With a focus on experimentation and collaboration, Dieu Donné founded the Workspace Program in 1990 to provide emerging New York State based artists with the opportunity to explore hand papermaking and to utilize its processes to produce a body of work. In this unique program, artists work collaboratively with master papermakers, which is essential to providing artists an opportunity to create work in a medium that is outside of their traditional practice.

Artists apply for the Workspace Program residency through an online application form (available June 1-June 30, 2013), a current resume, and up to 10 images of their work. A changing panel of curators, critics, and art professionals select finalists based on the quality of work samples. These individuals are then interviewed by the Dieu Donné artistic staff for selection of the final residency artists.

The Workspace Program is open to emerging artists who live and work in New York State. Artists from all disciplinary and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applications will not be accepted from students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs during the program year (July 2013 - June 2014). Applicants must be New York State residents and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. Applications are only accepted via our online application; please do not mail or e-mail application materials.

The Dieu Donné Workspace Program residency includes introduction to the medium and process, 5 days in the studio with a dedicated papermaking collaborator, an exhibition opportunity in the Dieu Donné ground floor gallery, and digital documentation of all the work created during the residency. Each artist is paired with a master papermaker creating a unique collaborative experience where a new medium can be quickly learned and put into practice. Experimentation is highly encouraged throughout the residency.

The Workspace Program provides annual residencies to New York State artists to create new work in handmade paper. The program encourages emerging artists to explore the creative possibilities inherent in the hand papermaking process, to develop this medium as a contemporary art form.