Request for Expressions of Interest: Chinatown Connections - Chinatown Welcome Gateway

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Percent for Art program, in conjunction with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), is issuing this Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for a qualified artist or artist team to serve as a design partner to create permanent public artwork serving as the Chinatown Welcome Gateway as part of the Chinatown Connections initiative.

CHINATOWN CONNECTIONS AND WELCOME GATEWAY BACKGROUND

Chinatown, Manhattan has long been a significant part of New York City history and cultural identity. It is a resilient neighborhood withstanding great challenges throughout the years, prompting a growing call for catalyzing change to revitalize the area. In response, The Chinatown Downtown Revitalization Initiative (“DRI”) Strategic Investment Plan (2022) was developed through robust coordination with local community members, organizations, and businesses. It highlights eleven projects aimed at improving the quality of life and economic opportunity for the area’s diverse residents, workers, entrepreneurs, and attracting visitors beyond. 

The City of New York is implementing multiple public realm improvements through Chinatown Connections derived from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Plan. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is leading the project in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) and NYS Department of State (NYSDOS). NYCEDC has procured Marvel as the Design Team Project Lead on Chinatown Connections. Marvel is an interdisciplinary collective driven by a collaborative and community-focused approach to creating responsible, beautiful spaces that reflect shared values. The multi-disciplinary practice is well-versed in shaping large scale, public realm projects in the complex urban environment of New York City. 

Chinatown Connections aims to celebrate the cultural heritage of Chinatown, improve multimodal circulation in the area, and support local economic development. Alongside (1) Redesigning Kimlau Square and (2) Beautifying Park Row – (3) Creating a Chinatown Welcome Gateway will serve to highlight the neighborhood’s cultural heritage. This is a piece of public art meant to reflect a longstanding community desire for an iconic symbol that demarcates a key entrance to Chinatown. 

The Welcome Gateway will be located in a redesigned Kimlau Square. Currently a six-point intersection with complex traffic movements, it will be redesigned as a standard four-way intersection with expanded public space, shorter pedestrian crossings, and direct bicycle connections. The Welcome Gateway will coexist with two monuments in Kimlau Square: The Kimlau War Memorial Arch and The Lin Ze Xu Statue. It should do so in a respectful and harmonious way to acknowledge this public space serves many local communities and is a highly traversed node in Chinatown. 

An essential aspect of Chinatown Connections involves robust community engagement. At the outset of the project the Chinatown Connections Working Group (CCWG) was formed, consisting of elected officials and community stakeholders to help guide the overall public engagement process and help make decisions on the project’s design and implementation. A Welcome Gateway Subgroup was simultaneously established, consisting of 6 community stakeholders focused on providing valuable feedback and guidance to culminate in Chinatown Welcome Gateway Design Brief. The brief outlines the principles, purpose, role, and impact the Welcome Gateway should ultimately embody and accomplish. To learn more, visit: https://edc.nyc/sites/default/files/2025-04/NYCEDC-Chinatown-Connections-Welcome-Gateway-Design-Brief.pdf

PROJECT BUDGET

The public artwork budget for this project is approximately $2.5M and must include all project costs, including but not limited to the following: artist’s fees, design services, community engagement, engineering, fabrication, travel, transportation of the work to the site, insurance, permits, installation, documentation of the artwork, and contingency. 

WHO MAY APPLY

Professional visual artists or artist teams, working in any and all mediums, legally authorized to work in the United States, and who are at least 18 years of age, are eligible to apply. Employees of the City of New York, Selection Panel Members (as defined in the following section) and their family members are not eligible to apply. If applying as an artist team, please identify the team member who will serve as the Lead Artist.

ARTIST / ARCHITECT COLLABORATION

The artist selected for the Chinatown Connections - Chinatown Welcome Gateway project will work as part of an artist / architect collaboration with the Chinatown Connections Design Team Project Lead (Marvel). This process allows for greater integration of the artist’s vision into the Kimlau Square redesign.

In this process, the artist does not begin with a pre-conceived proposal but rather joins the project team while the capital project is still in the early phases of design development. The artist works in tandem with the design team to align their vision into the larger capital project. The artist’s scope of work is focused on the design of the artwork and then serves in an advisory capacity for the fabrication and installation of their final design. Design development will be led by the artist and architect together, supported by NYCEDC and DCLA. Fabrication and installation of the artwork is the responsibility of NYCEDC and the procured construction manager, with support from the artist and DCLA.

ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS

In accordance with the NYC Percent for Art program, a Selection Panel will be formed consisting of:

Voting Panelists: DCLA Commissioner or Designee (Panel Chair); Representative of the Percent for Art Program (DCLA); Representative of the Design Agency (NYCEDC); Representative of the Sponsor Agency (NYCDOT); Representative of the Design Team (Marvel); Members of the public who are arts professionals and knowledgeable about contemporary art and the community where the project is taking place.

