Deadline extended: Apply by Friday, December 19, 11:59pm.  

ABOUT

The Laundromat Project is an arts organization that advances artists and neighbors as change agents in their own communities. We make art and culture in community while fostering leadership among our neighbors through our celebrated Create Change artist development programs, and our creative community-building initiatives across New York City.

CREATE CHANGE 2026

The Laundromat Project invites all NYC-based artists, activists, neighbors, designers, organizers, healers, storytellers, and cultural producers to apply for the 2026 Create Change program as we explore social practices through a community engagement lens. 

The 2026 Open Call marks a milestone: 20 years of community-rooted visioning and the launch of a new two-year residency. This moment invites us to reconsider how we understand time—not as linear, but as symmetrical, layered, and reciprocal.

The theme for this milestone year is Resonant Futures: Time as Echo, Memory, and Motion. Drawing inspiration from African diasporic temporalities, quantum physics, and oral tradition, throughout the program we will explore time as a relational field where memory, ritual, cosmology, and imagination converge. Fellows and Artists-in-Residence will be invited to investigate how their artistic practices engage with concepts of deep time, speculative time, and community memory.

OPEN CALL TIMELINE 

  • Application Opens | November 10, 2025
  • Application Closes | December 19, 2025
  • Award Notification | February 2026

PROGRAM TRACKS

The Create Change 2026 Program has 3 opportunities:

  • The Create Change Fellowship
  • The Create Change Residency
  • The Bed-Stuy Residency

Please review the details of each program track before beginning the application.  Overviews are provided below and in our Guidelines and FAQs documents. 

The Create Change Fellowship | March – September 2026

The Create Change Fellowship is a six-month incubator for multiracial artists and cultural producers committed to art for social transformation. The program is grounded in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, though Fellows are not required to live there. Fellows receive training on working in community as a practice, cultural organizing, policy advocacy, and project planning. They work in small interdisciplinary groups, each paired with a community partner aligned with priority neighborhood concerns. Throughout the program, Fellows will:

  • Engage in hands-on workshops;
  • Co-develop responsive and reciprocal creative projects alongside community partners;
  • Participate in public sharing moments, including Field Day 2026, where prototypes, activations, and research-in-progress will be shared with neighbors and broader publics. 

This is a process-forward program focused on providing transformative and supportive experiences, workshops, and mentorships that foster intentional community creation. Fellows are supported with a stipend of $1,500, production budget, and access to The Laundromat Project’s intergenerational alumni network of artists, organizers, and cultural workers. Fellows commit an average of 6–8 hours per month (approx. 50 hours total).  Up to 12 Fellows will be selected to participate in the 2026 program.

Ideal candidates have some experience with developing collaborative or community-based projects. They are in alignment with LP values and have the experience or capacity to contribute to a collaborative learning environment. 

The Create Change Residency | March 2026 - December 2027

The Create Change Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program supports the development of participatory and community-attuned creative projects by artists of color working within their communities. Projects may take place anywhere in the five boroughs, either in person or virtually, across various community sites, from laundromats and urban gardens to playgrounds and community centers. 

AiRs develop and execute detailed art projects that address relevant issues and engage the community. They participate in community events, lead workshops or public discussions, and collaborate with other artists and community members. The program includes workshop sessions alongside the Create Change Fellows, monthly cohort coaching sessions, and professional development mentorship.  AiRs will receive a total honorarium of $40,000 ($20,000 per year of the residency), a production budget of up to $20,000 ($10,000 per year of the residency), and access to in-depth resources, including specialized materials and advanced professional networks.

Starting in 2026, the AiR program operates on a 2-year cycle to deepen artistic practice, strengthen community relationships, and increase long-term neighborhood impact.

  • Year 1: Focus on deepening practice in place, early-stage project development, and collaborative exploration through Open Studios. Includes individualized coaching, peer learning, and early planning for public work.
  • Year 2: Focus on project implementation, leadership, and partnership engagement aligned with community priority areas (Climate Justice, Economic Justice, Health Equity, Displacement Prevention). Culminates in GATHER, an annual celebration featuring a conversation with and reflections from our 2026 Create Change Artists-in-Residence. 

Up to 4 Create Change Artists-in-Residence will be selected to participate in the 2026-2027 program.

Ideal candidates have experience with developing collaborative or community-based projects. They demonstrate an alignment with LP values, have a background in community organizing and outreach strategies, and are at a catalytic moment within their creative practices. 

The Create Change Bed-Stuy Residency | March 2026 - December 2027

The Create Change Bed-Stuy Residency program supports the development of participatory and community-attuned creative projects by artists of color who live, work, or are otherwise invested in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Projects may take place anywhere in Bed-Stuy, either in person or virtually, across various community sites, from laundromats and urban gardens to playgrounds and community centers. 

