2024-2025 Base Residency FAQs
These questions and answers are intended to provide detailed context to potential applicants to the Base Residency program. If you have a question that isn’t addressed here, please email us.
What is the selection process for the Base Residency Program?
Through a panel process led by community curators Nia-Amina Minor, Bennyroyce Royon, and Parmida Ziaei, seven artists will receive one or two-week residencies between February 2025 - August 2025 along with an unrestricted artist fee of $1,000 per week. Learn more about the curators here.
What are the selection criteria for the Base Residency Program?
The 2024-2025 Base Residency Program is intended to support artists engaged in experimental or risk-taking work that incorporates multiple disciplines, but must primarily be movement-based. The 2024-2025 curators encourage artists to expand on existing or new ideas and take time to deepen their artistic practice or creative work. Base strongly encourages intersectionally marginalized artists who identify as Disabled, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color), LGBTQ2IA+, and/or low-income to apply.
Do you have any tips for my application?
Please carefully read all instructions and especially make note of the work sample time limits. Be as specific as possible in your written responses, so that the curators have a clear sense of what you want to do and how you will do it. Choose work samples that showcase your artistic vision and best relate to the project you are proposing in your application. Reflecting on their experience during last year’s artist selection process, the curators wish to highlight that successful 2023-2024 applications conveyed:
A clear desire to create or experience creating experimental or risk-taking work that incorporates multiple disciplines but 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 their process.
I live in the greater Seattle area and want to apply as a collective––is the artist fee per person?
The residency artist fee is $1,000 per week per residency slot. If you apply with a collective, your fee will be $1,000 per week.
I live in the greater Seattle area and want to fly in collaborators who live outside of the city––will Base cover travel and lodging for these collaborators?
No. Travel and lodging funding is not included for artists living in Seattle, but a local travel stipend may be requested. Artist are allowed to invite collaborators to participate in the residency, but must cover any additional costs.
I live outside of Seattle––can I still apply for the Base Residency Program?
Three of the seven residency slots are reserved for either solo artists or two-person artistic teams located outside of the greater Seattle area, but within the U.S. Travel and lodging is covered in addition to the $1,000 per week residency fee. If you apply as a duo, you will still only receive a single artist fee of $1,000 per week.
How long is the Base Residency?
The 2024-2025 Base Residency is offering one and two-week full-access residencies at Base. Artists may only apply for a one-week or a two-week residency, not both. Base Residents have round-the-clock access to Base during their residency period.
Can the Base Residency be spread out throughout the calendar year, instead of the dates listed on the application?
The Base Residency takes place within pre-determined, one or two-week windows in the calendar. The program is an immersive experience; the time may not be redistributed or rescheduled.
Can I use a Base Residency to produce a show?
The Base Residency is intended to support an artist’s immersive work on projects and/or practices and is not designed to stage performances. If you’re interested in self-producing your work at Base, learn about the Base Independent program.
What is the Base Residency Entry Point?
The Base Residency Entry Point is an opportunity for the community to interface with Base Resident Artists. There is no set format for the Entry Point; rather it is designed by each Resident according to their needs and wishes. It may take the form of a showing, conversation, open rehearsal or something else entirely. It is mandatory and typically takes place on the last Saturday of the Base Residency.
Can I set the space up however I want?
You have flexibility to set up the space to best suit the needs of your residency. If you make use of Base’s technical equipment—for example if you re-hang and focus the lights during your residency—you must restore the plot and return all technical equipment to where you found them before loading out.
Can a Base Resident install a set or introduce technical or design elements?
Base Residents are free to transform the space during their residency, bringing in props, set pieces or other elements, as long as they restore the space at the conclusion of the residency. Base Residents may also use the Base video projector, sound system and lights as needed.
Can I leave my stuff—including props, set pieces and equipment—at Base during my residency?
Yes, the space is yours for the duration of your residency; there’s no need to strike or pack out your materials until the residency period is over.
Do you provide support beyond time in the space?
We provide a range of in-kind support, including technical orientation and mentoring from the curators.
What is the parking situation at Base?
Base is located within Equinox Studios in Georgetown, with free street parking available on and around 5th Avenue South, River Street and throughout the neighborhood.
I’d like to apply, but I’m not sure if my schedule allows me to commit to any of the dates listed. Can I apply anyway?
We urge you to apply for dates that you know will work for your collaborators. If it’s too early for you to know, be aware that we will issue future Base Residency calls each year.