2027 Artist-in-Residence Program

Light Work is a non-profit photography center in Syracuse, New York, founded in 1973. Its Artist-in-Residence program — running for over five decades and counting more than 400 alumni — is one of the longest-running photography residencies in the United States. Past residents have included photographers who went on to MacArthur Fellowships, museum acquisitions, and major editorial careers; the alumni list is treated as part of the program's identity.

Each cycle, twelve to fifteen artists are selected for a one-month residency at Light Work's facility (316 Waverly Avenue, Syracuse). Residents receive a $7,500 stipend, a furnished apartment near campus, 24-hour access to Light Work's digital lab and darkroom, and on-staff support. Each resident's work is published in Contact Sheet, Light Work's annual publication, with a commissioned essay.

Eligibility is open globally to artists working in photography or image-based media. There is no application fee. The program is in partnership with Autograph ABP and the Darryl Chappell Foundation, which jointly support specific residency lines for British photographers and Black photographers respectively.

Applications are submitted through SlideRoom (with a physical mail option for those who require it). The 2027 cycle deadline is July 1, 2026. The selection committee reviews applications in late fall, with notifications sent in December.