SKY LAB

About

SKY LAB is a residency for artists who center the community in the development of their work. While SKY LAB artists may work beyond the four walls of a traditional studio or theater space, or be presented more traditionally, Hi-ARTS supports work that centers community in the roots of its development, research, and consideration.

This may include relationship building, deep listening and discussion, experience design, community collaboration, storytelling, and other interdisciplinary methods and practices that take place alongside and in relation to an artist’s identified community. We welcome artists to define what “community engagement” means to them.

The residency period culminates with a WORK IN PROCESS [WIP]. [WIP] programs are designed in collaboration with artists and Hi-ARTS.

Applications for Spring 2026 Applications will close October 31, 2025. If you would like to be informed of when applications are open, please sign up for Backstage Buzz.

SKY LAB ARTISTS

  • SKY LAB is intended for theater, performing/performance artists, and multidisciplinary artists who center community in the development of their work. Artists must commit to a commitment of 50 hours of development.

    All artists and residency collaborators must be able to legally work in the United States. All personnel are required to complete a W9 form in order to receive payment. If you have questions about student participation, citizenship, or other eligibility questions that are not answered in the FAQs below, please contact us at programs@hi-artsnyc.org.

    Hi-ARTS considers an artist’s individual experiences, perspectives and values with the same degree of care and attention that we pay to your creative portfolio. Both are considered alongside one another during the application process. We value artists who:

    • center community in the development of their work and have an explicitly community-engaged practice;

    • respond to social justice themes and/or bring visibility to their lived experiences;

    • innovate and push known aesthetics into new and dynamic interdisciplinary forms;

    • create new original works that expand the perspectives traditionally represented in contemporary theater, performance, and other creative areas;

    • value interaction with community as a means of both developing content and providing broad public engagement;

    • embody diversity along the lines of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, and sexuality;

    • offer and uphold the perspectives and experiences of historically marginalized groups within their practice;

    • create boundary-pushing forms of expressive culture and aesthetic practice.

    While all are welcome to apply, Hi-ARTS prioritizes supporting Artists of the Global Majority.

  • Artists must complete an application form which includes a project description and/or proposal as well as work samples. Candidates can apply for both CRITICAL BREAKS and SKY LAB Residencies in the same application form. 

    Please note, the application form must be submitted in one sitting. Your answers do not save if you exit the application. Click here for an Application Preview.

    The application asks for:

    • Applicant Information: Application and Collaborator names and roles and basic information

    • Project Information: Project overview and current stage of development

    • ResidencyInformation: Ideal timeline and residency goals 

    • Budget Submission: Preliminary outline of needed resources and monetary allocation

    • Work Samples: 1-3 examples of the applicant's work and/or the project

    • Demographics: optional questions for statistic and funding purposes only

    For questions, or assistance accessing any part of the application, please contact us at programs@hi-artsnyc.org.

  • General

    • Rehearsal space at L10 Arts and Cultural Center (studio and theater)

    • Artist Stipend

    • Project Budget

    • Residency Administrative Assistant

    • WORK IN PROCESS Program

    • Archival photo and video documentation

    • Pre- and post-residency reflection and evaluation spaces

    Creative

    • Creative consultation and check-ins with Hi-ARTS staff

    • Programmatic and curatorial support

    • Administrative and scheduling support 

    • Collaborative marketing support

    Financial & Administrative

    • Budgetary advising and preparation support

    • Financial Distribution (paying, etc.)

    • Hiring Support (for both creative and technical collaborators)

    • Personnel contracting 

    • Material purchasing and/or printing

  • Applications for the 2026 Cohort of CRITICAL BREAKS and SKY LAB artists will open in October 2025. The application deadline is October 31st, 11:59 PM. Artists will be notified of their status by December 8th, 2025. Pre-residency administration will begin in mid-December, and the cohort will be publicly announced February 2026. 

    Residencies will take place in the months of: March 2026, April 2026, and May 2026. The application will ask you to specify which month(s) you prefer. We do our best to work and accommodate artist schedules, but do ask for flexibility. 

    To preview the application, please click here. 

  • We recommend reading Frequently Asked Questions. For any additional questions, please contact us at programs@hi-artsnyc.org. You can expect a response within 2-3 business days.

2024 SKY LAB Residency Highlights