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Coastal Oregon Artist Residency

The Coastal Oregon Artist Residency has opened our call for artists application for the 2026 Residency!

Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Recology Western Oregon (RWO) and Astoria Visual Arts (AVA) are pleased to announce the ninth round of the Coastal Oregon Artist in Residence (COAR) Program. RWO and AVA aim to support the creation of art from recycled, repurposed, and discarded materials from the Recology Astoria Recycling Depot and Transfer Station. The residency provides two selected participants: two practicing artists with access to discarded materials, a monthly stipend, and studio space at RWO’s Warrenton-based facility.

By supporting artists who work with recycled materials, RWO and AVA hope to encourage the public to conserve natural resources and promote new ways of thinking about art and the environment.

By using discarded materials and everyday objects, participants learn to transform waste into beautiful works of art. This hands-on experience not only fosters artistic skills but also encourages critical thinking about sustainability. Through collaboration and innovation, we empower the next generation to see the beauty in repurposing and to express their unique vision.

At the conclusion of the residency, RWO and AVA will host a reception and public exhibition featuring artwork made during the program. Each practicing artist contributes one piece of artwork to Recology’s permanent collection.

Two four-month residencies commence on Monday, June 1, 2026, and end on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Questions? Contact us.

 

The Coastal Oregon Artists Residency is open to local, artists living in Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties in Oregon and Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties in Washington who are working in any style or medium. Previous COAR participants are not eligible to apply.

Participating artists are required to attend an orientation and training session at the Astoria transfer station and Warrenton facility and observe proper safety precautions with respect to design, technical construction, and materials in the creation of artwork, including precautions reasonably required or recommended by RWO personnel. Participating artists will exercise complete control over the creative process, and all creative ideas and expressions will originate from the artists. However, RWO and AVA reserve the right to reject artwork that is offensive or unacceptable for display to the general public. Such material may include but is not limited to:

  • Overtly pornographic or libelous content.
  • Overtly offensive religious or political content.
  • Content that includes any personally identifiable information.

Applicants are asked to submit the following materials:

  1. Contact information: Name, address, telephone number, email address
  2. Website address, if available
  3. Resume or C.V.
  4. An essay that addresses the following:
    • Artist’s Statement
    • Statement of Purpose. Please describe what you plan to work on during the residency and how you will incorporate recycled materials. Additionally, please answer the following questions:

1. What encouraged you to apply for this residency?

2. What medium do you generally work in?

3. What types of tools do you generally work with?

5. Four samples of past work. Please submit a high-quality JPEG or a similar format. Use DropBox or similar link if images are too large to attach to email.

6. Contact information (phone numbers and email addresses) for two references that can speak to your artistic practice.

Please fill out this survey form to apply for the COAR program. If you prefer to submit your application via email, please email completed applications to: cwolcott@recology.com with the subject heading “COAR Application”.

Nota Bene: Artists interested in collaborating on a project must submit individual applications and appropriate work samples, along with a joint description of the work they intend to do at the Residency. An example of a previous collaborative work (either completed or in progress) may also be submitted. Admission status is determined by averaging the individual application scores of all collaborators.

Our Selection Committee, composed of past COAR participants, RWO staff, AVA staff and/or Board members, arts professionals, and environmentalists, review application packets and select two finalists to participate in the program.

The Committee evaluates submissions based on the artists’ demonstrated commitment to resource conservation and recycling through art, the quality of previous work, and the artist’s application and references.

Application period opens Sunday, February 1, 2026
Submission deadline Sunday, May 3, 2026
Candidate Interviews Thursday, May 7 & Friday, May 8, 2026
Notification of acceptance Friday, May 8, 2026
Orientation Monday, May 11, 2026
Residencies start date Monday, June 1, 2026
Residencies end date Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Exhibition date Saturday, October 10, 2026

View Past Artists