Leeway x NextFab Art & Technology Residency
Residency Overview
Leeway Foundation and NextFab are partnering to offer a residency to a past Leeway grantee at NextFab from January to September 2026. NextFab is a network of makerspaces that provides access to and training in traditional machinery and digital tools to aid makers in their creative ideas. Leeway Foundation grantees of all artistic disciplines are encouraged to submit a proposal for an art for social change project that utilizes NextFab’s facilities.
The selected NextFab Artist-in-Residence will receive:
- $3,000 stipend from Leeway to cover costs associated with supplies and documentation of the work
- Standard Membership ($1,971 value) from NextFab allowing resident unlimited access to NextFab (a 30,000 sq.ft. location in North Philadelphia) during operating hours
- exhibition/gallery space at NextFab at the end of the residency
The artist-in-residence will emerge from the process with quality work samples and increased technical know-how. As part of the residency, the artist will be required to offer a public exhibition or presentation of the work, as well as an artist talk or workshop related to the project. Leeway and NextFab will promote these related events.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply you must:
- be a past Leeway grantee
- currently reside in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia county
- have submitted grant reports for completed previous projects
- not have received the Transformation Award or an artist residency from Leeway in 2024
- not be enrolled as a full-time student in an arts degree program
About NextFab
NextFab is a membership-based makerspace that provides access to tools, technology, education, events, and services for makers of any skill level. They offer a variety of education and startup programs, as well as professional design, production, and placemaking services for whatever your fabrication needs. Whatever you want to create, you can learn how to make it at NextFab – with access to high tech digital and traditional fabrication equipment and training to increase your skills and expand your capabilities. Just a few of their departments include: 2D Printing and Photography; 3D Printing and Scanning; Design Software; Jewelry; Laser Cutting and Engraving; Metalworking; Textiles; Woodworking; and more. To learn more about NextFab, click here.
You can check out NextFab’s classes here: https://nextfab.com/classes/. You can also schedule a consultation with NextFab’s Director of Programming + Jewelry Supervisor, Melissa Guglielmo, to better understand classes and pricing by emailing: melissa.guglielmo@nextfab.com
FAQs
Click here to visit the Frequently Asked Questions for the Leeway x NextFab Art and Technology Residency.
Apply for the Residency
FAQ
What grants are only open to past Leeway grantees?
In addition to the three funding streams listed above, Leeway grantees are eligible to apply for the following funding opportunities:
- Window of Opportunity Grant (WOO) provides financial assistance of up to $1,500 to Leeway grant and award recipients to help them take advantage of imminent, time-sensitive opportunities to support their art for social change practice. Deadline: The 15th of every month (February-November)
- Community Care Fund (CCF) provides financial assistance of up to $2,500 to Leeway grant and award recipients to support with immediate and essential emergency needs, including but not limited to the pandemic's impact. Deadline: Rolling – or until the maximum amount of funding per quarterly cycle is reached.
- Leeway x Fleisher Visual Artist Residency offers a residency to a past Leeway grantee at Fleisher from January 2025 through December 2025. Residents receive a $2,500 stipend and access to Fleisher facilities, equipment, and classes. Deadline: June 30.
- Leeway x NextFab Art + Technology Residency offers a residency to a past Leeway grantee at NextFab from January 2025 through September 2025. Residents receive a $2,500 stipend and a Standard Membership to NextFab’s facilities, equipment, and classes. Deadline: October 14.
How does Leeway define Art for Social Change?
Art with a vision and an intentional analysis. Find out more here.
Can I apply with other artists?
This residency is only open to one past Leeway grantee at a time. You may work collaboratively on your residency project, however only the selected artist-in-residence will have access to Fleisher’s classes and facilities.
Who decides who receives funding?
An independent review panel – consisting of community-based artists from different ranges, breadths, and depths of art for social change work – decides who gets funded. Leeway staff does not make these decisions.
How long does it take to hear back from the panel?
Grant notification letters are mailed approximately 8-10 weeks after the application deadline.
What are the application questions?
Click here to view the application. After completing the eligibility questions, the application will open and you are free to view and click through the application questions without having to fill out the entire form.
Does the application include a budget?
The application will ask you to include a brief and rough estimate of a budget for your residency, what supplies you anticipate needing as well as any classes you might intend to take. This is primarily to encourage you to think about how you will use your residency stipend, and to help the panel understand what classes, materials, and/or artists fees are essential to your residency.
You can check out any classes you may need to take and their pricing by clicking here. You can also schedule a consultation with NextFab employee, Melissa Guglielmo, Director of Programming + Jewelry Supervisor to better understand services available and pricing by emailing melissa.guglielmo@nextfab.com.
Does the application include work samples?
Yes, the application includes work samples. Applicants can submit up to 5 work samples total. These samples can be:
- images;
- PDFs (max 10 pages each);
- videos (max 10 minutes each); and/or
- website links.
Remember:
- General links to personal or organizational websites are not accepted.
- At least one work sample should reflect work completed within the last five years.
- Work samples should not be “pitch” pieces for this residency but should illustrate the artist’s work.
- If using an online URL, please make sure that work samples are on reliable media servers (e.g. – Vimeo, YouTube, Sound Cloud, etc.) and that content is not password protected.
- Uploads are limited to 25mb - if your attachment is larger than that, please compress the file or use this DropBox link.
Does my workshop have to be open to the public?
No, your workshop (which is traditionally offered mid-way through the residency) does not have to be open to the public. However, it’s important that you are able to identify the specific community in which the workshop is for.
Does my final culminating event have to be open to the public?
Yes, your final culminating event needs to be open to the public. Whether virtually or physically presented, this final event is a space where you share the work you made as part of this residency with the community-at-large. An integral part of this residency is sharing your work out in some way.
I need help with my application. How do I get help?
Leeway staff are here to support! You can:
Schedule an applicant support session by contacting Nicole Pollard, Residency Coordinator, by phone/email at 267-908-7336 or npollard@leeway.org.