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Become a Paseo Artist in Residence

Welcome to Paseo’s Artist in Residence Program, where we’re giving you the platform to create, collaborate, and celebrate the Austin arts community for one year, rent free.

As an artist in residence, you will have a private, complimentary living space at Paseo, a brand-new apartment community in the heart of downtown Austin. Located on Rainey Street, your new home at Paseo will set the scene for pursuing your creative passions.

This residence is open to all artists, working in any medium, at any stage of their career. Artists will be reviewed based on current work, previous work and exhibitions, experiences, and how you plan to engage the Paseo community during your residence.

As an Artist in Residence, 
you are:

Compelling

Your work gets people thinking. Your goal is to create something moving and emotional.

Relevant

You're actively producing your work and ready to share it with the world.

Intentional

There's a method to your madness. You're conscious of how this residence will fit into your larger journey as an artist, and what your work will bring to the community.

Disruptive

If there's a mold, you're the one to break it. If there's a challenge, you're not one to shy away.

Creative

You're imaginative and live life outside-the-box.

Sam Opoku

As an Artist in Residence, you will get:

Living Expenses, Covered

Be the first to live in Paseo for one year, rent-free.

Space to Create

Live and create in one of our dreamy studio, one or two-bedroom apartments.

The Chance to Build Community

Become an active participant in one of America's most thriving arts communities.

Your Work Featured

Show off your work through the program's events and activations.

Application Guidelines

Application Categories

Applicants will choose one of the following categories to apply under:

  • Literary Arts
  • Performing Arts
  • Visual Arts
  • Culinary Arts
  • Textile/Craft
  • Other

Required Materials

Each applicant is required to submit the following materials in order to be considered for the residency:

  • Contact Information
  • Artist Resume
  • Statement of Intent: Why are you interested in the residency program? What do you plan to do? How will the residency program support your practice? Please limit your response to 700 words.
  • Video Introduction: Introduce yourself and your art. Explain why you should be selected to be a Paseo Artist in Residence. Please keep your response from 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Event Ideas: Ideas for events you would host if selected
  • Artistic Contribution: Ideas for your major artistic contribution
  • Artwork: 5-10 work samples (can be previous, current or potential work; may include audio, video or still images)
  • 2 Letters of Reference

Meet the 2025 Judges

Jim Ritts
Jim Ritts has served as CEO and Executive Director of the Austin Theatre Alliance since 2011, overseeing the Paramount Theatre, State Theatre, and Moontower Comedy Festival. Previously, he was CEO of Primedia Television and co-founder of Channel One Network, which reached over eight million students daily and earned two Peabody Awards. He also served as Commissioner of the LPGA, driving record growth in prize money, televised coverage, and international expansion. A graduate of UT Austin and Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, Ritts has held leadership roles with numerous arts, media, and community organizations, including Visit Austin and the Hi, How Are You Project.

Jim Ritts

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Hsu Headshot
Michael Hsu, FAIA, IIDA is the founder and principal of Michael Hsu Office of Architecture (MHOA), a fully integrated architecture and interior design firm providing furniture selection and design services, as well as art direction and branding. The work of MHOA is rooted in hospitality and covers a range of expertise such as large mixed-use developments, adaptive reuse projects, public realm design, single family homes, hotels, restaurants, retail spaces, workspaces, bespoke furniture design and visual identity. Notable Austin projects include ICON Mueller Row Homes, Leland, the South Congress Hotel, The LINE Austin Hotel, Springdale General, Canopy, 44 East, Fareground, Uptown Sports, P. Terry’s restaurants, Uchi and Uchiko family of Restaurants, Westlake Dermatology, Home Slice Pizza, among many others.

Michael Hsu

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Photo of Ben Siegel
Ben Siegel, owner of Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden and president of the Rainey Business Coalition. Father of 3, husband to one and a lover of most art.

Ben Siegel

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One of Moontower's AIR judges, Matt Peters
​Chef Mathew Peters, the first American to win gold at the prestigious Bocuse d'Or in 2017, brings his world-class culinary expertise to Austin, Texas. After honing his skills under renowned chefs Thomas Keller and Alain Ducasse, Peters opened Prélude in 2024, a reservation-only cocktail and canapé lounge.

Matt Peters

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Jackie Lee Young Placeholder
Jackie Lee Young is an award-winning artist + photographer exploring work that includes portraiture, music/touring, lifestyle, travel, design, and advertising. Her work is notable for capturing humanity through portraits and candids, innovative style, music culture, and community, and shedding light on the beauty of the natural world and the curiosities of everyday life on film. She is an expert in documenting details, style, culture, color, and movement using 120mm and 35mm film as well as digital photography as her foremost formats.

Jackie Lee Young

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One of Paseo's AIR judges, Heath Speakman
Heath Speakman is a multidisciplinary artist and creative entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas. As co-founder of SprATX, he helped turn a grassroots effort supporting local street artists into a global collective offering mural commissions, live art events, and branded merchandise. Heath also leads Kick Punch Bite, a creative studio specializing in digital design, large-scale 3D work, and designer art figures, blending art and technology to create distinctive sculptures and prototypes. Through these ventures, Heath has been instrumental in elevating street art in Austin, expanding opportunities for artists and shaping the city’s cultural identity with vibrant murals and innovative design. He’s also active in education, sharing insights on art marketing and community at events like SXSW.

Heath Speakman

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Requirements and Expectations

Host Events

Host events throughout the duration of the program. Event expectations will vary based on artist type/medium.

Major Artistic Contribution

Create one major artistic contribution (e.g. major event, piece of art, mural, exhibition, performance).

Engage the Community

Use social media and community events to stay engaged within the Paseo community. Creativity is welcome; artists are encouraged to come up with other ways to connect with the community.

Create a Portfolio

At the end of the program, each artist will submit a portfolio of work completed throughout the program and an essay or video statement on how the program impacted their ability to produce creative work.

Share on Social

Artists will have certain social media requirements throughout the course of the program, including announcing their selection and sharing a portfolio of their work at the end of the program.

Be on Camera

Selected artists will participate in photo and/or video shoots to create promotional content for the Paseo Artist in Residence program.

FAQs

Applications for the 2025-2026 program are now open!

Selected artists will be notified in early July. Apply now.

All residencies are offered free of charge to selected artists. You will receive rent-free housing in a private apartment, as well as access to all community amenities.

One-time fees including the security deposit, application fee, admin fee, and utility setup fees will be compensated. Parking and pent rent will be compensated when applicable.

Transportation costs, moving costs, living expenses, production costs, and any additional studio space or material costs will not be covered.

Utilities, cable, renters’ insurance and other additional expenses will be the resident’s responsibility.

Yes, artist residents must live in the housing provided throughout the duration of the program.

Paseo is downtown Austin’s newest luxury apartment complex, coming in Fall 2025. Explore the Paseo website to learn more.

Paseo is located at 80 Rainey Street in the heart of downtown Austin.

Once the application period closes, a panel of judges will review applications and make recommendations for artists who best meet the selection criteria. The general selection criteria include:

  • You produce compelling, disruptive work that evokes thought and/or emotion.
  • You are actively producing and ready to share your work with others.
  • You are mindful of how the Paseo Artist in Residence program will fit into your larger journey as an artist and demonstrate this in your application.

The Paseo Artist in Residence program is one year long.

Yes! We love pets and welcome friends and family. Artist-residents can live with pets, family members and other chosen individuals following Texas occupancy law and Paseo Community Guidelines.