̌Session provides artists a 1200sf workspace in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn and 6-10 weeks to develop a new inquiry-based project meant to push the boundaries of their practice. They will receive an artist honorarium, planning meeting fees, project expenses, technical support, and mentorship collectively valued at approximately $22,500-$25,000. Throughout the session, we will facilitate public interactions with the Recess community, as well as connections among intentional communities as identified by each artist. Our hope is that these engagements provide an opportunity for mutually beneficial exchanges that not only refine the artists’ thinking, but that challenge dominant social narratives and activate new forms of artmaking.

All Session artists are expected to engage with Recess’s other main program Assembly. Founded in 2016, Assembly offers system-impacted young people aged 18-26 an inroad to art and connections to working artists, while serving as an alternative to incarceration and its intersecting systems of oppression. The curriculum empowers young people to take charge of their own life story and envision a future through art.

Session is not a traditional residency program in which artists are provided “time away” to produce work. Structured engagement with staff, youth, peer supporters, and invited communities should benefit your project rather than burden it.

Session is not an exhibition opportunity to present fully realized art works to a general public. Artists should be able to identify key audience(s) that would help build upon and fulfill the project’s premise and purpose, as well as strategies to reach out to them.

We expect the physical manifestation of the project to change and grow throughout the Session. Artists should be able to describe how their project would look and feel at the start, and how its trajectory might evolve over the two months.

Recess partners with artists to build a more just and equitable creative community and society. Does your project demonstrate radical thinking towards imagining and shaping networks of resilience and safety?

̌We see artists as more than just producers of cultural experiences during their time in Session. Rather, Session is an invitation to join and be immersed into the Recess community. All selected artists will start their experience with a facilitated welcoming gathering that invites artists to reflect on Recess’s Care & Accountability Towards Abolition Framework, so that we may collectively pursue courageous and values-aligned work. As such, we have increased artist honoraria to adjust for increased cost of living in NYC to $3500 for individuals and $5000 for multiple artists/collectives.

Recess also earmarks up to $2500 for individuals and $4000 for multiple artists/collaboratives for artists to be compensated for required pre-Session planning meetings and a post-Session debrief so that project intentions are understood, honored, and supported by the Recess community. Furthermore, $2500 for individuals and $4000 for multiple artists/collaboratives are designated for a Care & Capacity Fund to use prior to, during, and/or after the Session. These funds are a reflection of Recess’s commitment to provide flexible and personalized forms of care and resource allocation, so that artists can show up with as much capacity as possible in their personal and professional lives.