Creative Writing Residencies in United States

Anderson Center at Tower View

Red Wing, Minnesota, United States

The Anderson Center at Tower View, located in Red Wing, Minnesota, offers residencies from May through October to artists, writers, musicians, and performers. Hosting about 35-40 residents annually, the program is one of the largest in the Upper Midwest and has welcomed over 900 artists from 45 states and 40 countries since its inception in 1995. Residents are provided with a private room in the historic Tower View residence, equipped with essential amenities, and meals prepared by a residency chef. The center offers a variety of workspaces, including a visual arts studio, darkroom, printmaking studio, and practice spaces for dancers and musicians. Situated on a 350-acre historic campus, the Anderson Center features a sculpture garden and is adjacent to the Cannon Valley Bike Trail. The residency program emphasizes community engagement, with residents contributing to the local community through presentations, workshops, and classes. The Anderson Center supports a diverse range of artists and embraces interdisciplinary approaches. It operates various programs, including a Deaf Artist Residency, an Early Career Artist Residency Program, and a Public Artist Residency Program, along with artist exchange programs with Salzburg, Austria, and Quzhou, China. The center's mission is to provide a dynamic environment for creative endeavors, encouraging the exchange of ideas and serving as a source of significant contributions to society. Located at 163 Tower View Drive, Red Wing, MN, the Anderson Center is a hub for artistic and cultural exchange.

Atlantic Center for the Arts (ACA)

New Smyrna Beach, Florida, United States

Atlantic Center for the Arts (ACA), nestled in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, stands as a beacon of interdisciplinary artistic collaboration and excellence. Established in 1977 by the visionary Doris Leeper, ACA fosters a nurturing environment where artists across multiple disciplines can converge, create, and share ideas. The center is renowned for its Mentor Artist-in-Residence Program, which pairs emerging and mid-career artists with distinguished mentors to explore new projects, experiment, and engage in rich dialogues across artistic fields. Beyond its core residency, ACA extends its creative reach through community arts and wellness initiatives, offering a broad spectrum of programs that underline the center's commitment to artistic innovation and community engagement.

Blue Mountain Center (BMC)

Blue Mountain Lake, New York, United States

Founded in 1982, Blue Mountain Center (BMC) is located in the Adirondack wilderness on historically Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe lands. Originally a 19th-century golf resort, it now serves as a nurturing refuge dedicated to social justice for artists, activists, writers, and cultural workers. Blue Mountain Center focuses on providing a space that facilitates both the creation of transformative works and the rejuvenation of its residents. The center emphasizes the integration of its residents with the local and global communities, providing a serene environment conducive to creative and restorative practices. BMC operates on the core values of racial, economic, and environmental justice, and gender equality, welcoming a diverse group of applicants particularly those producing work that reflects social and ecological concerns. BMC offers month-long residencies from June to September each year, supporting a range of creative disciplines including writing, filmmaking, and visual arts, among others. Residents are selected by an admissions committee of accomplished authors and artists through a process that prioritizes work aimed at a general audience with a clear social conscience. The residency provides studio space, accommodation, and communal living areas, all set against the backdrop of the scenic Blue Mountain Lake. This setting not only inspires artistic endeavors but also encourages personal well-being and community interaction, free from the distractions of everyday life such as cell phones and constant internet connectivity.

Cultural Center in New York Mills

New York Mills, United States

The Arts Retreat artist residency program of the Cultural Center in New York Mills focuses on providing dedicated artists time for creative development and exploration. The program offers a unique taste of life in rural Minnesota while allowing the artists virtually uninterrupted time in which to immerse themselves in their artwork. When the Cultural Center was founded its name was “The New York Mills Arts Retreat.” The artist retreat and residency program remains central to the mission, purpose, values, and vision of the Center today. Artists from all disciplines (performance, written, audio and visual media) will be considered for a residency. The selection committee awards residencies to artists based on artistic merit and commitment to the arts. There is just one artist at a time here on residency, which supports our focus on providing virtually uninterrupted time for creative development and exploration. We provide stays of two to six weeks for artists at NO COST for room (solo occupancy of a one-bedroom house and access to studio space in our Cultural Center). Each artist provides her or his own transportation and board. There is no stipend.

