focus is on BIPOC artists and those who live in or have ties to Southeast Washington, DC.

HOW DO I APPLY?

We use Slideroom to receive and review applications. It is free to make an account. There is a $15 non-refundable application fee.

WHEN CAN I APPLY?

Applications for 2025 residencies open on April 12, 2024, and close on May 13, 2024. Check back to this page or sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on The Nicholson Project’s activities.

WHEN WILL MY RESIDENCY BE?

Each residency is for 10 weeks. This year’s application will be to award residencies for the 2025 calendar year. In your application, you will be asked to indicate which periods work for your schedule. If you are selected then our staff will be in touch with you to set the exact dates.

WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS DUE?

Our upcoming application cycle (for 2025 residencies) closes on May 13, 2024, at 11:59 pm.

NOTIFICATION?

Notifications for this upcoming application cycle will be sent out by August 15, 2024.

WHO CHOOSES THE RESIDENTS?

Residents are chosen by a selection committee, including Nicholson staff plus outside community members, stakeholders, curators, and artists actively working in the arts community. Panelists for the upcoming application cycle are Stephanie J. Williams, Sheila McDaniel, and Chela Mitchell.

MEET OUR SELECTION COMMITTEE

Stephanie J. Williams is a tinkerer and doodler. Her work primarily navigates hierarchies of taste, unpacking how “official” histories are constructed in order to understand social coding. Her current projects include, Hospes, a short film, created using hand-built puppets and stop-motion animation, about the body as a political object supported by Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund and a DC Arts and Humanities Fellowship, and The Expectation of the Observed, an experimental short film that considers the unrecognized labor in having and being a body–a meditation on how much our bodies do not actually seem to belong to us, for Stone Quarry Art Park in Cazenovia, NY. She currently teaches stop motion at Maryland Institute College of Art.

Stephanie's recent projects have screened at the New Orleans Film Festival (Best Animated Short, 2022), Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival (Jury Citation, 2022), and the Atlanta Film Festival (2023) with support from the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund in Media Studies at Johns Hopkins University and multiple DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities Fellowships. Stephanie received her MFA in Sculpture from RISD, has shown in Fictions, part of the Studio Museum in Harlem’s F-show exhibitions, as well as with Washington Project for the Arts, Lawrence University, the Delaware Contemporary, and the Walters Museum as a Sondheim Finalist, amongst others, with residencies at Sculpture Space, Williams College, the Corporation of Yaddo, VCCA, and ACRE. She currently lives in Washington, DC, and maintains a studio in Baltimore, MD where she teaches stop motion for Maryland Institute College of Art.

Sheila McDaniel has over 30 years of nonprofit management experience, the last 25 of which were in executive positions overseeing change management processes, operations and administrative infrastructures, strategic planning, and financial management. She currently works as an independent consultant supporting organizations through various change management efforts. In her current engagement, she is serving as the Interim Executive Director of the Museum Association of New York. In September 2020, Sheila joined the National Gallery of Art in a historic appointment as the first Black woman to assume the role of Administrator/COO. As Administrator, Sheila served on the Executive team. She led teams critical to the museum’s operations: administrative support, architecture and capital improvement, facilities, horticulture, personnel, procurement, and security. She oversaw a division of 440 employees and an annual budget of $120 million for operations and facilities.

Before joining the National Gallery of Art, Sheila served 16 years as the Deputy Director, Finance and Operations at the Studio Museum in Harlem. At the Studio Museum, she was a vital member of the leadership team executing major strategic projects. This includes managing and overseeing the capital project to build a new 80,000 square feet LEED Silver purpose-built museum home on West 125th Street. In addition to capital project management, she led legal and financing efforts related to the project. Before joining The Studio Museum in Harlem, she was Associate Executive Director of Operations at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, Inc., an education and social service organization, where she was a member of the leadership team that successfully opened the Harvey Milk High School, a private/public partnership of the Hetrick-Martin Institute and the NYC Board of Education.

In addition to a bachelor’s degree in Economics, Sheila holds a Master’s of Public Administration from Baruch College. She has completed coursework towards a Doctor of Education in Adult Learning and Leadership at Teachers College-Columbia University.

Chela Mitchell is an art advisor and art dealer renowned for her expertise and passion for the art world. With an extensive background in the industry, Chela brings a wealth of knowledge and a discerning eye to her roles. Based on her deep understanding of contemporary art, her art advisory practice Chela Mitchell Art seeks to provide personalized guidance to collectors, corporations, and institutions seeking to build exceptional collections. Her keen ability to identify emerging talents and comprehensive knowledge of established artists make her an invaluable resource for clients navigating the ever-evolving art market.

A native of Southeast in Washington, D.C., she has credited the city for giving her an appetite for the arts and culture. In June 2023, she opened her eponymous gallery in the Union Market District in D.C. Chela Mitchell Gallery seeks out artists who push boundaries, challenge established norms, and bring forth fresh perspectives, providing a platform for their work to be showcased and appreciated.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the studios like?

The Residence Suite is self-contained with a fully furnished bedroom, 200 sq. ft. studio, bathroom, small kitchen, and washer/dryer. The Residency Suite is on the second floor of The Nicholson Project house; you can see a floor plan here. We have basic assets for the kitchen (stovetop, convection oven and microwave, full-size refrigerator. coffee maker and hot water kettle, pots and pans, dishes, etc). We also provide one set of towels and one set of bed linens, as well as a starter set of toilet paper, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies. Once selected you will receive a Residency Handbook that includes a full list of what we provide.

