Call for 309 AIR Research Fellowship
309 Punk Project | Pensacola, Florida
Residency Term: March–December 2026
Application Deadline: Accepting Applications through March 31st
The 309 Punk Project invites applications for the 309 AIR Research Fellowship, a long-term residency offering an affordable, stable, furnished living space within a supportive, artist-run environment.
This 6–12 month fellowship is designed for artists and cultural workers whose practices are self-directed, research-oriented, or portable, and who do not require a large studio. It is ideal for writers, photographers, filmmakers, curators, archivists, researchers, and interdisciplinary artists seeking time, continuity, and community.
At its core, this fellowship exists to provide what is often hardest to access: time, space, and affordability.
FELLOWSHIP APPROACH
The 309 Research Fellowship is intentionally low-pressure and non-extractive.
There are no required outcomes, no production quotas, and no mandatory public programming. We do not require a formal project proposal.
Instead, we offer a structure that prioritizes:
- Sustained time for thinking, writing, and developing ideas
- Access to a community of artists and cultural workers
- A supportive, artist-run environment grounded in DIY ethics
- Optional opportunities for dialogue, exchange, and public engagement
- Fellows are always welcome, but never obligated, to share work, organize events, or participate in programming during their stay.
WARHOL-ALIGNED SUPPORT
This fellowship is made possible in part through support from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, aligning with its commitment to:
- Artist-centered support that prioritizes process over product
- Expanding access to resources for artists outside traditional institutions
- Sustaining artist-run and community-based infrastructures
- Enabling long-term, self-directed creative development
- By reducing financial barriers, this program supports artists in ways that are often not possible within short-term, output-driven residencies.
RESIDENCY STRUCTURE
- Fellows are provided with a private, furnished upstairs room within the 309 Punk House, functioning as a combined living and working space.
- Residents live within a shared house that includes:
- Kitchen, bathroom, and common area
- Access to the 309 Archives (art, zines, flyers, recordings, ephemera)
- Proximity to ongoing exhibitions, performances, and public programs
- The upstairs space is best suited for quiet, focused, and self-directed practices.
COST
$700/month (all-inclusive: rent, utilities, internet) | Cost is subsidized in part through Warhol Foundation support
This model reflects our commitment to keeping space accessible while sustaining the longevity of the project.
WHO THIS IS FOR
This fellowship is a strong fit for individuals who:
- Are self-motivated and comfortable working independently
- Value time, stability, and a supportive environment
- Do not require a large studio or fabrication space
- Are interested in being part of an artist-run, community-centered space
- We welcome a wide range of practices, including those that are in-progress, exploratory, or evolving.
DURATION
- 6 months to 1 year
- Flexible start dates as early as March 1, 2026
EXPECTATIONS
We ask only that fellows:
- Respect the shared nature of the house
- Contribute to a culture of mutual care and consideration
- Maintain clear communication during their stay
- There are no required deliverables.
APPLICATION
Please submit the following:
Letter of Interest describing your practice and how it aligns with the mission of 309 Punk Project
Links to recent work (website, Vimeo, writing samples, etc.)
Optional: CV or resume
Preferred start date and length of stay
Send to: [email protected]
Subject line: 309 AIR Research Fellowship Application
ABOUT 309
309 Punk Project is an artist-run, community-driven space dedicated to DIY culture, experimental practices, and archival preservation. Through residencies, exhibitions, performances, and publications, 309 supports artists working outside traditional institutional frameworks
LOCATION
The 309 Punk Project is located in Pensacola, Florida, a Gulf Coast city with a layered cultural history. The residency is situated within:
- Walking distance to downtown Pensacola (restaurants, bars, galleries, music venues, and bookstores)
- Minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches
- Within an active, evolving network of artist-run and community-based spaces across Pensacola, Mobile, and New Orleans
NOTE
This is a shared living environment shaped by respect, independence, and collective care. Fellows should be comfortable coexisting within an active, evolving community space.
