local Open Call: DIY Publishing Residency at PS1 (spring 2025)

Iowa City-area artists are invited to submit a proposal for our DIY Publishing Residency: April 12-May 31, 2025. Deadline: Feb. 24, 2025

This residency is intended to support a local artist or collective who would benefit from dedicated time and space toward one or more creative projects in the realm of DIY publishing (zines, artists' books, comics, micro-press, etc.) and are excited about incorporating public engagement into their process.

The residency is open to:
• individuals or collectives (18 years of age or older)
• artists who already have DIY publishing as part of their creative practice OR would like to incorporate it into their current creative practice
• local artists (housing is not provided)

Benefits:
• 24/7 access to ~350 sq ft (largely*) private workspace on the first floor of 229 N. Gilbert (what is usually our gallery space!)
• access to shared studio equipment: DIY Publishing Studio (adjacent to the workspace) & IC Press Co-op main studio (equipment/space must be reserved in advance and is shared with ICPC members and PS1 workshops)
• up to 6 hours of training or technical consultation on print/binding equipment and/or design software
• $200 unrestricted stipend (the cost of consumable supplies available at the studio will be the responsibility of the artist(s))

Residents are expected to:
• *have their studio open during the building open hours (Fridays 4-6p and Saturdays 12-3p). Artists need not be present during this time but should be comfortable with the public coming into the space. This could take a number of different forms but ideally is an opportunity to exhibit process and/or past work or engage with the community.
• make use of the workspace an average 10 hours per week
• donate at least one work completed during the residency to PS1’s archive (negotiable if you are producing unique or very small run publications)

Support for this opportunity is provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Please direct questions to: kalmia@publicspaceone.com

 

Application info

  • Applications will be open through Feb. 24, 2025

  • Applications will be assessed on the following points:

    • clarity of proposal

    • quality and/or potential of work

    • fit with PS1/available resources

    • community engagement

    • impact on artist

  • If you need any additional information or accommodations in order to apply for this opportunity, please contact: kalmia@publicspaceone.com

FAQ

What equipment is available to use?
This residency is based around the IC Press Co-op’s DIY publishing studio, which includes a copier, color laser printer, RISO SF5130 (blue, yellow, black, and fluorescent pink drums), mimeograph, and equipment for staple, coil, and twin-loop binding, but artists are also welcome and encouraged to use the main ICPC studio and other resources offered at PS1. You can find the full list of ICPC studio equipment here.
We also have furniture that you can borrow to set up your workspace, if needed.

Can students apply?
Students are not excluded from applying, but should explain how they will make time for the residency in addition to their studies (and if relevant, how this opportunity provides resources they don’t already have access to).

Tell me more about this open studio hours thing…
The minimum requirement is that you are willing to have visitors walk into at least part of of your studio space during our open hours (Fri 4-6p & Sat 12-3p). The level of engagement is totally up to you, and can even shift during the course of the residency. Some options could include:
• making a small display of past work/inspiration/etc. at the front of the space and roping off your workspace area
• allowing visitors to walk through the full workspace (without touching! and putting away anything you’re not comfortable having on view
• being present during open hours to engage with visitors and/or inviting them to participate in an activity as part of or adjacent to your project

What do you mean by “artist”?
At PS1 we take an expansive view of the terms “art” and “artist”. In this case, the residency is open to anyone who has a creative practice of some kind. Visual artist, writers, performers, and folks who make objects but don’t use the term “artist” are very welcome to apply.

What is a residency?
A “residency” is a professional term used to describe a period of time dedicated to making progress on a creative project. Typically ranging anywhere from a weekend to a couple of years, residencies happen all over the world for artists at all stages of their careers, and some even include living space and meal programs. A studio residency may be used to read for research, make use of a specialized set of tools (like in a printshop or a foundry), dedicate time to finishing a project, or help an artist start something new. You do not need to be a professional artist to make use of this opportunity, but we like that you can use the experience as a professional building block if you wish.