University Archives and Special Collections in the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston is pleased to announce the launch of its inaugural Artist Unresidency Pilot Program — a unique artist residency model that supports creative engagement with archival materials without requiring a physical residency. This initiative reflects the UMass Boston Archives’ commitment to fostering innovative approaches to archival engagement while exploring the intersections of art and archives. This pilot program is supported by an Innovation Grant awarded by Art+Everywhere, a global, artist-led foundation that supports creative experimentation, collaboration, and care.
Five local artists have been selected for this pilot program to explore the UMass Boston Archives and create original artwork inspired by their research. Working independently in their own studios, the artists will draw inspiration from the archives through in-person visits throughout the summer and fall of 2025.
To support their work, artists will receive an orientation to the UMass Boston Archives and the collections they have selected to use, with archivists available to support their research throughout the process. Each artist will receive a small stipend to support the development of their project.
The resulting artworks will be featured in a public exhibition in the Grossmann Gallery at UMass Boston’s Healey Library, on view from January 20 to May 15, 2026. The exhibit will be co-curated by Jeremy Andreatta, board member of Art+Everywhere, Art History Professor Carol Scollans, and UMB archivist Meghan Bailey.
As part of the exhibition programming, a public artist panel will be held on campus, offering the community an opportunity to hear directly from the participating artists about their creative processes and the role archival materials played in shaping their artwork.
For questions about the Artist Unresidency Pilot Program or the UMass Boston Archives, contact library.archives@umb.edu.