Residencies
an interdisciplinary residency program
Although clay is at our core, our residencies are open-ended and place-based by design. We welcome all artists and scholars who are able to work independently, and we encourage multi- and interdisciplinary thinking. We support ceramic, literary, visual, and performance artists, as well as farmers, chefs, activists, scholars, and researchers from the Adirondack region and around the world. Here you’ll find a dynamic that amplifies each individual’s work while activating collective creativity within the community. We invite applications from emerging and accomplished artists who would benefit from a focused amount of un-guided time to create a new work, complete a project, conduct research, or simply find inspiration, rest, and community amid the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains.
We support residencies of 2 weeks or longer for 6-10 artists-in-residence at a time. Craigardan provides substantial, sliding-scale scholarships and additional financial aid is available in the form of fellowships and work exchange opportunities. Teaching Fellowships apply to all disciplines with the belief that fostering the interaction between artists and the local public is as important as providing sheltered time to artists to further their creative practices. In this spirit, all residents are asked to present a 10-15 presentation as part of our ongoing, free, public Applebarn Series to share their work and process with the local community.
All residents have free and open access to all programs, classes and lectures. Residents come together with staff and local community members for a family meal each week which, at Craigardan, is an art form - prepared by staff and chefs with seasonal, organic ingredients from our farm and partner farms.
Craigardan values equality and justice across all human and environmental domains. We highly encourage applications from people of color, indigenous, women, and LGBTQIA+ artists and scholars. We do not discriminate on any basis. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
View the short video below to learn more about our program, new campus, and what it’s like to be an artist-in-residence at Craigardan.
***PLEASE NOTE: While we build the new campus, residencies are currently offered May through October only, for two weeks or more.
CREATIVE DISCIPLINES
APPLICATION CYCLE
Residents have open access to cost-free participation in all programs and events at Craigardan. This includes crit sessions, all workshops and classes, and special events.
The program encourages creative exploration that may include collaboration with other residents and local community members or partner organizations. After their residency, artists will be welcomed into a supportive and active alumni community.
PROGRAMS + SUPPORT
Food is the common bond that brings us together! The kitchen is stocked each week with an incredible farm share of local, seasonal, organic produce, meat, eggs, bread, and dairy goods from Craigardan and partner farms along with a fully stocked pantry. This will not provide all of the food you may need. Additional groceries are available in our Farm Store, at our Free Food Fridge, in town, or at one of many local farmers markets. Craigardan provides one prepared family meal (feast!) each Monday. All other meal prep is the responsibility of the artists, which regularly results in collaborative group meals based on seasonal, local food.
FOOD
Studio spaces are available 24/7 with furniture and equipment as appropriate for the selected discipline. We discuss studio requirements with each applicant to best meet individual needs. Writers currently work out of their individual artist cabins. Internet is not available in all of the studios; only in main, shared spaces. Please Note: the clay studio is a fully-equipped, professional space for ceramic artists of all skill levels and includes our incredible wood kiln.
STUDIOS
Residents are assigned a private artist cabin (a bedroom) with stunning mountain views and shared living areas including the Applebarn living room, Kiln House kitchen, Bath House, and laundry. Wireless internet access is currently available in the Farmhouse and Applebarn only. All of our beautiful campus buildings are hand-crafted by local artists combining locally sourced and milled lumber with green technology.
HOUSING
All transportation is the responsibility of the resident. Residents who arrive using public transportation can arrange a staff pick up at the bus stop or train station. Craigardan is located in a very rural area and it is extremely difficult to explore without a vehicle. *Note that public transportation options are very limited!
TRANSPORTATION
With thanks to our donors and funders, Craigardan makes sliding-scale scholarships available to all applicants. At this time, the full cost of a residency is $1850 per week. Applicants may choose to apply for a scholarship based on need, or pay the full fee and make scholarship funds available to others. Additional financial aid is available through work exchange residencies and fellowships. Visit Apply for application information and Fellowships for financial aid information.
Applicants select one scholarship option in the application:
Supporting - [$1850 Per Week Fee, no Scholarship] This is the actual cost of a residency week. Choosing this rate means that you are making scholarship funds available for others.
Sustaining - [$1000 Per Week Fee after $850 weekly Scholarship] Choosing this scholarship means that you need some financial support in order to attend, but not the full scholarship - which leaves some scholarship funds available for others.
Supported - [$500 Per Week Fee after $1350 weekly Scholarship] This is our maximum scholarship available for artists who genuinely need substantial financial assistance to attend.
Craigardan awards more than $130,000 in scholarships annually. It is our goal to continue to increase the amount of scholarships and fellowships available to artists each year.
Please note that residents are responsible for their own materials, transportation, and some food.
SCHOLARSHIPS + FEES
Applicants are asked to select which disciplinary category their work best fits within, with the understanding that our residencies encourage cross- and interdisciplinary work. These categories assist the selection committee in reviewing applications and assigning studio spaces. Categories include: Ceramic Arts, Culinary Arts, Visual Arts, Place-Based Arts, Literary Arts, and Scholars. If your work does not clearly align with any one category, select Place-Based Arts.
Craigardan has supported performing artists, fiber artists, researchers, activists, architects, musicians, farmers, and creative thinkers and practitioners in more than 25 different disciplines.
Applications are accepted from September 1st through January 15 for residencies between May 1st and November 1st. Applicants select their preferred dates of residency and length of stay within that timeframe. We support residencies of 2 weeks or more.
Craigardan’s residency program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
**PLEASE NOTE that our new campus will be built in phases and information changes each year. All applicants must read the Residency Brochure found on the APPLY page for current housing, studio, and campus information.