Since 2016, the Base Residency Program has supported more than 40 residencies for artists at all stages of their careers. This program has served as a unique experience designed to give movement-based artists working in experimental modes the chance to immerse themselves in their projects and practices. The 2026-2027 residency encourages artists to explore new and risk-taking ideas, expand on existing ones, and/or take time to deepen their artistic practice or creative work. Priority will be given to artists who can commit to making full and extensive use of their time at Base. 

Berette S. Macaulay and Juliana F. May curate this year’s 26-27 Base Residency. Learn more about them here.

The Base Residency is a self-directed experience. This includes artists procuring and providing their own materials. Each residency includes an Entry Point: a public event shaped by the resident artist that invites the community into an aspect of their practice. Examples might include: conversation, work in progress showing, screening, exhibition/installation, performance, community meal, etc.*

Selected artists will also receive:

• 24-hour access to Base’s 2,000 square foot rehearsal/performance space with kitchenette and private bathroom

• Artist fees: $2,000 for a single two-week residency

• Freedom to involve collaborators and technical/design elements

• Access to professional lighting, sound systems, and video projector

• Marketing/documentation support, including professional photography and videography

• Creative and/or professional development consultation with curators and/or co-founders

• Travel and lodging for three artists (plus one collaborator each) located outside of the greater Seattle area

• Local transportation support

Technical assistance will be available for up to six hours during the residency. Curators will discuss with each resident how they might best provide support during the residency.

*In addition to your Entry Point, artists are welcome to offer a movement-based workshop during their residency. Base staff can help schedule and facilitate workshops as a separate event, allowing the Entry Point to remain focused on inviting the community into your artistic process.

• Residency 1: Monday, Jan 11 to Sunday, 24, Entry Point Jan 23

• Residency 1: Monday, Jan 11 to Sunday, 24, Entry Point Jan 23

• Residency 1: Monday, Jan 11 to Sunday, 24, Entry Point Jan 23

• Residency 1: Monday, Jan 11 to Sunday, 24, Entry Point Jan 23

• Residency 1: Monday, Jan 11 to Sunday, 24, Entry Point Jan 23

• Residency 1: Monday, Jan 11 to Sunday, 24, Entry Point Jan 23

• Residency 1: Monday, Jan 11 to Sunday, 24, Entry Point Jan 23

• A clear desire to create or experience creating experimental or risk-taking work that is primarily movement-based.

• Strong motivation, inspiration, and commitment to their form. 

• Ability to commit to full and extensive use of their time at Base.

• Work samples that clearly supported the proposed project/practice. 

• An Entry Point––a public-facing event hosted at Base––designed to invite people into the artists’ process.

To be eligible for this residency, applicants must:

• Be able to receive income in the U.S. 

• Be a current resident in the U.S.

• Be applying as an individual (or on behalf of a small collective) 

• Have creative control and rights of the project and related work 

• Incorporate a publicly accessible sharing component into the residency (Entry Point)

Applications are open to artists living and working in the United States:

• The curators will select four local recipients from the greater Seattle area to receive two-week residencies. We define the greater Seattle area as: Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Everett, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Woodinville, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Arlington, Renton, Kent, Auburn, Federal Way, Puyallup, Gig Harbor, and SeaTac.

• The curators will also select three national recipients who live outside the defined greater Seattle area, and within the United States, to receive two-week residencies. These three out-of-town awardees will also receive fully-funded travel and lodging.*

*Travel funding for out-of-town artists includes flights for up to two artists per awardee; lodging for each out-of-town awardee is for up to two artists in a 15-day Airbnb in Georgetown, Seattle.

We strongly encourage intersectionally marginalized artists of all ages who identify as Disabled, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color), LGBTQ2IA+, and/or low-income to apply.

We recognize that English may not be your primary language. The curators encourage you to focus on the content of your ideas and intentions. Find someone you trust who can give an outside perspective and review your application before you submit.

Base staff will complete an initial review of all applications for completeness and eligibility before forwarding them to the curatorial panel. The curators will then review and deliberate using the following guiding principles:

Risk & Experimentation
We look for artists who engage in ambitious movement-based exploration and are interested in expanding their practice or pushing at the boundaries of form.

Distinct Perspective
We value artists who bring a distinct artistic voice or lived perspective that contributes meaningfully to a dynamic cohort.

Commitment & Readiness
We seek artists who demonstrate the focus, preparedness, and capacity to make full use of the residency.

Potential Impact
We look for projects and practices that would be advanced by the residency, to catalyze the artist's work or trajectory.

In addition to these principles, curators will consider the following guiding considerations:

• Need and urgency of the opportunity for the artist.

• Feasibility and specificity of the proposed use of Base's resources.

• Strength of work samples, including originality, clarity, and craft.

• Community-building potential and the artist's approach to exchange, participation, or public engagement.

• Access to resources (space, funding, mentorship, institutional support), with awareness of structural inequities.

• For national applicants, the potential to foster meaningful exchange between Seattle-based and national artists.

All principles are in place to help guide the process, and the final decision comes from our curators.

• August 10, 2026: Application opens

• September 10, 2026: Application closes at 8:00 PM PT; no late applications accepted

• November 30, 2026: All applicants notified of results

• December 2026: Public recipient announcement

• January 2027 - August 2027: Residencies