Funded opportunity for Circus Artists based in New York - Hupstate Residency 2026 Free

The Saltonstall x Circus Culture Hupstate Residency for Individual Circus Artists provides an all expenses paid week long opportunity to create and develop work for New York based circus artists.

Application opens: Dec 1, 2025
Application deadline: Feb 1, 2026
Final selections announced: March 1, 2026
Residency: April 19th - April 26th, 2026

This exciting program is a collaboration between two upstate NY arts and cultural institutions: Circus Culture, Ithaca’s very own circus school, and the Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts, which supports the development of the arts through residencies at its 200 acre retreat center in Ithaca, NY. The residency was born out of a shared excitement for the development of the circus arts among leadership in both organizations.

The Saltonstall x Circus Culture residency is the first of its kind and is designed to provide a generous and spacious environment for the development of the circus arts in NY State and/or Native Nations based therein. It does this by giving individual circus artists from the region time and space with an idea or project of their choosing that they want to develop, polish, investigate, or work on.

The residency provides housing for 7 nights/8 days (Sunday, April 19 - Sunday, April 26th) with a private room and work space with desk and private bathroom, access to up to 6 hours per day of shared circus studio time at Circus Culture, up to $100 travel reimbursement, pantry staples, local vegetables for breakfast and lunch, and communal dinners provided by a private chef.

The residency program defines a circus artist as anyone involved in any aspect of art making, creative problem solving, or innovation within the circus arts. This may include designers, dramaturges, choreographers, directors, circademics, writers, photographers, riggers, performers, teaching artists, and more.

In 2024, Hupstate Circus received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, with the mission to elevate circus arts in the United States through high-impact and accessible festival and residency programs. The Hupstate Circus Residency serves to connect circus artists with opportunities for artistic residencies that enhance and support the development of their work and play.

Applicants must be 21 or older.

Applicants must be residents of New York State and/or Native Nations therein and must spend at least seven months a year in the state.

CONTACT: Daia Bromberg / [email protected]

INFORMATION & APPLICATION: https://www.hupstatecircus.org/residency-info