Advisory Panelists: Local Council Member, Borough President, and Community Board representatives; Chinatown Connections Working Group members; Chinatown Connections Welcome Gateway Subgroup members; Representatives from the Public Design Commission; Program staff from DCLA, NYCEDC, NYCDOT, and NYC Parks; Other community members.

The selection process is organized in two phases:

Phase One

Phase One includes the completion of this RFEI. To respond to this RFEI, see the application instructions below.

Interested artists will submit a statement of interest and artistic approach, artist’s statement and biography, examples of past work that highlight relevant experience and other requested supplementary materials. Proposals are not requested and will not be reviewed by the panel.

In the applications, DCLA and the Selection Panel will consider:

• Level of artistic professionalism and demonstrated artistic practice
•  Ability to collaborate with a design team.
• The artist’s previous experience working closely with communities.

 The City, in partnership with the Selection Panel, will select Finalists to proceed to Phase Two of the selection process.
 

Phase Two

Finalists will be invited by DCLA to participate in a design charrette (a collaborative design planning activity) with the design team to discuss their creative practice, working process and artistic approach, and to brainstorm possibilities for the project. Panelists (including community members) may attend the charrettes virtually and may submit questions to be integrated into the conversation. The charrette format emphasizes the collaborative relationship between the artist and design team.

Prior to the charettes, Finalists will be briefed on project details and expectations for the charrettes at an orientation meeting. Artist deliverables for the charrettes may include a presentation highlighting past work, approach to project, case studies, working style and approach to community engagement. Finalists will receive an honorarium of $500 for participation in the charrettes.

Following the charrettes, the design team, in conversation with the project team and panel members, will decide which artist is best suited to collaborate on this project.

TENTATIVE TIMELINE

• Artist Applications Due: June 15, 2025, 11:59 PM EST
• Phase One: June 2025
• Phase Two: July 2025 – August 2025
• Artwork Design Development: September 2025 to January 2027
• Artwork Fabrication: Coordinated with construction schedule
• Artwork Installation: Coordinated with capital project completion, anticipated January 2030

PHASE ONE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Submissions will only be accepted using the online application program. There is no submission fee. Submissions must be made online through https://nyculture.submittable.com/submit.  
 

Interested artists must submit all of the following application materials online:

1. Statement of Interest and Artistic Approach (250 words max):

• Explain your interest in this project. 
• What aspects of your artistic process and body of work would you seek to bring to this project?
• Share examples of past collaborations. How do you see yourself partnering with the design team on this project? 
• If you are applying as an artist team, your response should reflect the work and approach of the team. 

 
2. Artist's Statement (250 words max) :

• Explain your creative process, including your motivations, inspirations behind, mission, and methods.
• Describe the role of community engagement in your practice.
• Note: The artist statement should cover “why” you do things rather than “who you are”. If you are applying as an artist team, your response should reflect the work and approach of the team. 

 
3. Artist Bio (250 words max) 

A brief description of “who you are”, including your life and artistic career.

4. Resume or CV (2 pages max): 

Provide a current resume or CV, highlighting artistic excellence, any teaching experience, community engagement work, and/or experience working with multiple stakeholders. Be sure to include any relevant public or private commissioning experience. If you are applying as an artist team, combine your information into a two-page document that summarizes the team members’ qualifications. For example, a four-member team may choose to include a half-page bio for each team member. 

 
5. Work Samples:

Provide 10-15 digital images in JPEG format of recent works and/or past work relevant to this project. If you are applying as an artist team, designate one artist to be the team leader to submit your information, along with team member(s) images and resume/bio(s). Submissions from artist teams should reflect samples from each artist on the team and not exceed the overall submission limit of 10-15 images.

6. Work Sample List:

Provide a list of submitted work in PDF format, including title, date, materials and dimensions, or running times. Include 1-2 sentence descriptions as needed. If any work sample links require a password, please provide this information in this sheet. 

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: JUNE 15, 2025, 11:59 PM EST

QUESTIONS:

Please direct all inquiries regarding this RFEI to percentinfo@culture.nyc.gov  

Public Artists in Residence (PAIR) 2024 Open Call: Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations (HRO) Ends on Monday, June 30 at 11:59PM 

OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS: PUBLIC ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE (PAIR) 2025
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs & the Office of Housing Recovery Operations
 The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is seeking three (3) artists to join the Public Artists in Residence (PAIR) program in 2025. One (1) selected artist will be placed in residence with each of the following City agencies/offices: Office of Housing Recovery Operations, Small Business Services, and the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit. This application is for a residency with the Office of Housing Recovery Operations (HRO).
 

