While the Create Award residency and the Porter Scholarship at Art Gym have their own structure and requirements, they are all built on the same goal: Providing time, space, and community for artists to use while working towards a project or a goal. In addition to completing their proposed project or reaching their goal, it is our hope that each artist that moves through either programs gains a greater understanding of their art practice and builds new connections in the process.
Residencies & Scholarships
Time, Space, Community
Create Award
The Create Award is a 6-month residency for recent graduates from creative disciplines (fine arts, digital art, performing arts, etc.). Let Art Gym support your transition from creative student to creative professional by applying for the Create Award residency. Participants receive a 6-month membership to Art Gym with access to the equipment and tools needed to establish themselves after graduation. As a member, residents quickly become part of a community of artists who help navigate the business side of becoming successful in the art world. And by engaging in peer-to-peer mentoring and professional critiques, Create Award residents grow and thrive in a supportive environment of like-minded individuals. The residency program culminates in a celebratory exhibition and/or performance on display in Art Gym’s professional gallery space or performance studio.
If you graduated in 2023 or later in a Fine Arts or Performing Arts program, apply today for the 2025 Create Award residency only at Art Gym.
Prepare a 500-1000 word proposal that outlines general goals and your intended direction for the culminating exhibition/performance. Be sure to include some visual examples or video, and a rough timeline of milestones for the project. Next, get a letter of recommendation from a faculty member and a couple of references, and you’re ready to apply.
(Pro Tip: Before you apply, it’s a good idea to stop by Art Gym or contact us to set up a tour so you’re familiar with the space you’ll be working in and exhibiting/performing in.)
During the residency, the successful applicant will receive:
- 6 month membership at Art Gym Denver
- Use of equipment and workspaces*
- Help with strategy and scheduling to realize exhibition goals
- Ongoing planning and critique sessions with prominent artists and curators
- Materials stipend: $300.00
- Exhibition or Performance with opening reception
*some restrictions apply
- Submission Opens: Open year round
- Submission Deadline: May 18, 2025
- Interviews: June 2 – 14, 2025
- Announcement of Residents: Week of June 23, 2025
- Residency: July -December 2025
- Exhibition/Performance: January 2026
Questions? Email our Programs Manager.
Hear What Past Create Award Residents Have to Say
Porter Scholarship
Eric Porter and his wife Ingrid were two of the first members at Art Gym, joining the community in 2015. It was a privilege for other Art Gym members and staff to experience Eric’s immense talent, constant smile, and passion for art, while his contemplative drawings always left viewers in a state of quiet reflection.
To honor Eric’s passing from complications of a bone marrow transplant for leukemia, Art Gym has set up The Porter Scholarship. Funded by friends, family, and supporters of all stripes interested in supporting local artists, the scholarship is now in its third year, and continues to provide artists the opportunity to explore their talent with the same joy and passion that Eric imbued into his work.
The Porter Scholarship is for artists who lack the financial means, workspace, and equipment to explore, realize and further expand their art practice by providing a material stipend of up to $250.00 and a 6-month Full Access membership to Art Gym. Every January, the recipients will have an exhibit showcasing the worked produced during the scholarship the previous year as well as other programming throughout the recipient’s time at Art Gym.
Details:
- Scholarship is based on financial need and the need to access workspace and equipment
- Applicants must submit an application explaining how this opportunity will further expand their art practice
- Awarded recipients must commit to 12-16 hours per week working on their art at Art Gym
- Open to artists ages 18 and over residing in Denver and the surrounding area
- Apply anytime! Applications are accepted year round
- Prepare a 500-1000 word proposal that outlines general goals, your intended direction and how this opportunity with help you achieve these goals. Be sure to include materials/tools/type of workspace needed.
- Provide a brief summary of how the financial assistance will help with achieving your goals.
- Upload 3 images of your past artwork.
Questions? Email our Programs Manager.
- Qualification is based on financial need and the need to access workspace and equipment
- Applicants must submit an application explaining how this opportunity will further expand their art practice
- Awarded recipients must commit to 12-16 hours per week working on their art at Art Gym
- Open to artists ages 18 and over residing in Denver and the surrounding area
- The scholarship provides a materials/supplies stipend not to exceed $250.00 per award and a membership for 6 months to Art Gym
- Each January, an exhibit of the scholarship residents will have an opportunity to show their work completed during the scholarship
- Apply anytime! Applications are accepted year round
Questions? Email our Programs Manager.
Hear What Past Porter Scholarship Residents Have to Say
Art Gym Guest Artist
Through the Art Gym Guest Artist program, Art Gym partners with outside artists to complete a collaborative project. The Guest Artist program is by invite only, occurring through organic connections with artists in the community, based on a shared idea or goal. Each guest artist works with Art Gym staff to develop and complete the intended project utilizing the space and equipment at Art Gym.
