If nature is your muse and collaborator, the autumnal season in Tennessee should be on your residency list. Although leaves start to turn and fall in August, mid-September to early November is a lovely time to be in this landscape as the daylight wanes it encourages the cozy introspection to focus on your creative flow. Consider scheduling your creative project to overlap one of the regional fall festivals - just ask about this in your application.
If you work with natural materials or need an outside space, this is the prime season. If you would like to sit on a porch while you work, hang a hammock on the bluff above the river, or stargaze, then this is a residency program for you.
Sink into the fall experience that Tennessee can offer as you escape the hubbub of the normal routine and enter a special place where time is a bit squishy and there’s little light pollution. You'll see the end of the wildflowers and 'weeds' like Ironweed and Goldenrod providing the pollinators with some final bits of food.
While it's typically frowned upon to spend more time off-site to feed your regular habits of coffee shops, fast food or just eating out, there are lots of areas in the region perfect for nature exploring with your sketchbook, tablet, camera, or portable easels either at the festivals or maybe you want to visit area wineries as well as fall festivals. Perhaps you like to thrift and salvage, so those opportunities are in the area as well. October is really one of the best times to do this. There are events in the area every weekend of this month. The end of the season for farmer's markets is October.
Creative work at any stage will be considered.
Whether a project is in the planting seeds or harvest stage, it's time to apply. Are you trying to work on a proposal, a portfolio, a new direction? Take advantage of the flow and time where you can be productive during the day and spend more time staring at the stars.
NATURE BENEFITS?
Venture on the land and learn to go slow while you listen to the sounds of nature. Spend time on the Buffalo river frontage as the water will be crisp and the landscape ever changing or take a short drive to the numerous natural features in the area on the Natchez Trace Parkway or local state parks.Those staying two weeks or longer receive a guided Forest Therapy walk.
If you would like a more intentional immersion experience, consider applying for the farm stay component.
All of the other details and questions you may have are outlined on the website - www.sarasvati.space
The first round of applications for the fall season will be reviewed in January. If there are additional spaces available, there will be a second call for applications in late spring.
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
Let your creativity FLOW LIKE THE BUFFALO river on the edge of our acreage. Applicants with nature as their muse, inspiration, or collaborator will receive priority. Please explain in your application what the month of October or the autumn season in general will mean for you and your work.
Individuals must be able to let the normal world and lifestyle go during your stay and it is encouraged that you utilize the time and access to the benefits of being away from contemporary society. If you cannot go a day without your favorite coffee shop visit, have fast food on the brain, or need lots of people around to function, this is not the place for you.
Be prepared for a different sense of time here and your project goals may actually go faster because you don't have your normal life distractions. Please make sure to review the FAQ section and the general policies about this place.
Please visit https://www.sarasvati.space/residency-overview for the most up to date information on rooms and residency fees.
Residency fee starts at $450 for one week and are lower per week as the length of stay extends.
Lodging fees range between $250 and $850 depending on room choice and length of stay.
Farm scholarships are available and based on length of stay.
Please inquire in the application for an interview.
Farm Stay Scholarship ($150-300) is based on application interest and an interview to discuss your skills, if any. This funding deducts from the final fees and requires about 6 hours a week of participation in physical activities on the land - some of these hours are guided and working with your host, Val.
Depending on the season and the urgency of current projects, your help could be in gardening/weeding, shoveling/digging, transporting manure for compost pile or garden beds, chopping down bamboo to use in creative fencing projects, breaking/trimming limbs and wood pieces into kindling and firewood size chunks, helping carry or install various items like t-post fencing, picking up or transporting rocks or sticks, helping to clear trails or rake leaves in the winter transporting to the garden. There's usually always a small art project like a mural or organizing the upcycle pile to create something fun for the garden as well.
Please review the website for the limits on this funding scholarship.