The Center for Afrofuturist Studies Reading Room is a space that Black artists in Iowa City have cultivated with care and intention for almost a decade. The CAS Reading Room Residency is an invitation to local artists, organizers, scholars or anyone who feels called to the space and would like to be a Keyholder.

The CAS Reading Room is a peaceful space, perfect for diving into the collections, working on projects, or gathering in small groups.The ideal CAS Keyholder is an individual or collective looking for a low-key, programmable space and a community of curious minds. There is no required community engagement, but we are interested in people who want to fill the space with life. We ask that Keyholders commit to hosting open hours in the Reading Room at least once per month.

For the pilot of this program, CAS is inviting four residents for a four month period to use the Reading Room however they please. The two upcoming residency periods are:
-- August - November 2025
-- March - July 2026
Keyholders will have 24 hour access to the Reading Room and a budget for supplies. This residency offers the reading room space for local use and does not provide housing for the duration of the program. To learn more about artists and projects we have hosted in the past, visit https://afrofuturist.center