MILLAY ARTS RESIDENCIES
A Campus in Nature ⧫ A Community of Artists ⧫ A Legacy of Creativity
Located in the Hudson Valley, nestled against the Berkshires, our sylvan and secluded hilltop offers idyllic meadows and woods and is situated close to various world-renowned cultural institutions. We are 2-1/2 hours from both Boston and NYC; transportation to/from train and bus (Hudson, Pittsfield, etc.) are included in Core Residency; we provide assistance arranging travel to/from airports (Albany, Hartford).
From April through November, Millay Arts invites 6-7 multidisciplinary artists for month-long stays at Steepletop, the historic estate of poet/activist Edna St. Vincent Millay. (We also allow collaborative residencies for 2 persons. For 2023, we are NOT offering the December group residency.)
This gift of time and space allows our Artists-in-Residence to dive deep into their creative process and projects; works made possible in part by this gift enriches lives and communities globally.
As an Artist-in-Residence, participation as an instrumental member of an intimate cohort -- designed to be both supportive and inspirational -- forges lifelong friendships as well as professional relationships and future collaborations.
At this time, Millay Arts offers TWO juried residencies, both of which require an online application submitted via Submittable.
- Our historic Core Residency, offered to those selected by our blind jury process, is fully-subsidized. If invited to participate, the only fee is a $100 nonrefundable deposit; and
- Our new Steepletop Residency, offered to those with academc/creative projects, selected by staff, is partially subsidized. If invited to participate, the fee is $3000.
CORE RESIDENCY
FULLY-SUBSIDIZED TWO-WEEKS* TO MONTH-LONG STAYS: APRIL-NOVEMBER
*Due to demand, we have expanded our two-week option for the entire Core/Steepletop Residency season.
DESCRIPTION
Our historic fully-subsidized residency, includes a creative cohort of 6-7 other multidisciplinary creators, selected through our blind jury process.
Includes private bedrooms and studios (with bedding/linens), shared living spaces, laundry room, workstation, B&W darkroom and use of our Alumni and Nancy Graves Memorial libraries.
Groceries are also provided along with communal dinners (prepared by our in-house chef).
APPLICATIONS
Applications are accepted twice a year, including late deadlines:
MARCH 1st, 12pm midnight EST FOR AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER
- Submittable portal opens mid-November of the preceding year
- Late deadline March 8th, 12pm midnight EST
OCTOBER 1st, 12pm midnight EST FOR APRIL, MAY, JUNE, JULY
- Submittable portal opens mid-April of same year
- Late Deadline October 8th, 12pm midnight EST
APPLICATION FEE
$45
LATE APPLICATION FEE
$60
COST TO RESIDENT
$100 non-refundable deposit
SCHEDULING
Please state your preferred length of stay on your application: two-weeks or month-long.
Once selected, please inform us of your scheduling preferences: (OCTOBER DEADLINE: SESSION I/April-July) or (MARCH DEADLINE: SESSION II/August-November).
Please note your preferences in the CONTACT INFORMATION of your application.
SELECTION
We invite jurors who are practicing professionals as well as alumni; juries generally rotate annually. Therefore, should you plan to apply for both March and October, your work will be seen by the same jury.
We use a BLIND jury process -- works are judged solely on merit and assigned numbers for clarity -- all/any identifying information should be removed from your submission work statement and work sample.
NEW FOR 2023:
COLLABORATIVE PAIRS -- USE COLLABORATIVE: CORE RESIDENCY APPLICATION FORM
THIS OPPORTUNITY IS INTENDED FOR 2 PERSON COLLABORATIONS -- PLEASE SPECIFY WHETHER YOU NEED:
A. ONE SHARED PRIVATE BEDROOM AND ONE STUDIO SPACE
OR
B. TWO SEPARATE PRIVATE BEDROOMS AND ONE STUDIO SPACE
COLLECTIVES -- 3 PERSONS OR MORE
We are not accepting applications for groups of 3 or more for 2023.
FELLOWSHIPS
These opportunities honor our partnerships with various organizations, they offer prestige and (sometimes) a stipend to offset expenses. However, it is NOT NECESSARY to qualify for a fellowship as a successful applicant.
CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE FELLOW: Awarded to ONE applicant annually that resides in/around Philadelphia. Stipend may be offered dependent on funding.
CHARM CITY FELLOW: Awarded to TWO applicants annually who reside in/around Baltimore. Stipend may be offered dependent on funding.
ROBERT BLACK FOUNDATION FELLOW: Awarded to ONE composing applicant. Stipend may be offered dependent on funding.
WILLIAM SELANDER MEMORIAL FELLOW: Awarded to ONE applicant annually who resides in the State of Virginia. Stipend may be offered dependent on funding.
