2026 Washington Square Park Teaching Artist Residency
Description
Make your mark on Washington Square Park!
Washington Square Park Conservancy (WSPC) offers a unique opportunity for artists to share their practice with the public this summer. Now in its third year, the objective of WSPC’s Teaching Artist Residency is to support teaching artists and engage the public through accessible and inclusive weekly programming under the shade of Washington Square Park’s trees.
The residency is a month-long engagement that will take place every Saturday afternoon from 1pm to 3pm in the park’s Scrabble Plaza. Each ‘class’ is two hours long with all material costs supported by WSPC. Teaching artists’ practice must be easily transferable to elements of outdoor teaching, public engagement, and need to accommodate walk-up participants. Previous artists have successfully executed plein air watercolor painting, collage, ink painting, mixed media, and drawing. The ideal residency candidate will have teaching experience and be comfortable working in a fast-paced and eclectic environment.
For further examples of mediums that have been successfully executed by previous Teaching Artists – please click here.
Requirements
- Resident Artists must live in New York City or be of reliable commuting distance.
- Teaching artists’ practice must be easily transferable to elements of outdoor teaching and work with small amounts of water and without the use of electricity
- Classes must be designed to be drop in and accommodate participants who arrive late or need to leave early
- General Liability Insurance required and must be secured in advance of the class.
- Classes work best when they do not build on each other but instead work on a different concept or prompt within each medium every week
- If selected, artists are encouraged to make a site visit with Programs Director in advance of their time teaching
WSPC will provide all materials required by the artist necessary to lead the class as well as provide a stipend of $1000 for teaching and preparation during the selected month. The teaching artist residency will be held in May, June, July, August, September and October. Each artist will teach four classes during their selected month. Months are offered on a first come, first serve basis, please note your scheduling preference in your application. Applications will be accepted until March 1st, 2026 or on a rolling basis until all months are filled.
Successful applicants will be notified of their acceptance by April. Applicants may email Kaitlyn Yates, Programs Director, with any questions by February 25th, 2026 to ensure a response.
WSPC is under the jurisdiction of NYC Parks and expects all candidates to understand and follow the rules of NYC Parks. All artistic practice must not be detrimental to any monuments, tables or benches. All artists must hold or be prepared to secure liability insurance for their time at the park.
How to apply
All applicants must fill out this form to be considered. Any questions or supplemental materials may be submitted to Kaitlyn Yates, Programs Director, at kaitlyn@washingtonsqpark.org by 2/26/2026.
Application Deadline: 03/01/2026