Artistic excellence is the primary criterion for acceptance into the EFA Studio Program.

Applications from visual artists will be considered by a panel of arts professionals in February 2024 for move-in starting May 2024. Studio memberships are awarded for two years and can be renewed following a review process. We accept between 6 -12 artists a year and receive 200-300 applications per cycle.

Applicants are required to submit an application, statement, work samples, and resume. This is a free application. Applications are reviewed anonymously and evaluated based on artistic merit demonstrated in the work sample. Finalists will be invited for in-person interviews, and all applicants will be informed of the committee’s decision by March 15, 2024.

New Member Application Guidelines & Review Process

I. About EFA Studio Program Membership

Membership
Membership is available to artists through an application and selection process. Members receive a private studio for a period of up to two years that is subsidized at below market cost. Membership renewal is possible after two years through a reapplication process.

Location
All studios are located in the EFA Center at 323 West 39th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues in Midtown Manhattan.

Description and Cost
Studios range in size from 200 to 440 square feet. The ceilings are 11′ high. Membership fees vary according to the size and shape of the studio assigned to the artist and the artist’s demonstrated financial need. Subsidized membership fees range from $634 to $2022 per month. In addition, each member pays a monthly due of $80.00. The EFA Center is equipped with passenger and freight elevators, shared restroom facilities, wash sinks, and common areas with a coffee maker, sink, refrigerator and microwave oven. All studios have free access to the Internet via an Ethernet connection. Normal usage of heat, air-conditioning, electricity and common areas are included in the monthly membership dues. Access to studios is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Eligibility
Visual artists working in all forms of media are eligible. The program is designed for artists with a developed studio practice and career. Applicants cannot be enrolled in a college or university degree-granting program. Certain types of work cannot be accommodated for practical reasons, including large or heavy sculptures, some types of metal work, and work involving high noise levels or fire risk. Applications are judged solely on the quality of the work as presented. EFA does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, or marital status. Artists must be citizens of the United States or must be legal U.S residents during their tenure.

Deadlines and Notification Process
All applications must be submitted between October 1 and December 1 at midnight. All applicants will receive an automatic email response after successfully completing their application. All applicants will be notified by email by March 1 of the outcome of their application. Please do not call the office for selection results.

Composition of the Artistic Merit Selection Panel
The Artistic Merit Selection Panel is a five-person, independent panel of prominent artists and art professionals. Members of the Panel change for each intake process.

II. Application Instructions

Requirements
Applicants must submit their full application online. You must read all instructions thoroughly and adhere to the requirements.

All applications will include the following:

• Work Samples (8 images or 3 minutes of video)

• Image Captions

• Current Resume

• Explanation of Work

Work Samples

Please submit images unless your primary media is film or media.

Applicants Submitting Images:

• All images should be in jpeg format.

• Maximum size: 3MB or 1500 pixels in any direction.

• Save each image as: "yourlastname_yourfirstname_01"

  (ex. Smith_Jane_01.jpg, Smith_Jane_02.jpg, etc).

• Only one artwork per image (no composite images). Installation shots showing

  several pieces are acceptable.

• NO captions or descriptive text is allowed to identify the artwork or the artist on

  the images or video.

Applicants Submitting Video:

• Video submissions are reserved for moving image media. Only submit film or video intended for a screen. Installation and performance documentation and gallery walkthroughs submitted as video will be disqualified.

• The Panel will watch up to 3 minutes of the video submission and may limit their review to the first 30 seconds. A reel of short works or excerpts can be submitted if titles are placed between segments.

• DO NOT include your name in your title image or in the credits of your time-based piece or you will be disqualified.

• Video samples must include a link (URL) to a 3-MINUTE video WITHOUT the artist’s name on the video or account name.

• You may submit a link to a video posted on any website, including YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Please make sure that there are no privacy settings prohibiting the viewing of the video. If there is a password, please include it in the form.

Here is a page explaining private videos on

YouTube: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/157177
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/help/faq/managing-your-videos/privacy-settings

***Please note that the Artistic Merit Selection Panel will review only one format: images or video for each candidate.

Image List
You will be prompted to enter the title, date, medium, and dimensions for all images submitted. For video submissions, please include the title, duration and description of the sample provided.

Resume
Please submit your current resume. Save your Resume as a .doc or .pdf  file as: “yourlastname_yourfirstname_Resume” (ex. Smith_Jane_Resume)

Explanation of Work (250 words)
Briefly explain the context of your practice, your inspirations, or any material or conceptual considerations that might not be evident in your images. If there are specific cultural references in your work please highlight that here. Please use plain and direct language.

III. Review Process

New Member applications are processed in three phases.

Phase 1: Open Call and Review of Submissions
The Artistic Merit Selection Panel will meet in February to review applications submitted to the EFA Studio Program during the open call. Each applicant’s images will be projected one-by-one, in the order in which they are labeled. If reviewing a video submission, the Panel will only watch the first 3 minutes. While viewing the work, members of the Panel may ask to hear more information about the work presented, which is read from the provided image list or explanation of work.

The Panel will judge the artistic merit of the work as presented. Applicant names are not disclosed to the panel during the selection process. Each applicant is represented by a number to ensure anonymity and focus on the work.

After reviewing the work of all applicants through four or five rounds, the Panel will submit a list of recommended finalists to the EFA Studio Program.

Phase 2: Selection of Finalists and Alternates
Applicants chosen as finalists by the Artistic Merit Selection Panel will be notified by email or mail by March 1 and invited to EFA for a membership interview. They will be asked for the following additional application materials at that time:

• Two Letters of Reference: One reference to demonstrate financial responsibility (e.g. a landlord) and one reference to demonstrate commitment to a professional art career.

• Financial Information: If you are applying for a subsidized space you will be required to file a provided personal financial statement and full Federal Income Tax returns for the last 2 years you filed taxes. (e.g. 2021 & 2022)

• Additional Information About Studio Needs/ Preferences: We will try to accommodate your preferences to ensure that your studio is the best space for your specific practice. For example, do you need a studio with or without windows?

Alternates

Up to six alternates identified by the Artistic Merit Panel will be notified of their status by email in March. Should finalists be eliminated or choose not to join the Studio Program, we will invite alternates to complete the finalist process.

Phase 3: Selected Artists Move In
Accepted finalists will view available studios and fill out all required membership paperwork in order to take possession of their new studio spaces at EFA Studios in May.

Please contact studios@efanyc.org or 212.563.5855 ext 230 if you need accommodation in completing the online application.