In Cahoots Residency

Sonoma County, California, United States

In Cahoots Residency, located in pastoral Sonoma County, California, offers a unique collaborative environment for artists. It provides housing and studio space for emerging and professional artists, focusing on artists' books, letterpress, printmaking, writing, and collaboration. The residency accommodates three to five artists at a time for sessions ranging from 6 days to 3 weeks. Artists are housed in private guest houses with kitchens and full bathrooms and have 24-hour access to shared studios or an individual writing studio. The residency encourages artists to pursue creative projects or research, with options for technical instruction or creative mentorship for an additional fee. A work-share session concludes each residency, where artists share their progress and are required to donate a piece of artwork to the In Cahoots Residency Archive. The facility includes a renovated barn for printmaking and book arts, a letterpress studio, and a separate book bindery, equipped with various presses and tools. Artists are responsible for their own cooking, with weekly rides to the grocery store provided for those without a car.

Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (JTHAR)

Joshua Tree, California, United States

Founded in 2007, Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (JTHAR) is a non-profit organization that offers a unique residency experience for artists from around the globe. Located near the stunning Joshua Tree National Park, JTHAR provides artists with scholarship funds, living accommodations, studio space, and opportunities for open studio events. The residency is designed to foster creativity, trust, courage, diversity, and acceptance, promoting opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and engagement with the vibrant local community. Each year, JTHAR invites six artists at various career stages and working in diverse media to create work amidst the natural beauty of the park. The selection process involves a review of applications by the JTHAR Board Members, based on the artist's portfolio and residency proposal. In addition to the standard scholarship, the Gothard Family Artist Scholarship offers a stipend to a residency recipient of African American heritage, specifically for visual artists. The residency provides individual houses for living and working, with the option to use a dedicated large studio space. Artists are expected to provide their own transportation, attend a mid-residency review, and have the option of an open studio exhibition or a Zoom presentation at the end of the residency. JTHAR encourages artists to immerse themselves in the inspiring environment of Joshua Tree, contributing to the cultural landscape and fostering connections within the artistic community.

Marble House Project

Dorset, Vermont, United States

Marble House Project is an expansive, multi-disciplinary artist residency program situated in Dorset, Vermont. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration, sustainability, and community engagement by offering artists from a wide array of disciplines a place to live and work harmoniously. Focusing on conservation and organic food production, it invites artists to integrate with the natural surroundings and local community, aiming to foster both individual artistic growth and communal enrichment. With sessions running from mid-April through October, the program curates a diverse mix of approximately 60 artists annually, both from the United States and abroad, across all creative fields including visual arts, writing, choreography, music composition, performance, and culinary arts.

Millay Arts

Austerlitz, New York, United States

Millay Arts, founded in 1973 at "Steepletop," the historic estate of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay in Austerlitz, New York, offers multidisciplinary artist residencies. The nonprofit organization, located in the Hudson Valley, provides a serene environment for artists to deeply engage in their creative process from March through November. It hosts 6-7 artists for two-week or month-long stays, offering fully-subsidized Core Residencies and partially-subsidized Steepletop Residencies, as well as the Wintertide Rustic Retreat. Artists at Millay Arts benefit from the inspirational setting, with idyllic meadows and woods, and proximity to cultural institutions. The Core Residency, selected through a blind jury process, includes a stipend for groceries but not communal meals. The Steepletop Residency allows for advanced scheduling and the Wintertide Retreat offers a self-directed, quiet space for work or rest. Facilities include the Barn, a rustic space with studios and bedrooms, and the Main Building, featuring ADA-design, shared living spaces, and specialized suites. Millay Arts is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, supporting a wide range of artistic voices and fostering connections between artists and the local community.