About PAIR
 PAIR is based on the premise that artists are creative problem solvers. To that end, DCLA embeds socially engaged artists in New York City municipal agencies to utilize their creative, collaborative art practice to offer innovative solutions to pressing civic challenges. Launched in 2015, the PAIR program takes its name and inspiration from the pioneering work of artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles, the City’s first official artist in residence (1977), with the NYC Department of Sanitation. Since establishing the program, DCLA has embedded 24 artists in 15 agencies, including Kameron Neal at the Department of Records and Information Services, Tania Bruguera at the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Yazmany Arboleda at the Civic Engagement Commission, among others. For a full list of PAIRs to date, click here. All of the PAIR partnerships—some of which are still ongoing—vary greatly in concept, scope, duration, and populations engaged, and their successes are driven by the openness of the partner agencies and the artist-led, collaborative process that the PAIR program framework provides. Artists who are able to be flexible, adaptable, and can maneuver through different situations and populations are encouraged to apply.  
 

Residency Structure
 PAIR residencies begin with a required half-day orientation session, which kicks off a four-month Research Phase. This Phase is a time for the artist and agency to establish mutual trust through shared exposure to each other’s work and process—the artist shadows agency staff and attends meetings, trainings and site visits, and in turn the agency hosts an artist talk and visits the artist at their studio. The Research Phase ends with the artist proposing a project, designed in collaboration with the partner agency, to produce during the remaining months of the residency. The Implementation Phase of the residency is marked by approval of the project proposal and initiation of the work. The proposed project must be collaborative in nature and include at least one (1) public-facing event or component. Both DCLA and the partner agency will continue to provide the artist support during the project’s production for the duration of the residency. Throughout the residency, the artist, partner agency, and DCLA have biweekly virtual or in-person check-in meetings to assist in project development. Additionally, the artist will have monthly meetings to share process updates and receive support from outside arts professionals.
 

Artist Fee and Materials
 PAIR funding per residency is $40,000: $20,000 for the Research Phase and $20,000 for the Implementation Phase. All funds are paid directly to the artist, who is responsible for managing their own project budgets and submitting invoices on a timely basis. NOTE: DCLA advocates strongly for fair artist wages. Given that PAIR awards are fixed, we strongly encourage individual artists to apply for PAIR rather than artist collectives that would have to share the award. Collectives are still welcome to apply, knowing the financial restrictions. In addition to the $40,000, the artist receives:  

• A desk at the partner agency, with office access based on regular building hours  
• Access to materials/supplies at DCLA’s Materials for the Arts 

Artist Agreement and Intellectual Property Rights
 DCLA understands the importance of artists’ intellectual property rights. Prior to the start date of each phase of the program, the selected artists will be required to sign two (2) Public Artist in Residence Agreements (one for the Research Phase and one for the Implementation Phase). These agreements include fixed provisions regarding intellectual property and make the following distinction: artist(s) own and maintain rights over artistic works developed during the program (such as visual art, performances and literary materials) that are not intended to be used by a City agency or program, subject to certain restrictions and the City’s license to use such artistic works. Materials developed specifically for City purposes (such as reports, promotional materials, and campaign content) will be owned by the City. Selected artists are strongly encouraged to review the Agreements with trusted legal counsel as soon as they are received to avoid delays.
 

PAIR 2025 

PAIR 2025 will launch three (3) new residencies with the following partner agencies:  

• Office of Housing Recovery Operations 
• Small Business Services 
• Mayor's Public Engagement Unit 

This is an open call for a Public Artist in Residence with the Office of Housing Recovery Operations. The other 2025 PAIR Artist Open Calls can be found here. Artists may apply to multiple open calls but can only be selected for one position. A separate application must be submitted for each agency.


About the Office of Housing Recovery Operations
 The Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations (HRO) was created in the days following Hurricane Sandy to lead housing response and recovery in New York City. The mission of HRO is to lead both post-disaster housing recovery operations and disaster recovery preparedness. In addition, HRO is often called upon to assist in the city’s response to a variety of emergencies with legal, procurement, program management and administrative staff support. Today, HRO is one of four agencies operating temporary emergency shelters for the influx of asylum seekers to New York City.
 In March 2023, the Mayor created the Mayor’s Office of Asylum Seekers Operations (OASO) to provide oversite and coordination of support services for asylum seekers and their families.  Since being activated at the start of the response, OASO has worked to address barriers to exit shelter. We established our Asylum Application Help Center to provide all eligible people in our temporary emergency shelters access to pro se assistance to apply for asylum, Temporary Protective Status, and work authorization. We also run volunteer-run ESOL classes onsite at several of our shelters to assist our guests address the language barrier and identify education and workforce opportunities.
Click here to learn more about HRO
Click here to learn more about OASO
 

The Opportunities and Challenges
 Since the Spring of 2022, over 230,600 asylum seekers and migrants have arrived in NYC seeking emergency shelter. The individuals and families often came with nothing more than the clothes on their back having endured unspeakable trauma that led to their painful decision to make the journey to America and find themselves in NYC. The opportunity we offer an artist in residence is to become embedded in the HRO operated Bruckner shelter in the Bronx and introduce the healing power of art to the 2,200 single adult men alongside the services offered by OASO. We aim to provide a much-needed outlet for the clients to find ways to express their pain – and hopefully their joy in finding their way out of shelter and into stability in NYC or beyond. The challenges range from the tangible – language limitations, focus on finding work – to the trauma that may be expressed in unproductive and unpredictable ways. An ideal candidate for this residency will be an artist who has experience working with people who have been impacted by trauma through visual or performing arts. While the focus of this residency is on Bruckner shelter guests, HRO and OASO also hopes to leave a loving and lasting legacy on the Bronx through collaborative artmaking. 

