su-casa artist residency

SU-CASA is a community arts engagement program that places artists in residence at senior centers across the five boroughs of New York City. The program, funded in FY26 by the New York City Council, provides grants to artists for the creation and delivery of arts programming for seniors. Teaching artists will engage participating seniors in an art project or series of cultural programs over the course of the residency, which will also include a public program component – an exhibit, reading, performance, open houses or other cultural interactions open to the surrounding community. The program will support residencies for individual artists at senior centers across the City’s 51 Council districts. Residencies will take place in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

This initiative seeks to connect artists with seniors in senior centers and to positively impact the well-being of older adults through arts-based activities. SU-CASA supports artists sensitive to the needs of older adults and who are interested in engaging their communities. Selected artists will work with the senior center where they are placed to further refine project goals and coordinate a schedule for residency activities and use of facilities.

Individual artists are eligible to participate in partnership with select local arts councils.

Residency grants to include a requirement of 20 contact hours. Contact hours include participant engagement time and may also include participant work time. These hours do not include planning, preparation, or travel.