Montello Foundation

Montello, Nevada, United States

The Montello Foundation, established to support artists who enhance our understanding of nature and its need for protection, offers a unique residency experience in the Nevada desert. Since its inception, the Foundation has been dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation and awareness of nature's fragility. Artists are encouraged to engage in creative exploration, contemplation, and innovation, reflecting on humanity's relationship with the natural world. Located in an isolated valley in Northeastern Nevada, the Foundation offers a retreat designed for solitary reflection amidst the desert landscape. The residency provides artists with a space that supports both their physical needs and their artistic work. The main structure, designed with minimal environmental impact, includes separate areas for living and working, promoting creativity and inspiration. Each year, the Foundation invites six artists from various disciplines and career stages to engage with the desert environment and the local community. The selection process for the residency is conducted by the Foundation's board members, focusing on the quality and relevance of the artists' work to the Foundation's mission. The residency experience is transformative, offering artists a chance to recalibrate and reassess their connection to nature and their creative process. The Foundation's commitment to solitude and reflection allows artists to immerse themselves in their work, free from the usual distractions of daily life. This approach has a profound impact on the residents, as evidenced by their reflections and the work they produce during their stay.

Saltonstall

Ithaca, New York, United States

The Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts, situated in Ithaca, NY, offers residencies to New York State artists and writers across various disciplines, including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, photography, filmmaking, painting, sculpture, and visual arts. These residencies are exclusive to full-time New York State residents or members of Indian Nations therein. The foundation provides a serene environment conducive to creativity, offering private living spaces, studios, and communal dining with vegetarian meals. Residencies range from one to four weeks, and a special week-long residency is available for artist/writer parents with dependent children. Applicants must be over 21 and are selected through an anonymous jury process based on their work samples and statements. The foundation covers residency costs, provides stipends, and accommodates dietary sensitivities. Saltonstall values diversity and encourages applications from artists and writers of various backgrounds. Residency alumni may reapply two years after their previous residency.

South Porch

Charleston, United States

South Porch Artists Residency, nestled in a historic Southern small town near Charleston, South Carolina, offers artists, writers, and thinkers a dedicated space and time for creative work. The residency is set in a gracious 19th-century property, fostering an intimate creative community atmosphere. It provides a flexible residency duration, ranging from four days to four weeks, allowing artists to engage with their projects at their own pace. The setting includes a front porch for summer contemplation, a lively fire for winter warmth, studio spaces for artistic endeavors, and private rooms for focused work. South Porch is committed to community enrichment, believing in the vital societal role of artists, writers, and scholars. The residency is supported by various local and national arts organizations and aims to foster meaningful interactions between artists and the Lowcountry community. Hosted by Brad Erickson and Brian Protheroe, who moved to Summerville with the dream of creating this residency, the property features a main house with historical significance and a newly completed ADA-accessible cottage with studio spaces. The studios are equipped with essential amenities for artistic creation, including natural light and necessary tools.

The Good Hart Artist Residency

Harbor Springs, Michigan, United States

The Good Hart Artist Residency, located along the shores of Lake Michigan, offers 10-21 day stays for visual artists, writers, and composers. Each artist is provided with a private residence, a detached studio, a $500 stipend, and a kitchen stocked with basic foods, along with some home-cooked meals. Nestled in the woods along the "Tunnel of Trees," the residency allows artists to explore the natural beauty of Northern Michigan, including Lake Michigan, sand dunes, and various nature preserves. The residency emphasizes community engagement, with opportunities like Open Studio Saturdays for visual artists and connections with the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book for writers. Artists collaborate with local nonprofits to lead educational events or workshops. The residency encourages environmentally friendly practices and draws inspiration from the diverse local landscapes and weather conditions. Accommodations include a fully-furnished house with a master bedroom, living room, loft, kitchen, and full bath, along with amenities like WiFi and musical instruments. The studio, available from May to October, includes natural lighting, worktables, easels, and basic art supplies. The residency is designed with accessibility in mind and is located at 910 N. Lamkin Rd., Harbor Springs, MI. It fosters a blend of solitary creative time and community interaction, contributing to both the artist's growth and local engagement.