The Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF), in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), NYC Public Design Commission and NYC Department of Youth and Community Development is seeking up to five (5) artists to join the From Roots to Arts: Celebrating NYCHA’s Cultural Heritage artist-in-residency program. One (1) selected artist will be placed in residence with each of the following NYCHA communities /community-based organizations: Bronx River Houses, Bushwick Houses, King Towers Houses, Astoria Houses, and Richmond Terrace Houses.

About the Program

From Roots to Arts: Celebrating NYCHA’s Cultural Heritage is an innovative artist-in-residency pilot program designed to enrich and expand the narratives of culture, heritage, and art within public housing. This first of its kind collaboration is led by the Public Housing Community Fund, in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), NYC Public Design Commission, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, NYCHA residents, and NYCHA Cornerstone nonprofit organizations. The program is funded by the Mellon Foundation. By placing local artists and residents at the forefront of this endeavor, we aim to redefine how stories are told and the type of art that is produced and featured in public housing.

Harnessing the framework of the city’s Cornerstone Program across five NYCHA campuses spanning all five boroughs, this endeavor offers dedicated spaces within community centers, fostering an environment where artists can immerse themselves and interact with residents and the community at large. With its sights set on catalyzing positive change, the program envisions artists as catalysts of transformation, collaboratively shaping visions for the future, addressing community challenges, and fortifying communal bonds. The artists will work collaboratively with NYCHA residents to conceive public art programming and installations that celebrate the enormous cultural value of NYCHA communities.

The program will be documented by a video storyteller, a NYCHA Art Liaison, who will capture the oral histories, challenges in participatory public art, and community joy, and provide an archival record of the impact while bridging work from all five sites through this program with historic work from NYCHA.

This opportunity is for NYC artists only. Please see commission document for full project information and application instructions.