I’ll be applying to some artist residencies this year, and posting about the process. So far, I’ve created a list of programs that meet my two simple criteria: allow male writers and provide substantial, if not total, financial aid. (This is not meant to be a complete list—I decided to keep it relatively short rather than continue my search—but if you know of any superlative programs I’ve missed, please point them out.)
First I’d like to thank those of you who commented on my inaugural post about writer’s retreats—especially Jac Jemc, most of whose suggestions perfectly fit the bill. (I’d also like to apologize to her in advance, should this post result in more competition at the spots to which she’s applying.)
The bad news is that I’ve missed the deadline for some of the most highly regarded programs, including what is perhaps the Holy Grail of residencies: Stegner. The good news is that there are still quite a number of them open—many with multiple application dates throughout the year. And of course there’s always next year.
i-Park
Application date/fee: Jan 11th / $25
Aid: 100%
Duration: 4 weeks (more competitive 8 week slots)
MacDowell
Application dates/fee: Jan 15th, April 15th, Sept 15th / $20
Aid: 100%
Duration: Up to 8 weeks
Hambidge
Application date/fee: Jan 15th, Apr 15th, Sept 15th / $30
Cost: 150/wk (included b/c this seems doable, if barely)
Duration: 2 – 8 weeks
Ragdale
Application dates: Jan 15th, May 15th, Sept 15th / $30
Cost: 25$/day (ditto)
Duration: How many days can you afford?
Colorado Art Ranch
Application dates/fee: Feb 1st, June 1st, May 30th / $30
Aid: 100%, but no food
Duration: 4 weeks
Djerassi
Application date/fee: Feb 15th / $35
Aid: 100%
Duration: 4 – 5 weeks
Vermont Studio Center
Application dates/fee: Feb 15th, Jun 15th, Oct 1st / $25
Aid: 100%
Duration: 4 weeks
Ucross
Application dates/fee: Mar 1st, Oct 1st / $40
Aid: 100%
Duration: 2 – 8 weeks
Kimmel Harding Nelson
Application dates/fee: Mar 1st, Sept 1st / $25
Aid: 100% + $100/wk
Duration: 2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks
Ox-Bow
Application date/fee: March 19th / no fee
Cost: 550/wk, but possible aid to cover most of it (since there is no app fee, it there is little risk)
Duration: 1 – 2 weeks
Caldera
Application date/fee: June 1st / $25
Aid: 100%, but no food
Duration: 4 weeks
Yaddo
Application dates/fee: Jan 1st, Aug 1st / $30
Aid: 100%
Duration: 2 – 8 weeks
Millay Colony
Application date/fee: Oct 1st / $35
Aid: 100%
Duration: 4 weeks
Ledig House International Writers Residency
Application date/fee: Nov 20th / no fee
Aid: 100%
Duration: 1 – 8 weeks
Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown
Application date/fee: Dec 1st / $45
Aid: 100% + 650/mo stipend
Duration: 1 year
Stegner
Application date/fee: Dec 1st / $60
Aid: 100% + 26k/year
Duration: 2 years
I also found an international artist retreat search engine at Res Artis. It’s a very nifty resource. I chose to limit my options by those in the country, essentially because I’m lazy, but it’s certainly worth exploring.
I’ll post again once I’ve met the January deadlines, at which point I’ll give the lowdown on the application processes for those programs: the relative ease/obnoxiousness thereof, etc.