Vizcaya Arts Residency 2027: $12,500 artist fee and up to $25,000 for South Florida visual artists
A new Miami residency and commission for South Florida artists
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens has opened applications for the first edition of the Vizcaya Arts Residency + Commission. The residency runs from May to November 2027 and culminates in an exhibition at the historic Miami estate from November 2027 through May 2028. The programme supports one South Florida-based visual artist or collaborative collective at an emerging, mid-career or established stage. Applications close on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 11:59pm local time.
This is a particularly compelling opportunity for visual practitioners who work through research, architecture, archives, image-making, digital media, environmental observation or site-responsive installation. The organisers accept a range of visual art practices and media, but the opportunity is not a general grant for technology start-ups, commercial video services or worldwide applicants. The selected project must respond directly to Vizcaya's place and remain suitable for a sustained museum exhibition.
Who qualifies as South Florida-based?
The official FAQ identifies artists working in South Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. There is no requirement to be based specifically within the City of Miami, but applicants must be able to spend meaningful time on site throughout the residency. A visual artist elsewhere in the United States or abroad cannot assume eligibility merely because they can travel to Miami occasionally. Housing and accommodation are not provided, making local presence and realistic commuting or living arrangements essential.
Artists with an LLC may apply, and collectives may apply if their members have an established collaborative artistic practice. The artist fee remains the same for a collective, rather than being multiplied per participant. Applicants may submit only one application: an artist cannot submit separately as an individual and as part of a duo or collective for this programme. Previous participation in Vizcaya's Contemporary Arts Program does not automatically disqualify a candidate.
Funding: $12,500 artist fee plus a separate production budget
The selected applicant will receive a US$12,500 artist fee and a production budget of up to US$25,000 to fabricate, install and present the new work. These are two distinct kinds of support, and the upper production amount is a budget ceiling, not a cash prize guaranteed to the artist. Vizcaya also provides separate compensation for required public programmes and open studio hours. Applicants should base proposals on feasible material, installation and specialist-production requirements.
Beyond the financial support, Vizcaya provides exclusive access to a dedicated studio, curatorial and production guidance, exhibition interpretation, professional photographic documentation, a project brochure, a short documentary film and communication support. The production budget may allow collaboration with outside fabricators when technical expertise is needed, but specialist equipment or offsite production should be properly budgeted and coordinated with the museum.
The dedicated artist studio in Vizcaya Village
The programme's newly rehabilitated studio is located in the historic Chicken House in Vizcaya Village. It measures approximately 375 square feet and is intended for research, testing, making and conceptual development. The selected artist has exclusive use during the residency, generally during Vizcaya's normal operating hours. Not every part of the commissioned artwork must be fabricated inside this studio: specialized production may take place elsewhere as long as it remains within the agreed project scope.
The selected artist must spend at least 10 hours per week at the studio. Because this is not a residential accommodation programme, the studio should not be mistaken for a furnished apartment or living stipend. Artists planning demanding digital fabrication, motion capture, projection systems, immersive sound, large sculptures or complex electronics should ask about the equipment and access limitations before relying on facilities that the museum has not promised.
The 2027 theme: Holding Time
The inaugural theme, Holding Time, asks artists to engage with history, memory, architecture, ecological change and the experience of time at Vizcaya. The museum's historic Main House, collections and gardens create both a setting and a set of research materials. The organisers encourage work that uses the house as a subject and creates new ways for visitors to engage with the place, rather than transporting an unrelated finished exhibition into the estate.
Visual storytelling, experimental moving image, photography, digital animation or a site-responsive video installation may be appropriate if the work functions as an exhibition and meaningfully addresses the site. The official FAQ confirms that video samples are allowed in applications. It also explains that a stand-alone live performance is not eligible when it cannot function as a sustained exhibition; performance elements incorporated into a lasting installation may be considered. None of these examples guarantees acceptance: artistic strength and feasibility remain central to assessment.
Historic preservation restrictions shape the design
Vizcaya's Main House and its decorative collection are historically sensitive. The official FAQ prohibits attaching artwork to historic walls or ceilings by drilling, hooks or other permanent means. Every proposed installation must respect conservation, preservation, safety and site-use guidelines. Artists considering interactive projection, digital sensors or site-specific objects should account for the possible need for freestanding equipment, alternative mounts, cable management and non-invasive installation approaches.
Public engagement is a real programme commitment
During the exhibition period, the selected artist must lead two public programmes, which may take the form of artist talks, workshops, tours or conversations developed with Vizcaya. In addition, the artist must complete ten hours of public open-studio activity during the museum's Sunday Farmers Market, scheduled together with staff. These responsibilities form part of the commission rather than optional extra publicity. The official call says those public activities receive separate compensation.
Application package: concise texts, portfolio and a letter
Applications are submitted through the official SlideRoom portal linked from Vizcaya's open-call page. The required materials include contact information; a short biography of no more than 150 words; an artist statement of no more than 300 words; a CV or résumé; five to ten images of recent work; a statement of interest about Holding Time; and one letter of support. Artists whose projects involve video may also use the supported video-upload features as indicated in the portal.
A complete exhibition design is not required at application stage. The statement of interest should instead explain the questions the artist wants to explore, how the practice could respond to Vizcaya, preliminary directions for a commissioned exhibition and how a residency could enable the research, testing or technical development. A strong proposal addresses the place and the audience without pretending the final work already exists.
How and when will selections be made?
The application deadline is Monday, November 2, 2026 at 11:59pm. Vizcaya expects to notify shortlisted artists by December 31, 2026, interview them in January 2027 and announce the recipient in March 2027. The chosen artist will work on site from May to November 2027, leading to an exhibition from November 2027 through May 2028. Applicants should verify their availability for the weekly studio commitment and exhibition-related public events before applying.
Who owns the work and what happens after the exhibition?
The museum's FAQ states that the commissioned artwork remains the artist's property; Vizcaya does not acquire it for its collection as part of this programme. The work is returned to the artist after the exhibition period. This distinction matters when planning digital files, specialist hardware, installation components or artworks fabricated by third parties. Any additional intellectual-property or presentation arrangements should be checked in the award agreement before costs are incurred.
Practical checklist for visual and digital artists
Before sending the application, confirm a real South Florida working base, ability to spend ten hours a week at Vizcaya, a coherent research response to Holding Time, and an exhibition format that respects conservation restrictions. Then prepare the 150-word biography, 300-word statement, CV, five to ten portfolio images and support letter; test any video links or uploads. Budget separately for the artist fee, production costs and logistical needs. These are editorial preparation suggestions, not promises of admission.