Bed-Stuy AiRs develop and execute detailed art projects that address relevant issues and engage the community. They participate in community events, lead workshops or public discussions, and collaborate with other artists and community members. The program includes workshop sessions alongside the Create Change Fellows, monthly cohort coaching sessions, and professional development mentorship.  AiRs will receive a total honorarium of $40,000 ($20,000 per year of the residency), a production budget of up to $20,000 ($10,000 per year of the residency), and access to in-depth resources, including specialized materials and advanced professional networks.

Starting in 2026, the Bed-Stuy AiR program operates on a 2-year cycle to deepen artistic practice, strengthen community relationships, and increase long-term neighborhood impact.

  • Year 1: Focus on deepening practice in place, early-stage project development, and collaborative exploration through Open Studios. Includes individualized coaching, peer learning, and early planning for public work.
  • Year 2: Focus on project implementation, leadership, and partnership engagement aligned with community priority areas (Climate Justice, Economic Justice, Health Equity, Displacement Prevention). Culminates in GATHER, an annual celebration featuring a conversation with and reflections from our 2026 Create Change Artists-in-Residence.

1 Bed-Stuy Artists-in-Residence will be selected to participate in the 2026-2027 program.

Ideal candidates have experience with developing collaborative or community-based projects. They demonstrate an alignment with LP values, have a background in community organizing and outreach strategies, and are at a catalytic moment within their creative practices. 

ELIGIBILITY

The Laundromat Project accepts applications from artists who: 

  • Are 21 years or older;
  • Live in one of the five NYC boroughs;
  • Are not enrolled in a degree-seeking program;
  • Are in alignment with The Laundromat Project’s values and POC-centered principles;
  • Demonstrate a practice or deep interest in socially and community engaged art;
  • Are familiar with the cultural history and local issues impacting communities of color;

We value applications with diverse backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and expertise, while encouraging age diversity, multilingual folks, and practitioners without formal arts education to apply. 

RESOURCES

Review the Guidelines and  FAQs documents before applying. 

Email us at apply@laundromatproject.org if you have a question about the application. 

Ends on
Apply to 2026 Bed-Stuy Create & Connect Fund

ABOUT  The Bed-Stuy Create & Connect Fund is a hyperlocal micro-grant program offered annually and directly managed by The LP. The Fund aims to enrich community life in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, by resourcing the creative ideas of civic actions of artists, cultural practitioners, community organizers, activists, and neighbors. 

For the 2026 cycle, we will grant up to 20 project proposals with $1500 each. We are looking for creative initiatives or civic projects that emerge from community needs, foster meaningful connections, and ignite socially conscious conversations. In other words, we aim to support community building amongst neighbors through community-led action.

We encourage both individuals and collectives to apply if you have a new project or an ongoing initiative that positively impacts and engages a Bed-Stuy group, audience, or community. We are particularly interested in proposals that nurture creativity, uplift local legacies, foster community wellness, or inspire collective advocacy. 

The Laundromat Project will reserve up to 5 grant awards for proposals that embody or engage our organization-wide theme, Black Quantum Futurism, which interrogates how time, space, and memory can inform our collective liberation.

Proposals that show potential creative and civic impact in Bed-Stuy will be prioritized. 

 KEY DATES             

Applications Open: Wednesday, April 1, 2026            

Applications Close: Friday, May 1, 2026            

Decision Notification: Late-June 2025

 GUIDELINES 

  • For the 2026 cycle, award amounts are $1,500 USD each. The awards are payable by PayPal, paper check, or ACH bank transfer. The award is inclusive of production, supplies, and materials costs.
  • The themes of the fund are community building, nurturing creativity, uplifting local legacies, collective wellness, and collective advocacy for communities in Bed-Stuy. You can creatively explore these topics with local communities of your choice across Bed-Stuy neighborhoods.
  • Recipients have up to one year (between July 2026 and September 2027) from the selection announcement to use their funding.
  • Recipients will be asked to share documentation (images, recordings, etc), related project statistics, and submit a short survey to provide reflection and feedback on the Bed-Stuy Create & Connect Fund initiative.
  • Applicants for collaborative works or applicants applying on behalf of a group or organized body should select one member to submit an application for review.
  • Applicants can only be awarded a grant once within a calendar year. An awardee of a collective may also apply as an individual within the same calendar year. However, please note that we prioritize new applicants. Previous awardees are invited to apply to Create & (Re)Connect.
  • Applicants can apply with new project ideas, ongoing initiatives or programs, or new iterations of past actions. Only one solo submission per applicant is permitted per year. An applicant can only be represented on one solo or collaborative submission.
  • There is no additional project production support from The LP with the award. The LP may assess opportunities for collaboration on a case by case basis, including co-production, technical support, facilitating connections, etc.
  • The LP may inquire about featuring you and the project on social media.
  • Awards cannot fund projects that are already completed prior to when the grant awardees are announced. In other words, the funding cannot go towards paying outstanding balances on an already-completed initiative or event.
  • Projects, events, and/or activities should be offered for free to participants, audience, and community members.

 SELECTION CRITERIA  LP staff members will review applications and select grant recipients. We will evaluate proposals based on the following criteria. 

