Erie Canal Artist in Residence

Erie Canal Artist in Residence

The Residency will focus on a year-long creative inquiry into the Canal and the logistics of
Canal maintenance and operations: what is required to keep the Canal in a good state of
repair so that it is reliable, safe, and financially sustainable. The Canal Corporation is
frequently asked to both fix the aging Canal infrastructure and extend the length of the Canal
navigation season: two requests that can be at odds with each other. The public is not
exposed to or aware of the nature and scale of the challenge to keep the Canal in shape
operationally. This Residency is for Artists who wish to engage with the Canal and adjacent
Trail, Canals staff, New York’s Canal communities, and visitors. It is an opportunity to reflect
upon the Canal’s physical, environmental and social condition; materiality; and context.