FAQs

Where is the residency? 
The residency is on the 40,000 sq foot 4th floor of Project 14C, which is located at 157B 1st Street in the Powerhouse Arts District of downtown Jersey City.

We are located two blocks from the Grove Street PATH Station. The PATH train runs from New Jersey to Manhattan on two different lines. Grove Street is two stops from the World Trade Center and two to five stops from the Greenwich Village and Chelsea neighborhoods.

What do you mean by “special project”? 
These 24 studios on the 4th floor of Project 14C will be the venue for the 6th Edition of Art Fair 14C in May 2025, but until then they would otherwise be empty. A large part of our mission is to provide opportunities for artists, and we wanted to find a way to make these spaces useful during the late winter months, so we are pleased to be able to provide these large studio spaces to artists who need extra work space for a project that can be completed within the time period.

What kind of projects are you looking for? 
This is an opportunity to use the space that we have to provide artists of all disciplines with large work spaces and a creative environment. If you have had a project on the back burner because of lack of space, this might be the perfect opportunity.

We’re looking for interesting projects, ones that can engage the public but aren’t necessarily commercial. We’ll be considering all kinds of arts proposals – whether a series of large paintings, an installation, a textile workshop, play rehearsal, film production, fashion design – we’re open to all creative endeavors that can result in finished work that can be experienced by the public on the weekend of April 11-13.

What kind of studios are they, what kind of facilities do they have? 
The 24 studios range in size from 877 sq ft (81.5 sq m) to 1054 sq ft (140 sq m), have concrete floors and ceiling heights of approximately 12 feet (it’s an industrial space, so ceiling height can vary). Each studio has two bathrooms and a kitchenette – the spaces were built in 2020 as dormitories for students at Nyack College, which closed down in 2023.

There is furniture from the college that was left behind, and is available for use by residency artists, including desks and storage spaces.

Artists who need to wash brushes and tools need to use the designated utility sink on the 4th floor, not their bathroom or kitchen sinks.

Can I live in the studio space as well as work there? 
Possibly – it is expected that most participating artists will live in the area and use the studio as a work space, but for accepted artists who are not from the Jersey City/New York City area who need to use the studios as live/work, there is a $500 per month fee ($1250 for the entire residency), payable upon acceptance.  The studios do have full bathrooms and there are beds and other furnishings available without charge.

Are there any restrictions on this residency? 
Yes – because Project 14C is in an historic landmark building, we cannot allow artistic practices that involve open flame or toxic fumes – that includes aerosols, some oil paint media and some spray fixatives.

The residency also has a strict timeline. It begins on February 1st and ends on April 13, 2025.  All projects must be complete and ready to show by April 11.

Artists will have 7-day, 24-hour access to their studios, but must be present during public open hours.
The residency studios will be open to the public during its midpoint, on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm from February 22 through March 23, and at the end of the residency from 5pm to 8pm on April 11, and 1-4pm on April 12 & 13.

What happens during the open public days? 
For 4 weekends during the middle of the residency – and 3 days at the end of the residency – the studios will be open to the public for a period of three hours.

Mid-residency it’s a chance for art lovers to meet the artists and observe the creative process. You should plan on working during that time, but with the awareness that your work time will have some public interaction.

By the final weekend the special projects should all be complete, and the artists should be there to engage with the public.

Not all work created during this program will be for sale, but if any sales do happen, 14C would handle all purchase arrangements and take a 25% commission.

The studio space is really free? 
Yes, the studio space is free – but there is a charge for utitlities (electricity, wifi, key app) of $100 per month, which is $250 for the entire residency period, payable upon acceptance.

For artists using the space as live/work, there is a $500 per month fee ($1250 for the entire residency), payable upon acceptance.

As noted above, any artwork sales that may happen during the residency would be facilitated by 14C and the artist would retain 75% of the purchase price.

What if I can’t pay the utility fee? 
There is a section on the application for special circumstances that would result in a fee waiver.

What happens at the end of the residency? 
Artists must pack up their work and supplies and vacate the studios, leaving the spaces as they found them and in broom clean condition. The 6th Edition of Art Fair 14C will start to set up in the spaces on April 15. One of the special projects will be selected for exhibition at the 6th Edition of Art Fair 14C. 

If I miss out on this residency, can I apply again next year? 
This 2 1/2 month residency is a one-time only occurance, brought about because these are the early days of Project 14C and the 4th floor loft studio spaces have to remain open in anticipation of the 6th Edition of Art Fair 14C.

Artists who are interested in the 12-month live-work residency program should look through information about Project 14C.

Artists interested in renting work space on the 6th floor of Project 14C should contact us at [email protected].

I have more questions! 
Contact us at [email protected] and put “Special Project Residency” in the subject line.