VINCENT PRIZE FELLOW: Awarded to ONE applicant annually who identifies as trans*/genderqueer, or gender nonconforming. A stipend offsetting the cost of travel/materials/etc. is available depending on funding.
*Millay Arts is a trans-affirming organization committed to gender self-determination. We recognize that language evolves alongside understanding, and we use the term “trans* in its most inclusive sense, as an umbrella term encompassing transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, Two-Spirit people, and anyone whose gender identity or gender expression is nonconforming and/or different from their gender assigned at birth.
NOTE: We value your privacy and ask for identifying information in the application's CONTACT information for administrative and funding purposes only.
STEEPLETOP RESIDENCY
PARTIALLY-SUBSIDIZED TWO-WEEK* TO MONTH-LONG STAYS: APRIL-NOVEMBER
*Due to demand, we have expanded our two-week option for the entire Core/Steepletop Residency season.
DESCRIPTION
Introduced in 2021, the Steepletop Residency provides the full “Millay experience” for those who wish to forego our blind jury process and who may have institutional/private funding.
Includes private bedrooms and studios (with bedding/linens), shared living spaces, laundry room, workstation, B&W darkroom and use of our Alumni and Nancy Graves Memorial libraries and of course a cohort of gifted, multidisciplinary creators.
Groceries are also provided along with communal dinners (prepared by our in-house chef)..
DEADLINE
Rolling deadline, applications accepted year-round via our Submittable portal.
APPLICATION FEE
$45
COST TO RESIDENT
$3,000
SCHEDULING
April-November.
SELECTION PROCESS
Millay Arts Co-Directors.
In response to demand, the newly-created Steepletop Residency is a self-directed, juried, month-long stay available to anyone involved in a creative pursuit/project offered from April-November; cost is $3000.
Designed for those in need and desirous of time and space with the support of a creative and scholarly interdisciplinary cohort in a nurturing and inspirational setting, this opportunity includes groceries and chef-prepared communal dinners as well as private bedrooms and studios, shared bathroom (usually with one other resident), living/dining space, fully-equipped kitchen, laundry room, workstation (printer and desktop PC), B&W darkroom and access to the Alumni and Nancy Graves Memorial libraries.
The Composer's Suite features an upright Yamaha U-1 piano.
Applications are selected by staff; to apply, follow instructions within your discipline. (Note: if you are applying to do scholarly work and the following is not applicable, please send us an email for instructions.)
A. ARTIST STATEMENT
One page maximum, may be single-spaced, 11-12 point font; tell us about your work and what you would like to focus on while in residence.
B. WORK SAMPLES
COMPOSING: 2-3 compositions (15 minutes maximum, up to 3 scores). MUSIC: MP3 files are preferred, excerpts are fine; SCORES: PDF format; VIDEO: if relevant, no more than 5 minutes in length.
WRITING:
Fiction/Non-Fiction: 15 pages maximum, (standard industry format: double space, 11-12 point font). Works in progress, published pieces, excerpts from longer works, selections of short works are welcome.
Playwriting: 15 pages maximum, (standard industry format: double space, 11-12 point font). Works in progress, published pieces, excerpts from longer works, selections of short works are welcome.
Poetry: 10 poems maximum, 15 pages maximum; any combination of poems and length are welcome.
Screenwriting: 15 pages maximum, (standard industry format: double space, 11-12 point font). Works in progress, already produced films, excerpts from longer works, selections of short works are welcome.
VISUAL ART: 6 images of individual works (JPG,TIFF,GIFF) and up to 4 additional detail/installation images. Include an IMAGE LIST: one page maximum, title/dimensions/date/medium.
C. BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
Brief (1-2 pages) biography including relevant education and professional experience along with awards/achievements/accomplishments to date.
D. UPLOAD ONTO SUBMITTABLE
Follow prompts on Submittable, including combining STATEMENT and WORK SAMPLES into single document to upload as instructed.
WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED/ASSEMBLED THE ABOVE — YOU ARE READY TO APPLY!
- Go to STEEPLETOP application form;
- SIGN IN and/or REGISTER;
- UPLOAD STATEMENT, WORK SAMPLES/IMAGE LIST: click Add Files button, browse and select file on your computer and wait for upload to appear as completed;
4. ADD CONTACT INFORMATION: name, address, phone, email, preferred pronoun, ethnicity;
5. ADD BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT;
6. ENTER payment information; and
7. PRESS Click Here to Apply. NOTE: DO NOT HIT SUBMIT UNTIL ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ARE UPLOADED. If there's an issue with uploaded documents after submitting, email residency@millaycolony.org to open editing.