What The International Studio & Curatorial Program does

The International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1994 in New York City, currently operating from an 18,000 sq ft former factory at 1040 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn. Its core function is delivering international visual arts residencies: 3 to 12 month programs for artists and curators, supplemented by 1-2 year subsidized residencies for NYC-based artists through the Ground Floor Program, plus a dedicated Judith Godwin Residency. Supporting the residency core are a Visiting Critics program (professionals from MoMA, Whitney, Guggenheim, Dia:Beacon, and MASS MoCA conduct studio visits), organized field trips, bi-annual Open Studios events, monthly Artists at Work/Curators at Work public presentations, and an Exhibition Program across ISCP's Project Space and Second Floor Gallery that runs curatorial open calls for external curators. The organization also operates an ISCP Talks/Publications series and a Limited Editions sales program.

ISCP's revenue model is a non-profit mix dominated by institutional sponsorships and grants—over 40 international partners including government arts councils (CNAP, IASPIS, Danish Arts Foundation, NYSCA, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs), foundations (Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, La Fondation Claudine et Jean-Marc Salomon), and cultural institutions (ShanghART Gallery, Icelandic Art Center, DOOSAN Art Center, Qatar Museums). Secondary streams include individual donations (Young Patrons at $200/year, Director's Circle, general giving), program fees of $2,590.11-$2,862.77/month for the minority of self-funded direct-application residents, limited edition artwork sales on Artsy, and an annual benefit. Staffing is lean—approximately 7 full-time (Executive Director, Programs, Development, Facilities, Communications, Operations) plus ~12 interns—reflecting a 1-10 employee structure in the input data. Distribution is primarily direct via the Brooklyn facility and global application processes, with digital reach extended through iscp-nyc.org, social media, newsletter, the Bloomberg Connects app, and press coverage in NYT, ARTnews, Artforum, Hyperallergic, and Brooklyn Rail.

Name

The International Studio & Curatorial Program

Legal name

International Studio & Curatorial Program

Website

https://iscp-nyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1994 that delivers 3-12 month international visual arts residencies to artists and curators from 105+ countries, supported by 40+ institutional sponsors, government arts councils, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Residency Programs

NAICS

Museums (71211)

akta.pro primary industry

Studio Tours & Visitor Experiences (MPADAIAL)

Keywords

• Visual arts residency
• Artist residency programs
• Curatorial residencies
• Arts nonprofit
• International artist exchange

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and Grants: Primary revenue stream from governments, foundations, corporations, and institutions that sponsor individual residencies. Over 40 partnering sponsors globally fund residency opportunities.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals, with various giving levels including Young Patrons ($200/year), Director's Circle membership, and general donations.
3. Program Fees: Direct application residents pay program fees; 2026 fees range from $2,590.11 to $2,862.77 per month depending on studio size and type.
4. Limited Editions Sales: Artists create limited editions exclusively for ISCP to support the organization. Editions available through Artsy include works by Michael Rakowitz, Annabel Daou, John Kørner, Joseph Kosuth, and Ester Partegàs.
5. Annual Benefit: Annual fundraising event that contributes to operating support for residencies and public programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) runs international visual arts residencies out of an 18,000 square-foot facility in Brooklyn with 35 private studios, two galleries, and a project space. It hosts 3–12 month residencies for artists and curators from over 105 countries, alongside the Ground Floor Program for NYC-based artists, and provides supporting services such as visiting critics, field trips to major museums, Open Studios, and public exhibitions.

Product overview

The International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) is a visual arts residency organization offering multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings are the International Residency Program (3-12 month residencies for international artists and curators) and the Ground Floor Program (1-2 year subsidized residencies for NYC-based artists). Supporting these are public programs including the Visiting Critics series, Open Studios events, Artists at Work/Curators at Work presentations, and Field Trips to museums and galleries. ISCP also runs an Exhibition Program with Project Space and Second Floor Gallery showing resident and alumni work, with curatorial open calls for external curators. Additional offerings include the Bloomberg Connects digital guide, ISCP Talks/publications, Limited Editions merchandise, and patron memberships (Young Patrons at $200/year and Director's Circle limited to 10 members). The organization facilitates over 2,000 alumni from 105+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Residency Program

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Rethinking ResidenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISCP is a member of the first network of New York-based artist and curator residency programs, contributing to coalition publications and initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC): LMCC runs Workspace, a major NYC-based artist residency program providing subsidized studio space in Lower Manhattan. It is one of ISCP's closest direct competitors for emerging and mid-career NYC artists and is a member of the same Rethinking Residencies coalition.
• Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture: Skowhegan is a prestigious summer residency program in Maine that, like ISCP, serves mid-career artists with visiting critics from major institutions. It is a fellow coalition member of Rethinking Residencies and a comparable high-prestige non-profit residency.
• Triangle Arts Association: Triangle Arts operates an international residency and exhibition program in Brooklyn focused on experimental art practices, with a global network of affiliated residency programs. Directly comparable to ISCP in mission, scale, and artist demographic.
• Headlands Center for the Arts: Headlands is a Bay Area-based artist residency program providing studio space, visiting artists, and public programs. It is a peer in the US non-profit residency space with comparable structure and visiting-critic programming.
• Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts: EFA is a NYC arts non-profit that previously co-housed ISCP's original 1994-1998 location. It runs Studio Program and exhibition programs serving emerging artists in Manhattan, making it a close operational and historic peer.
• Smack Mellon: Smack Mellon is a Brooklyn-based non-profit that provides studio residencies and exhibition opportunities to emerging visual artists in DUMBO. Directly comparable to ISCP's Ground Floor Program in mission and geographic market.
• Residency Unlimited: Residency Unlimited is a Brooklyn-based non-profit providing residencies and curatorial support to international artists and curators. It is a fellow Rethinking Residencies member and operates in the same Brooklyn non-profit residency niche.

Regional players

• BRIC: BRIC is a major Brooklyn-based arts and media institution offering residencies, exhibitions, and public programming. While broader in scope, it is a fellow large Brooklyn cultural non-profit that competes for the same audiences, funders, and artist pool.

Others

• NYSCA (New York State Council on the Arts): NYSTA is a major ISCP funder providing state arts grants. As a primary funding partner and policy gatekeeper for NYS arts funding, NYSCA is a critical ecosystem actor that directly affects ISCP's financial position.
• Artist Pension Trust: Artist Pension Trust supports long-term financial sustainability for visual artists. It is a peer-adjacent organization supporting the same artist demographic that ISCP serves, though focused on financial rather than residency support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iscp_nyc
• YouTubevimeo.com/iscp
• Facebookfacebook.com/iscp.nyc
• Instagraminstagram.com/iscp_nyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The International Studio & Curatorial Program