Fresh Arts has announced an open call for its Space Taking Artist Residency (STAR) program, now in its sixth year. The program offers selected residents nine weeks of mentor-guided professional development followed by eight weeks of access to a 2,500-square-foot gallery space at Winter Street Studios in Houston's Sixth Ward. Residents receive a $3,600 honorarium and additional stipends, and are expected to activate the space through exhibitions, performances, or community programs. The deadline to apply is December 5, 2025.
This residency matters because it specifically supports traditionally underrepresented multidisciplinary artists and collectives, providing them with professional development, free studio space, and financial support to realize ambitious projects. By empowering artists who often face barriers in the art world, the STAR program helps diversify Houston's cultural landscape and offers a model for equitable residency programs elsewhere.