Pedantic Open Call
APPLICATIONS DUE: Monday, October 13 at 11:59PM EST
Casey Droege Cultural Productions (CDCP) in partnership with Headwater Media is pleased to host a call for applications for the next two rounds of Pedantic Arts Residency (Pedantic).
The Pedantic Arts Residency (Pedantic) is seeking applicants for creatives and researchers to participate in the Summer 2026 and Fall 2026 Terms. Entering its fifth year of operations, Pedantic continues its mission of re-embracing the impact that education, study, and contemplation can have on artistic output by interconnecting creators, organizers, and critics. As the program seeks new residents whose practices engage visual arts, curation, and writing, this unique opportunity invites rich cross-disciplinary dialogue and collective, exploratory immersion within Pittsburgh’s artistic and cultural landscape. The open call is now live and concludes on Monday, October 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST. A virtual Q&A session will be hosted on Wednesday, September 10 at 6PM EST.
Located in an artistic epicenter of Pittsburgh, residents will spend four weeks housed in a hybrid residential and commercial building in the bustling Garfield neighborhood. As opposed to the typical expectation of output in residency programs, Pedantic emphasizes connections and conversations. Each Pedantic resident is paired with a Pittsburgh-based guide working in a similar field who will help introduce the residents to relevant activities, resources, and local professional contacts. Additionally, Pedantic is seeking through the open call participants for the Pedantic Research Grant (The Grant). The Grant is a derivative program offering yet another means to be immersed within the vibrant communities of Pittsburgh. The Grant is a one- or two-week-long independent opportunity that invites a visual artist, curator, or writer to conduct self-motivated and Pittsburgh-related research. Two Grant opportunities are available for 2026.
Different from previous years, Pedantic will be changing its yearly schedule and hosting the residency during the summer and fall. In lieu of having a winter term at the beginning of the year, Pedantic will welcome residents to Pittsburgh for the month of October. Additionally, Pedantic is making changes to the open call timeline by implementing a $20 application fee during the call’s latter half. The beginning half, running from August 25 through September 15, remains free.