RAIR’s mission is to challenge the perception of waste culture by providing a unique platform at the intersection of art and industry, and community. Situated inside a construction and demolition waste recycling company in Northeast Philadelphia, RAIR creates and provides artist residencies, fellowships, new project commissions, interdisciplinary partnerships, and public programs.

Since its inception in 2010, RAIR’s flagship Residency Program has established itself as a unique opportunity for emerging, mid-career, and established artists. By facilitating artists’ direct engagement with the waste stream, RAIR encourages residents to consider their studio practice through the lens of sustainability and to thoughtfully reassess their processes of material sourcing and waste disposal.