The Call
 Interested artists must submit all of the following application materials: 

1. Framing Question or Area of Inquiry (100 words) Based on the background information provided by the Administration for Children Services, what resonates with you, and what framing question or area of inquiry would you hope to address during the residency? Please note that this open call is not a request for project proposals or predetermined projects; we expect questions and areas of inquiry to evolve during the residency. 
2. Statement of Interest (250 words) How does your previous work and process of collaboration relate to your framing question or area of inquiry? Using examples from your past work, explain how your practice has intersected with the agency’s constituents and/or areas of focus. Describe a challenge that you previously faced during this work and how you addressed it. Please be specific. 
3. Artist Statement (250 words) Provide a statement describing your artistic practice. 
4. Resume or CV. Provide a resume or CV, highlighting artistic excellence and any community engagement work, foreign language skills, teaching experience, experience working with multiple stakeholders, and/or any experience related to the specific agency or challenge set forth in this call. 
5. References. Provide the names, phone numbers and emails of two (2) professional references. Please indicate your relationship to each reference. 
6. Work Samples. Provide up to 10 digital images of recent works and/or up to 3 links to video or audio with maximum lengths of 5 minutes. For literary projects, submit samples no longer than 2-3 pages of scripts, poetry, prose or other relevant materials. 
7. Work Sample List. Provide a list of submitted work, including title, date, materials and dimensions, or running times. Include 1-2 sentence descriptions as needed. 

Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria
 Artist applications will be reviewed by a panel of representatives from DCLA, HRO, OASO, and invited professionals with expertise in contemporary art. The panel will review applications for completeness, eligibility, and quality, as well as:  

• Clarity of framing question or area of inquiry to address during residency.  
• Quality and relevance of the applicant’s prior work.  
• Evidence of experience creating socially engaged art and working collaboratively with communities.  
• Evidence of experience working at the intersection of art and politics and/or using art for social or political change.  
• Evidence of experience developing and engaging in a collaborative process with multiple partners with a high level of competency.  
• Evidence of flexibility, adaptability, and ability to maneuver through different situations and populations.  

 Finalists will be asked to interview with the panel prior to final selection.  

Applicant Eligibility
 The selected artist should be deeply interested in NYC’s physical landscape and/or neighborhood planning and development, have demonstrated experience with social interventions through artistic practice, and have a desire to work specifically within government systems. In addition:  

• Applications will be accepted from individual artists or artist collectives only (artists cannot apply for or receive funds on behalf of a non-profit organization or a for-profit entity).  
• Artists can apply directly without a fiscal sponsor.  
• Artists must be 18 years of age or older and residents of New York City.  
• Artists must be eligible to work in New York City.  
• Artists must not be enrolled in an academic program during the residency.  

Timeline 

• Application Deadline: Monday, June 30, 2025, 11:59pm. Applications must be submitted online via Submittable.  
• Artist Finalist Interviews: Beginning of August. Interviews will be conducted virtually and selected artists will be notified shortly thereafter. 
• Residency Start Date: Start of September 2025. In person kick off meeting. 
• Residency End Date: August 2026  

 This open call does not represent any obligation or agreement whatsoever on the part of the City. The City is under no legal obligation to select an artist for the residency, and the City reserves the right to reject any or all applications, amend or withdraw this open call in whole or in part, and negotiate with one or more artist(s). If you have questions about the application process or residency structure, please contact us at PAIR@culture.nyc.gov.
 

Public Artists in Residence (PAIR) 2025 Open Call: Mayor's Public Engagement Unit (PEU) Ends on Monday, June 30 at 11:59PM 

OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS: PUBLIC ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE (PAIR) 2025
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs & the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit
 The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is seeking three (3) artists to join the Public Artists in Residence (PAIR) program in 2025. One (1) selected artist will be placed in residence with each of the following City agencies/offices: Office of Housing Recovery Operations, Small Business Services, and the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit. This application is for a residency with the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit (PEU).
 

