Apply to Native Neon
Native Neon is a $50,000 residency that opens neon, one of contemporary art’s most technically demanding media, to Indigenous artists. Each year, one artist who has never worked in neon spends 7–10 days at Lite Brite Neon Studio in Kingston, NY, designing and producing an original work alongside the studio’s craftspeople.
Neon depends on specialized equipment, glass-bending expertise, and high-voltage systems that few artists can access on their own. Native Neon covers all of it, from concept to completion, and the artist keeps the finished work with full rights to it.
$10,000 stipend plus fully funded fabrication, materials, studio time, and instruction, for a total value of $50,000.
The Native Neon Advisory Council: Marie Watt (Seneca Nation), Matteline Devries-Dilling, and Reid Walker.
One Indigenous artist each year, working in any discipline, who has not worked in neon before.
Overview
The selected artist will spend 7–10 consecutive days working on site at Lite Brite Neon Studio in Kingston, NY. During the residency, the artist will collaborate closely with experienced neon craftspeople to design and produce one completed neon artwork.
This is a supported, teaching-focused residency. Artists are not expected to arrive with technical neon knowledge. The studio team will lead fabrication while working closely with the artist to translate their ideas into neon form.
The residency will conclude with a small public presentation of the work.
What You’ll Learn
Native Neon is a teaching residency, not an apprenticeship. You will not be expected to perform technical fabrication independently.
During the residency, you’ll gain exposure to:
The goal is to give artists the knowledge and confidence to imagine and pursue neon work in the future through collaboration with professional fabricators.
What’s Included
The finished artwork belongs entirely to the artist, along with full intellectual property rights. The residency process will be documented for archival and promotional purposes by the Walker Youngbird Foundation.
Studio Environment & Accessibility
Lite Brite Neon Studio is an active fabrication space located in a former creamery building built in 1910. As a working neon studio, the environment includes ongoing production activity.
The residency involves:
We are committed to supporting access needs wherever possible. If you have questions about the studio environment or would like to discuss accommodations, we strongly encourage you to reach out before applying so we can have a thoughtful conversation about what may be possible. Residency housing will be off site from the studio.
Application Criteria
This residency is open to artists who meet all of the following criteria:
The Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by the Walker Youngbird Foundation and Lite Brite Neon Studio. Final selection is made by the Native Neon Advisory Council, which includes:
Selection is based on:
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