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 two-week to month-long stays at Steepletop, the historic estate of poet/activist Edna St. Vincent Millay. In December (March application deadline only), we offer group/collective week-long residencies. (We also allow collaborative residencies for 2 persons.)
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 the $45 application and a $100 nonrefundable deposit; and
- Our new Steepletop Residency, offered to those who wish to schedule their stay in advance and forego our blind jury process, is partially-subsidized. If invited to participate, the fee is $4000.
CORE RESIDENCY
FULLY-SUBSIDIZED TWO-WEEKS TO MONTH-LONG STAYS: APRIL-NOVEMBER
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, 12am midnight EST -- FOR AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER & DECEMBER/GROUPS
- Submittable portal opens mid-November of the preceding year
- Late deadline March 8th, 12pm midnight EST
OCTOBER 1st, 12am midnight EST -- FOR MARCH, 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 + December/Group).
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
GROUPS/COLLECTIVES -- 3 PERSONS OR MORE
Week-long residencies for up to 7 people maximum (we have 7 full beds in 7 bedrooms) includes groceries (but not chef-prepared communal suppers). Our kitchen is fully stocked.
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.
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.
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
DESCRIPTION
Introduced in 2021, the Steepletop Residency provides the full “Millay experience” for those who wish to forego our blind jury process and need to schedule their stay in advance.
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
$4,000/month -- $2000/two-weeks
SCHEDULING
April-November
SELECTION PROCESS
Millay Arts Co-Directors, Artist Committee members
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 $4000.
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.
List up to the 3 preferred months you'd like to be in residency
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.