About PAIR
 PAIR is based on the premise that artists are creative problem solvers. To that end, DCLA embeds socially engaged artists in New York City municipal agencies to utilize their creative, collaborative art practice to offer innovative solutions to pressing civic challenges. Launched in 2015, the PAIR program takes its name and inspiration from the pioneering work of artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles, the City’s first official artist in residence (1977), with the NYC Department of Sanitation. Since establishing the program, DCLA has embedded 24 artists in 15 agencies, including Kameron Neal at the Department of Records and Information Services, Tania Bruguera at the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Yazmany Arboleda at the Civic Engagement Commission, among others. For a full list of PAIRs to date, click here. All of the PAIR partnerships—some of which are still ongoing—vary greatly in concept, scope, duration, and populations engaged, and their successes are driven by the openness of the partner agencies and the artist-led, collaborative process that the PAIR program framework provides. Artists who are able to be flexible, adaptable, and can maneuver through different situations and populations are encouraged to apply.  
 

Residency Structure
PAIR residencies begin with a required half-day orientation session, which kicks off a four-month Research Phase. This Phase is a time for the artist and agency to establish mutual trust through shared exposure to each other’s work and process—the artist shadows agency staff and attends meetings, trainings and site visits, and in turn the agency hosts an artist talk and visits the artist at their studio. The Research Phase ends with the artist proposing a project, designed in collaboration with the partner agency, to produce during the remaining months of the residency. The Implementation Phase of the residency is marked by approval of the project proposal and initiation of the work. The proposed project must be collaborative in nature and include at least one (1) public-facing event or component. Both DCLA and the partner agency will continue to provide the artist support during the project’s production for the duration of the residency. Throughout the residency, the artist, partner agency, and DCLA have biweekly virtual or in-person check-in meetings to assist in project development. Additionally, the artist will have monthly meetings to share process updates and receive support from outside arts professionals.
 

Artist Fee and Materials
 PAIR funding per residency is $40,000: $20,000 for the Research Phase and $20,000 for the Implementation Phase. All funds are paid directly to the artist, who is responsible for managing their own project budgets and submitting invoices on a timely basis. NOTE: DCLA advocates strongly for fair artist wages. Given that PAIR awards are fixed, we strongly encourage individual artists to apply for PAIR rather than artist collectives that would have to share the award. Collectives are still welcome to apply, knowing the financial restrictions. In addition to the $40,000, the artist receives:  

• A desk at the partner agency, with office access based on regular building hours  
• Access to materials/supplies at DCLA’s Materials for the Arts 

Artist Agreement and Intellectual Property Rights
 DCLA understands the importance of artists’ intellectual property rights. Prior to the start date of each phase of the program, the selected artists will be required to sign two (2) Public Artist in Residence Agreements (one for the Research Phase and one for the Implementation Phase). These agreements include fixed provisions regarding intellectual property and make the following distinction: artist(s) own and maintain rights over artistic works developed during the program (such as visual art, performances and literary materials) that are not intended to be used by a City agency or program, subject to certain restrictions and the City’s license to use such artistic works. Materials developed specifically for City purposes (such as reports, promotional materials, and campaign content) will be owned by the City. Selected artists are strongly encouraged to review the Agreements with trusted legal counsel as soon as they are received to avoid delays.
 

PAIR 2025 

PAIR 2025 will launch three (3) new residencies with the following partner agencies:  

• Office of Housing Recovery Operations 
• Small Business Services 
• Mayor's Public Engagement Unit 

This is an open call for a Public Artist in Residence with the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit. The other 2025 PAIR Artist Open Calls can be found here. Artists may apply to multiple open calls but can only be selected for one position. A separate application must be submitted for each agency.


About the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit
The NYC Public Engagement Unit (PEU) was created to develop a new model for government outreach, using community organizing principles to re-envision how the City provides services to its most vulnerable communities. Rather than expecting constituents to navigate a complex City bureaucracy to get the help they need, PEU adopts grassroots tactics to meet residents where they are – at their doors and on their phones, in their social media feeds and in their communities. We marry this proactive outreach with comprehensive case management to provide New Yorkers with personalized, passionate care. PEU is comprised of four teams:

The Tenant Support Unit (TSU) provides free information on tenants' rights, assistance navigating housing-related issues, and connection to a range of resources, including the Tenant Resource Portal, anti-eviction legal assistance, the home repairs program, and rent freeze and homeowner tax exemption programs.

The Home Support Unit (HSU) conducts outreach to rental owners and brokers in order to identify vacant homes for voucher holders living in shelters. HSU supports owners and brokers throughout the lease-up process, improving their experience with rental subsidies so that they continue to provide units to voucher recipients in the future.

GetCoveredNYC provides free assistance for New Yorkers seeking to enroll in health care, regardless of immigration status or income. Our Specialists speak more than 20 languages and conduct outreach to proactively identify uninsured New Yorkers and help them get access to health care and other health-related benefits.

