Basque Artist Program

The Fall 2026 Basque Artist Program will select two Basque artists to participate in a cultural enrichment program organized by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in New York (“Guggenheim New York”).  The Program will introduce participating artists to the New York art scene, with a particular focus on museums, non-profit arts spaces, and artists’ studios. This Program is designed to offer a meaningful learning experience for artists at the beginning of their careers and to support the advancement of their artistic practice and goals.

The Program is open to emerging artists born in and/or who have been resident in the Basque Country (Autonomous Community of the Basque Country) since at least January 1, 2025.  Applicants must be fluent in spoken and written English.  Only applicants born after January 1, 1991 are eligible.

Program Period

The Program will consist of activities taking place over 12 days scheduled during a four-week period between 26 October and 20 November, 2026.  Exact dates will be confirmed.

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted by

June 26, 2026

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Program Description

The program aims to introduce Basque artists to artists, curators, institutions, and other creative practitioners in New York, fostering cultural exchange and supporting the development of participants’ professional skills, including communication, technical innovation, and engagement with contemporary artistic practices.

Participating artists will be introduced to local cultural institutions and connected with artists, curators, and other members of New York’s creative community, as well as with Guggenheim New York staff from across its departments.

No later than one month after the conclusion of the Program, each artist will be asked to submit a brief reflection describing how the experience may inform their future artistic practice.

Funding

Each selected artist will receive funding of USD 4,000 at the beginning of the Program to help defray the costs of travel and participation. Artists are expected to attend all scheduled Program activities.  In the event of significant non-attendance, an artist may be required to refund a proportional amount of the payment.

Visas and Insurance

Guggenheim New York expects that artists will apply for Electronic System Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov).  If additional visa support is required, applicants should indicate this in their application.  Artists will be responsible for submitting all required travel authorization or visa applications and paying any related fees, as well as securing medical, travel or other appropriate insurance.

Housing and Travel

Artists are responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel and accommodations. Housing is not provided, but the participating artists will receive a list of suggested housing resources.

Applicants must complete the application form in full and submit it together with all requested supporting materials. All application materials must be submitted in English, except for official documents.

Applications will be reviewed by the Guggenheim curatorial staffs with the aim of selecting the best-qualified artists for the Program.  Interviews will be conducted remotely via videoconference as part of the review process. Final selection will be based on each applicant’s demonstrated skills, experience, and potential to benefit from and contribute to the Program.

Only selected applicants will be notified at least eight weeks before the start of the Program. Applicants are encouraged to check the website for the names of successful applicants.

For any questions or technical issues relating to the application process, please e-mail:

[email protected]

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By submitting the application form, applicants accept all terms and conditions regulating the Basque Artist Program. The application is valid for one cycle of the Program only, and will not be considered for subsequent years. In the event that a candidate wishes to reapply in the future, a new form must be submitted.

Pursuant to Organic Law 3/2018 and EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679, the personal data provided by you will be included in an automated file under the responsibility of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Foundation with the purpose of managing the application and the relationships between you and the Foundation, including sending information about our activities by ordinary or electronic means. To that end, you authorize the Foundation to share the necessary data with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation for these same purposes. The Foundation guarantees the security of their processing, as well as the rights to access, rectification, erasure, portability, and restriction of and object to processing, that may be exercised at

[email protected]

or at Abandoibarra Etorbidea 2, 48009 Bilbao. In case of disagreement with the way said rights have been processed, you will also have the right to file a claim with the Spanish Data Protection Agency. Complementary information can be accessed by checking our Privacy Policy at

www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus/en/privacy-policy/

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