  • Overall clarity and feasibility of the proposed project
  • Thoughtful engagement with a specific community in Bed-Stuy 
  • Demonstrated understanding of community needs and potential for impact
  • Alignment with at least one of our thematic foci:                                              
    • nurture creativity, uplift local legacies, foster community wellness, or inspire collective advocacy   

     

Accepted proposals must be implemented by the applicant independently without additional production or staffing support from The Laundromat Project, and in consideration of public health and safety guidelines. We aim to select 20 recipients for the 2025 cycle of the Bed-Stuy Create & Connect Fund. 

Contact our Artist & Community Development team at community@laundromatproject.org with any questions.

 ELIGIBILITY   Self-organized groups or collectives (e.g.,. sewing clubs, writers groups, mutual aid groups); formal organizations (e.g., block associations, tenant associations); and individuals (at least 18 years of age) living, working, or otherwise committed to and invested in Bed-Stuy are eligible to apply. Please note the legacy of place is a core value of this fund, so proposals must be responsive to or centered within the Bed-Stuy neighborhood and its communities. 

We also see the allocation of this fund as a way to help counter structural, systemic injustices in Bed-Stuy. Therefore, we will prioritize the following:

  • Proposals led by residents born and/or raised in Bed-Stuy, generational Bed-Stuy residents, and residents who have lived in Bed-Stuy for more than 10 years
  • Proposals led by individuals who have been displaced from Bed-Stuy as a result of gentrification and lack of affordable housing
  • Proposals led by individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, Native, and/or People of Color
  • Proposals led by individuals in the disability community, including immunocompromised individuals
  • Proposals led by individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+

 TYPES OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Proposed projects must include a publicly accessible component that activates or takes place in Bed-Stuy (between July 2026 and September 2027) and provides Bed-Stuy community members with the opportunity to experience, interact with, or contribute to meaningful initiatives across creative and civic practice. 

Public components may be held in-person, virtually, or some combination of both. Public components can include, but are not limited to, panel discussions, presentations, webinars, IG Lives, recording sessions, exhibitions, performances, festivals, listening parties, screenings, readings, and creative workshops. 

Preference is given to public programs or initiatives that are free and held live in community spaces outside of The Laundromat Project (i.e., libraries, parks, gardens, senior centers, storefront shops, restaurants, laundromats).   

Eligible proposals may include, but are not limited to:

Workshops and Classes

  • Art-making (e.g., painting, sculpture, printmaking, film, collage, dance, music);
  • Skill-sharing (e.g., Creating an Artist Portfolio, Grant Writing 101) 
  • Cultural activities (e.g., folk arts & traditions, ritual, storytelling) 
  • Community Teach-Ins & Public Education Workshops

Storytelling Initiatives

  • Community Podcasts;
  • Story Circles & Readings;
  • Oral History, Material, and Digital Archives

Public Performances or Outdoor Activations

  • Dance (e.g., hip hop, jazz, folk);
  • Theater (e.g., drama, comedy, musicals); 
  • Spoken Word Poetry or Open-mic;

Community and Place-based Projects

  • Public Murals;
  • Walking Tours;
  • Public Installations;
  • Creative Scavenger Hunts;
  • Sidewalk Chalk Art Competitions;
  • Community Bike Rides or Roller Skating activations;
  • Mapping and Wayfinding projects.

Gatherings for Intergenerational Community

  • Sewing or Knitting Clubs;
  • Community Book Clubs;
  • Game Nights;
  • Writing Groups;
  • Singing Circles.

Civic Engagement

  • Community Organizing;
  • Food or Clothing Drives;
  • Community Resource Pantries;
  • Wellness initiatives (i.e. herbalism & healing, yoga, double dutch, tennis);
  • Campaigns that strengthen “connections to place” in Bed-Stuy;
  • Mail or postal projects that encourage social connectedness;
  • Innovative activations around mutual aid or cultural organizing;
  • Community Gardening, Composting, or Sustainable Farming programs.

Support towards arts and cultural festivals, including art making at block parties or fairs.

 TYPES OF INELIGIBLE PROJECTS

  • Solo production of artworks made for personal practice
  • Proposals with no involvement, impact, or engagement with additional stakeholders or a broader community in Bed-Stuy
  • Projects, events, and/or activities that require an admission or participation fee
  • Proposals that seek to fund the operation of a business
  • Proposals that seek to fund the product development or sale of a commercial good

 DEFINING ART    At The Laundromat Project, artists are community organizers, and community organizers are artists. To be an artist is to be a creative problem-solver. Creative problem-solvers tap into communities and utilize resources to create and manifest ideas. 

By The LP’s definition, we consider any cultural tradition, practice, object, or action made with creative intent and grounded in community as art. This includes the visual, media, literary, and performing arts, as well as archival curation, scholarship, oral history, education, healing, gardening, community organizing, activism, and other modes of cultural production. 

You do not have to consider yourself an artist or community organizer to apply.

 

The Laundromat Project