The Special Projects team works full-time to support all PEU units, while remaining flexible enough to take on the coordination of new projects based on the City's most urgent priorities. PEU's Special Projects Team leverages interagency resources, City staff volunteers, and technology in agile and creative ways to design and implement new outreach strategies for the City's most pressing initiatives. With the addition of a dedicated field team, we are expanding our scope of work to provide New Yorkers with comprehensive benefits eligibility screenings.

For more information about PEU, visit nyc.gov/mayorspeu 

The Opportunities and Challenges
As we reflect on ten years of PEU, we are hoping to amplify the day-to-day experience of our strategic outreach initiatives while continuing to look for new ways to better connect New Yorkers to government services. We hope to bring attention to the New Yorkers who benefit from PEU programs and the dedicated civil servants at PEU who are on the streets engaging with communities across the city every day. As we look towards the next ten years, we believe that greater reflection on the contemporary experience of our work will helps us address the ongoing challenge of distrust in government, especially among immigrant communities. This distrust is due to systemic inequities, misinformation, and language barriers which prevent access to resources and services while also limiting connection between communities.

PEU believes that artmaking can address these challenges by centering the diverse stories and experiences of the New Yorkers we serve who are at the heart of our work. It will introduce a platform where all New Yorkers are heard and seen, regardless of status. A Public Artist in Residence at PEU would help strengthen our mission of connecting with NYC residents, through public art and storytelling. The Public Artist in Residence would be supported by staff across all four of our teams. This would engage New Yorkers and allow them to share their views and stories in creative ways. By welcoming an artist to PEU, we will celebrate our past, elevate our present, and inspire our future. Together, we can achieve our goal of empowering NYC residents and achieving equity in NYC.

The Call
  Interested artists must submit all of the following application materials: 

1. Framing Question or Area of Inquiry (100 words) Based on the background information provided by the Administration for Children Services, what resonates with you, and what framing question or area of inquiry would you hope to address during the residency? Please note that this open call is not a request for project proposals or predetermined projects; we expect questions and areas of inquiry to evolve during the residency. 
2. Statement of Interest (250 words) How does your previous work and process of collaboration relate to your framing question or area of inquiry? Using examples from your past work, explain how your practice has intersected with the agency’s constituents and/or areas of focus. Describe a challenge that you previously faced during this work and how you addressed it. Please be specific. 
3. Artist Statement (250 words) Provide a statement describing your artistic practice. 
4. Resume or CV. Provide a resume or CV, highlighting artistic excellence and any community engagement work, foreign language skills, teaching experience, experience working with multiple stakeholders, and/or any experience related to the specific agency or challenge set forth in this call. 
5. References. Provide the names, phone numbers and emails of two (2) professional references. Please indicate your relationship to each reference. 
6. Work Samples. Provide up to 10 digital images of recent works and/or up to 3 links to video or audio with maximum lengths of 5 minutes. For literary projects, submit samples no longer than 2-3 pages of scripts, poetry, prose or other relevant materials. 
7. Work Sample List. Provide a list of submitted work, including title, date, materials and dimensions, or running times. Include 1-2 sentence descriptions as needed. 

Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria
 Artist applications will be reviewed by a panel of representatives from DCLA, PEU, and invited professionals with expertise in contemporary art. The panel will review applications for completeness, eligibility, and quality, as well as:  

• Clarity of framing question or area of inquiry to address during residency.  
• Quality and relevance of the applicant’s prior work.  
• Evidence of experience creating socially engaged art and working collaboratively with communities.  
• Evidence of experience working at the intersection of art and politics and/or using art for social or political change.  
• Evidence of experience developing and engaging in a collaborative process with multiple partners with a high level of competency.  
• Evidence of flexibility, adaptability, and ability to maneuver through different situations and populations.  

   Finalists will be asked to interview with the panel prior to final selection.  

Applicant Eligibility
 The selected artist should be deeply interested in NYC’s physical landscape and/or neighborhood planning and development, have demonstrated experience with social interventions through artistic practice, and have a desire to work specifically within government systems. In addition:  

• Applications will be accepted from individual artists or artist collectives only (artists cannot apply for or receive funds on behalf of a non-profit organization or a for-profit entity).  
• Artists can apply directly without a fiscal sponsor.  
• Artists must be 18 years of age or older and residents of New York City.  
• Artists must be eligible to work in New York City.  
• Artists must not be enrolled in an academic program during the residency.  

Timeline 

• Application Deadline: Monday, June 30, 2025, 11:59pm. Applications must be submitted online via Submittable.  
• Artist Finalist Interviews: Beginning of August. Interviews will be conducted virtually and selected artists will be notified shortly thereafter. 
• Residency Start Date: Start of September 2025. In person kick off meeting. 
• Residency End Date: August 2026  

 This open call does not represent any obligation or agreement whatsoever on the part of the City. The City is under no legal obligation to select an artist for the residency, and the City reserves the right to reject any or all applications, amend or withdraw this open call in whole or in part, and negotiate with one or more artist(s). If you have questions about the application process or residency structure, please contact us at PAIR@culture.nyc.gov.
 

