Aurora PhotoCenter’s residencies offer invaluable opportunities for artistic development and highlight our Indianapolis arts community as a center of creative production. In collaboration with our partners, including Herron School of Art + Design and Tube Factory Artspace, Aurora offers three residencies in 2025: The Aurora + Herron Residency, the Aurora Project Residency, and the Aurora Workspace Residency. Artists may apply for multiple residencies depending on eligibility.
2025 Aurora + Herron Residency
August 11-22, 2025
2024 Aurora + Herron Resident William Camargo Getting a tour of the Herron darkrooms from Ben Martinkus on the first day of his residency.
Zone VI enlarger available at herron darkrooms
The Aurora + Herron Residency, a collaboration between Aurora PhotoCenter and Herron School of Art and Design/IU Indianapolis, offers a two-week intensive work period in the Herron darkroom facility and studios for experimentation, research, and development of new or ongoing projects. While the Aurora + Herron Residency is open to proposals without limitation to subject, style, or working method, priority for the residency will be given to projects that require the use of the world-class darkroom facility available at Herron. To read more about the Herron Photography Department’s darkroom and studios facility, click here.
One (1) Aurora + Herron Residency will be awarded in 2025. The residency includes: a $2,000 stipend*, darkroom access with basic chemistry** supplied, onsite darkroom and studio support by Herron Photography Technician Benjamin Martinkus, and a place to stay. The residency is open to all artists working in photography or photo-based media. Artists from any country or region may apply; artists are responsible for travel arrangements to and from Indianapolis, Indiana, for the residency, with travel reimbursement up to $500.
Artists in residence are expected to manage their own work schedules and goals; artists will also manage their own meals and laundry. During the residency, interaction with the local arts community, or public talks or performance, will be encouraged and facilitated, but not required. Residents will be asked to give a talk about their work and residency experience at a mutually-agreed upon time.
Please note that due to limited space and resources, Aurora does not currently support friends, family members, children, or pets accompanying artists during residencies.
* Collaborative projects will split the $2,000 stipend.
** Please inquire about specific chemistry supplied.
2025 Application Timeline and Selection Process
Application Opens: January 1, 2025
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
All Applicants Notified of Status via Email: On or before May 1, 2025
2025 Aurora + Herron Residency Period: August 11-22, 2025
All submissions must be received by the stated deadline in order to be considered. Due to the high number of applications, Aurora is not able to provide individualized feedback on applications.
The 2025 Aurora + Herron Resident will be selected by a panel comprised of Aurora PhotoCenter board members, Indianapolis art community members, and art advisors and professionals. The primary criteria for selection include:
* Artistic merit: Quality, nature, and consistency of the work samples and degree to which samples support proposed residency goals.
* Project merit: Potential for the creation of new and significant research/work during the residency.
* Facility merit: Degree and nature of proposed Herron darkrooms and facility use.
* Feasibility merit: Potential for artist to maximize residency opportunity and resources.
The Aurora + Herron Residency would not be possible without the following partnerships.
Herron School of Art + Design will supply darkroom access, basic chemistry, and onsite support during the residency. Aurora PhotoCenter thanks Herron School of Art + Design for its generous support of this residency.
Pending scheduling, residents will stay at Tube Factory Artspace in their artist bed and breakfast located on Cruft Street in the Garfield Park area of Indianapolis. Aurora PhotoCenter thanks Tube Factory Artspace and Big Car for generously supporting this residency. Our partnership is part of a program for visiting artists working in different genres staying and working at the Tube Factory campus all year.