There is wifi and a small resource library with a growing collection of books recommended by previous and current Nicholson staff, artists, curators, and farmers.

You will need to bring all the equipment and supplies necessary to do your personal work. In the studio, we provide a large work table and stool, a writing desk and office chair, three rolling shelves/racks, a slop sink, and a basic black and white printer. We have a burgeoning collection of technology and other tools that you may request to have access to if they are available. We welcome residents to recommend supplies, equipment, or other needs so we can continue to build up the resources available to our artists. As mentioned, we will communicate with you prior to your arrival to see if we have access to the equipment you might need.

The Nicholson Project also runs a gallery on the first floor and a large, organic vegetable garden. In addition to the Residency Suite, on the second floor of the house is a staff office, and a second room that is used for storage, staff meetings, and on occasion is used as a second studio for visiting artists that are not living on-site. The Residency Suite is the only dedicated space for the Artist-in-Residence program. The staff offices/rooms and the storage areas, and the first-floor kitchen are not spaces for the residents to use. It’s important to understand that we have a variety of programs and activities going on year-round such as exhibitions, workshops, garden harvesting, etc, and while it is most often a quiet and peaceful place to work, we also have a vibrant schedule of activities and sometimes other people will be in the building working or our in the garden.

What’s expected of me as a resident?

• One open studio tour that is open to the public.

• One artist talk: in-person or virtual (Zoom, IG Live, etc)

• Monthly studio visits with our staff and guest curators; sharing in-progress artwork and allowing some photos and/or videos that we can share on our social media, newsletter, etc.

• There may be one or two additional activities we would like you to participate in, such as a small community dinner or reception. We will always let you know about these in advance.

• While you’re with us, there may be additional community dinners and other programs at The Nicholson Project that you are welcome to join but are not mandatory.
  

What are the fees?

None. Selected artists are awarded a $5,000 stipend to participate as an artist-in-residence at The Nicholson Project. You may also have access to up to $2,000 to implement a Residency Project, see details about this below. Residents are responsible for their own transportation to and from The Nicholson Project, and throughout their residency.

How long are residencies? Is there flexibility around scheduling?

Residencies are 10 weeks long and we have 3-4 residencies per year. We will work together to find the appropriate start and end dates for your time with us.

Can I travel while I’m a resident? Can I work on other projects or be in exhibitions?

We get that taking two and a half months out of your life may be difficult. If you need to travel for an exhibition or pertinent obligations while you’re completing your residency, just let us know. Residents are expected to be present at least 75% of the time during their ten-week residency. Our biggest goal is to have a positive impact on you, on your practice, and on our community. How can we best set up your time here to do that? Communication is key.

May I apply with a collaborator?

Sure, as long as you can work in the same studio, and keep in mind we only have one bedroom (with one queen bed). We would need you to let us know when and how long your collaborator is coming for. If you’re applying with a collaborator, you need to mention this in your application. The artist stipend remains the same with or without a collaborator.

Is there a privacy policy?

Privacy & solitude is a key focus of ours. One of our requirements is that no one may visit your studio without being specifically invited by you to do so. If we need you, we’ll call, text, or email you first.

Are meals served?

No. However, the studio space includes a full, eat-in kitchenette with a cooktop, micro/oven combo, full refrigerator, and sink with disposal in your residence. In season, The Nicholson Project runs a large neighborhood garden. Residents are encouraged to be involved and share in the produce, depending on the time of year you are in residence.

Is there somewhere I can do my laundry?

There is a washer and dryer available on site for use anytime, free of charge.

Are there any safety concerns?

No, but be aware that you are in a residential neighborhood in a bustling city. You will need to use common sense and your own discretion.

Residency Projects FAQ

• Are Residency Projects required as part of my residency? No

• What is a Residency Project? Residency Projects can be on-site or off-site activations, performances, or community-focused engagement projects to be completed within the timeframe of your residency. We are open and flexible, but we do have a limited budget and small staff, so we are committed to funding projects that work to fulfill our mission.

• Can the Residency Project be a gallery exhibition? For the most part, the answer is no. Our exhibitions are organized by our staff and through an open call. We have found that the time you are in residence is rarely enough time to fully develop and create an exhibition, as well as properly promote and handle all of the behind-the-scenes logistics. If you do want to do an exhibition as your residency project, we may consider this in certain cases (i.e. where you use your entire residency to build a site-specific installation). Feel free to email us if you have any questions.

• How does this work? After you are selected as an Artist-in-Residence, you are then eligible to propose a Residency Project. Proposals are due September 15th of the year prior to your residency (i.e. if your residency is in 2025, then your proposal is due no later than September 15th, 2024). Proposals should include a description of the project, any images, sketches, etc that might support your idea, and a budget. Our staff will review and then schedule a meeting to talk through any questions.

• Is there funding for the Residency Projects? Yes, you will need to submit a budget proposal for up to $2,000. Budgets should include line items and a breakdown of expenses. Examples of allowable expenses include fees for collaborating artists or speakers, contractors (i.e. if you want this to be documented then include the cost of the videographer, if you need fabricators to help build a structure, dancers, musicians, etc), materials, equipment purchase, or rental. You may not use this budget to pay yourself. We have a small inventory of tech equipment such as projectors, speakers, a camera, etc. If your budget includes purchasing certain equipment, note that The Nicholson Project will be the owner of this equipment.

Interested in becoming an artist-in-residence? Keep in touch for our next open applications