Public Artists in Residence (PAIR) 2024 Open Call: Small Business Services (SBS) Ends on Monday, June 30 at 11:59PM 

OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS: PUBLIC ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE (PAIR) 2025
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs & Small Business Services
  The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is seeking three (3) artists to join the Public Artists in Residence (PAIR) program in 2025. One (1) selected artist will be placed in residence with each of the following City agencies/offices: Office of Housing Recovery Operations, Small Business Services, and the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit. This application is for a residency with the Small Business Services (SBS).
 

About PAIR
    PAIR is based on the premise that artists are creative problem solvers. To that end, DCLA embeds socially engaged artists in New York City municipal agencies to utilize their creative, collaborative art practice to offer innovative solutions to pressing civic challenges. Launched in 2015, the PAIR program takes its name and inspiration from the pioneering work of artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles, the City’s first official artist in residence (1977), with the NYC Department of Sanitation. Since establishing the program, DCLA has embedded 24 artists in 15 agencies, including Kameron Neal at the Department of Records and Information Services, Tania Bruguera at the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Yazmany Arboleda at the Civic Engagement Commission, among others. For a full list of PAIRs to date, click here. All of the PAIR partnerships—some of which are still ongoing—vary greatly in concept, scope, duration, and populations engaged, and their successes are driven by the openness of the partner agencies and the artist-led, collaborative process that the PAIR program framework provides. Artists who are able to be flexible, adaptable, and can maneuver through different situations and populations are encouraged to apply.  
 

Residency Structure
  PAIR residencies begin with a required half-day orientation session, which kicks off a four-month Research Phase. This Phase is a time for the artist and agency to establish mutual trust through shared exposure to each other’s work and process—the artist shadows agency staff and attends meetings, trainings and site visits, and in turn the agency hosts an artist talk and visits the artist at their studio. The Research Phase ends with the artist proposing a project, designed in collaboration with the partner agency, to produce during the remaining months of the residency. The Implementation Phase of the residency is marked by approval of the project proposal and initiation of the work. The proposed project must be collaborative in nature and include at least one (1) public-facing event or component. Both DCLA and the partner agency will continue to provide the artist support during the project’s production for the duration of the residency. Throughout the residency, the artist, partner agency, and DCLA have biweekly virtual or in-person check-in meetings to assist in project development. Additionally, the artist will have monthly meetings to share process updates and receive support from outside arts professionals.
 

Artist Fee and Materials
  PAIR funding per residency is $40,000: $20,000 for the Research Phase and $20,000 for the Implementation Phase. All funds are paid directly to the artist, who is responsible for managing their own project budgets and submitting invoices on a timely basis. NOTE: DCLA advocates strongly for fair artist wages. Given that PAIR awards are fixed, we strongly encourage individual artists to apply for PAIR rather than artist collectives that would have to share the award. Collectives are still welcome to apply, knowing the financial restrictions. In addition to the $40,000, the artist receives:  

• A desk at the partner agency, with office access based on regular building hours  
• Access to materials/supplies at DCLA’s Materials for the Arts 

Artist Agreement and Intellectual Property Rights
  DCLA understands the importance of artists’ intellectual property rights. Prior to the start date of each phase of the program, the selected artists will be required to sign two (2) Public Artist in Residence Agreements (one for the Research Phase and one for the Implementation Phase). These agreements include fixed provisions regarding intellectual property and make the following distinction: artist(s) own and maintain rights over artistic works developed during the program (such as visual art, performances and literary materials) that are not intended to be used by a City agency or program, subject to certain restrictions and the City’s license to use such artistic works. Materials developed specifically for City purposes (such as reports, promotional materials, and campaign content) will be owned by the City. Selected artists are strongly encouraged to review the Agreements with trusted legal counsel as soon as they are received to avoid delays.
 

PAIR 2025 

PAIR 2025 will launch three (3) new residencies with the following partner agencies:  

• Office of Housing Recovery Operations 
• Small Business Services 
• Mayor's Public Engagement Unit 

This is an open call for a Public Artist in Residence with Small Business Services. The other 2025 PAIR Artist Open Calls can be found here. Artists may apply to multiple open calls but can only be selected for one position. A separate application must be submitted for each agency.


About Small Business Services (SBS)
 The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is a vibrant, client-centered agency whose mission is to serve New York’s small businesses, jobseekers and commercial districts. SBS makes it easier for businesses in New York City to start, operate, and expand by providing direct assistance to business owners, supporting commercial districts, promoting financial and economic opportunity among minority- and women-owned businesses, preparing New Yorkers for jobs, and linking employers with a skilled and qualified workforce.  

