Location: Wassaic, New York, United States

 

Mission: The Wassaic Residency Program cultivates and supports community for emerging and professional contemporary artists, writers and other creatives. Housed in historic, landmark buildings, the residency program offers nine artists each month the opportunity to live and work in the heart of a rural community. The Wassaic Residency seeks artists working in a diverse range of media who want to produce, explore, challenge, and expand on their current art making practices, while participating in a grass roots, community-based arts organization.

We accept 1-6 month proposals for our Summer Residency program (May – October) and for our Winter Residency program (November-April), as well as 1-8 weeks proposals for our Family Residency program (November – April). Residents are selected by a review committee composed of the board of directors and professionals in their field. Artists will be selected based on the quality of their work, commitment to their practice, and ability to interact positively with the community at large. Summer studios are in the historic Luther Barn, and Winter studios are in the Old Hotel in Maxon Mills.

We care about our community! Because The Wassaic Project is an artist-run organization focused on strengthening and supporting our community, ALL residents* are required to work 3 four hour blocks per month during their time in Wassaic. Residents will work alongside staff members on administrative and physical projects like preparing for exhibitions, installation, de-installation, office organization, etc., and sometimes out in the larger community. This is a cooperative community effort and deepens the connection between our artists and our community. It’s an expression of our values and our priority of community development: artists and the existing community in Wassaic interacting, collaborating, and working together.

 

 

Cost: In an effort to serve and support emerging artists, we are able to subsidize residencies for all individual artists who do not have other forms of support. Thanks to the generous support of donors and grants, the fee for an individual artist residency is $900 per month per resident (Summer Residency) and $600 per month (Winter Residency), not including additional fees. Subsidies are not available for artist residencies that are directly supported by a school, state, country, or granting organization. The fee for institutionally-supported residencies is $1900 per month per resident. We may provide up to $300 per month in additional financial assistance based on artist need. Our intention is for financial assistance to be given to artists for whom it would be impossible to attend without financial support. If that is not the case for you, please do not apply for assistance. Financial assistance is provided to reduce financial hardship; our allocation is not based on merit. Each year the amount of financial assistance we are able to give is determined by our budget, which fluctuates annually.

Accepted artists will pay their first month’s residency fee + $200 security deposit upon signing their artist contract. Subsequent fees are due at the first of each month. There are no refunds. The security deposit is returned within 30 days of the end of your stay. Payment plans are available for accepted artists who are in need.

 

Number of Artists: 9 artist at a time, around 80 per year.

 

 

Accommodations: Artists will receive an adaptable raw studio space in the historic livestock barn (Summer residency). All studios are roughly 200-300 square feet. Artists will have 24 hour access to their studio and accommodations which include a private bedroom, shared living room / study, dining room, kitchen, and bath. Artists also have access to workshop facilities as well as the potential for expansion of workshop space and the possibility of working outside. The residency workshop facilities include a wood shop and a silkscreen studio. There are print and sculpture fellows available to residents who need help with specific projects. Residents are required to bring everything they need for their creative practice including art materials. Each studio is provided with a table, chair and limited lighting.

Length of Stay: We accept 1-6 month proposals for our Summer Residency program (May-October) and our Winter Residency program (November – April), as well as 1-8 week proposals for our Family Residency program (November – April). Residents are selected by a review committee composed of the board of directors and professionals in the field. They will be selected based on the quality of their work, commitment to their practice, and ability to interact positively with the community at large.

 

 

Demographic: Artists 21 and over. National and international emerging and mid-career artists and writers.

 

Benefits: Monthly evening of artist’s talks and presentations; the last Saturday of every month Open-Studios; one-on-one studio visits with professional artists and curators; Residents may apply to share the residence space with a spouse or partner via a written request, residents may bring their dog, New York City is easily accessible by Metro North ($30 round trip); Facilities include: Wood Shop (year-round), Print Shop (silk-screen, Summer program only) and kiln; and staff members make a weekly trip to the grocery store for supplies; all residents are eligible for our annual Summer Exhibition.

 

 

Deadline: mid January (Summer Residency program), mid July (Winter Residency program)

 

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