Each spring we invite a contemporary artist to spend four months working with the Museum, responding to our collection and bringing new art, ideas, and audiences to The Dorsky. Having access to explore the Museum's permanent collection of almost 7,000 objects, the artist-in-residence is encouraged to activate our collection, engage with our audiences, and produce new artwork influenced by their experiences during the residency.

 While other museums also have A-I-R programs, ours is unique in that we select an artist from the talented pool of emerging artists that make up the SUNY New Paltz MFA degree program. By so doing, we deepen the education of MFA students giving them valuable professional experiences, we enliven the creative community on campus, and we, the Museum, benefit greatly from having fresh energy within our space