SBS actively collaborates with New Yorkers, with a special focus on historically underserved neighborhoods and immigrant communities, to create programs and services tailored to their unique needs. To achieve this, SBS operates 7 Business Centers and 18 Workforce Centers across each borough, assisting entrepreneurs in connecting to resources and serving over 90,000 jobseekers annually. Additionally, SBS provides grants and services to support the growth of local Business Improvement Districts, community-based organizations, and commercial corridors 

Click here to learn more about SBS
 

The Opportunities and Challenges
 New York City’s immigrant communities face unique challenges, with many immigrant-owned businesses experiencing economic slowdown and decreased foot traffic, while job seekers and entrepreneurs often remain unaware of the free services available at Workforce and Business Centers. These centers, which are crucial resources for local residents, can often feel institutional and unwelcoming, while the public spaces outside them may also lack the vibrancy needed to draw people in. The Public Artists in Residence program presents a unique opportunity for an artist to be embedded in SBS’s work engaging diverse community partners to address these challenges. 

SBS aspires to create a seamless, engaging environment that reflects the diversity and cultural richness of the immigrant communities served across our spaces and programs. By focusing on the stories of SBS constituents. the artist could design a community-informed artwork that makes visitors feel valued and celebrated. This could include reflections on the unique journeys and contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs and job seekers. How can storytelling strengthen the bond between immigrant communities and the services they need? This project offers an opportunity for an artist to reimagine how public spaces and service centers work together to form inclusive, vibrant hubs that reflect the communities they serve.   

The Call
    Interested artists must submit all of the following application materials: 

1. Framing Question or Area of Inquiry (100 words) Based on the background information provided by the Administration for Children Services, what resonates with you, and what framing question or area of inquiry would you hope to address during the residency? Please note that this open call is not a request for project proposals or predetermined projects; we expect questions and areas of inquiry to evolve during the residency. 
2. Statement of Interest (250 words) How does your previous work and process of collaboration relate to your framing question or area of inquiry? Using examples from your past work, explain how your practice has intersected with the agency’s constituents and/or areas of focus. Describe a challenge that you previously faced during this work and how you addressed it. Please be specific. 
3. Artist Statement (250 words) Provide a statement describing your artistic practice. 
4. Resume or CV. Provide a resume or CV, highlighting artistic excellence and any community engagement work, foreign language skills, teaching experience, experience working with multiple stakeholders, and/or any experience related to the specific agency or challenge set forth in this call. 
5. References. Provide the names, phone numbers and emails of two (2) professional references. Please indicate your relationship to each reference. 
6. Work Samples. Provide up to 10 digital images of recent works and/or up to 3 links to video or audio with maximum lengths of 5 minutes. For literary projects, submit samples no longer than 2-3 pages of scripts, poetry, prose or other relevant materials. 
7. Work Sample List. Provide a list of submitted work, including title, date, materials and dimensions, or running times. Include 1-2 sentence descriptions as needed. 

Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria
    Artist applications will be reviewed by a panel of representatives from DCLA, SBS, and invited professionals with expertise in contemporary art. The panel will review applications for completeness, eligibility, and quality, as well as:  

• Clarity of framing question or area of inquiry to address during residency.  
• Quality and relevance of the applicant’s prior work.  
• Evidence of experience creating socially engaged art and working collaboratively with communities.  
• Evidence of experience working at the intersection of art and politics and/or using art for social or political change.  
• Evidence of experience developing and engaging in a collaborative process with multiple partners with a high level of competency.  
• Evidence of flexibility, adaptability, and ability to maneuver through different situations and populations.  

    Finalists will be asked to interview with the panel prior to final selection.  

Applicant Eligibility
    The selected artist should be deeply interested in NYC’s physical landscape and/or neighborhood planning and development, have demonstrated experience with social interventions through artistic practice, and have a desire to work specifically within government systems. In addition:  

• Applications will be accepted from individual artists or artist collectives only (artists cannot apply for or receive funds on behalf of a non-profit organization or a for-profit entity).  
• Artists can apply directly without a fiscal sponsor.  
• Artists must be 18 years of age or older and residents of New York City.  
• Artists must be eligible to work in New York City.  
• Artists must not be enrolled in an academic program during the residency.  

Timeline 

• Application Deadline: Monday, June 30, 2025, 11:59pm. Applications must be submitted online via Submittable.  
• Artist Finalist Interviews: Beginning of August. Interviews will be conducted virtually and selected artists will be notified shortly thereafter. 
• Residency Start Date: Start of September 2025. In person kick off meeting. 
• Residency End Date: August 2026  

    This open call does not represent any obligation or agreement whatsoever on the part of the City. The City is under no legal obligation to select an artist for the residency, and the City reserves the right to reject any or all applications, amend or withdraw this open call in whole or in part, and negotiate with one or more artist(s). If you have questions about the application process or residency structure, please contact us at PAIR@culture.nyc.gov.