Byrdcliffe’s Historic Cottage Residency invites artists across disciplines to join a long-standing tradition of artistic community on our campus this coming Summer. Nestled at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, the program offers rustic, single and double occupancy artist cottages originally built at the dawn of the 20th century.
Artists are welcome to participate in all campus events and programming held during the Summer Residency Sessions.
For more information please visit our Website.
Artists stay in one of seventeen historic artist cottages built at the dawn of the 20th century, (when the Byrdcliffe grounds were a Utopian Artist Colony). Each cottage is unique, sparsely furnished, and rustic. Artists are exposed to their natural surroundings, and should expect to encounter the local flora and fauna during their stay.
Two Residency Durations are offered:
5 month Historic Cottage Residency
- May 3rd - September 28th
3 Month Historic Cottage Residencies
- May 3rd - July 21st
- July 29th - September 28th
Artists of all disciplines are welcome to apply. Certain cottages are better equipped for specific mediums (please visit our website for more information).
Artists are required to bring all tools, setup, materials, and mediums required of their practice with them. Artists are required to have cars or other source of transportation for the duration of their residency (for grocery and laundry purposes). Historic Cottages come furnished and artists are responsible for cooking their own meals. All Historic Cottage Resident Artists are required to set up their own utilities (Propane, Electric, Wifi) for the duration of their residency period - information on how to do so is included in the accepted artist's Residency Agreement.
Studio/ Workspace
Certain cottages are equipped for specific art practices. Cottages are described either as ideal for "contained mediums" (writing, music, digital arts/ animation, small scale painting, textile, etc) or ideal for a "variety of mediums" (oil painting, sculpture, etc).
We are unable to provide placements for encaustic painting, woodworking + metalworking requiring large machinery, or glass arts.
Cottages do not have slop sinks. They are either equipped with a living/ work space (with no wallspace), or a living/workspace with wall space and an occasional additional studio room. Please visit our website to learn more about specific historic cottages.
Residency Expectations
No expectations are held towards the artist. Cottage Artists are welcome to join all Summer Programming offered on campus, including but not limited to:
- Open Studio Events (4 total)
- Art Practice shares
- Historic Art Colony tours
- Field Trips
- Studio Visits
- Group Hikes/ Swims
- Potlucks/ other informal group activities
Artist are encouraged to socialize or remain focused on a body of work (or both!)
Additionally, all artists are welcome to exhibit work in the AiR show at Byrdcliffe's Kleinert James gallery the year following their Residency.
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
Artists are asked to send in their application with all required materials by November 9th, 2027 at 11:59pm. Applicants looking for a priority review are requested to submit their application earlier, by November 2nd, 2027.
REQUIRED UPLOADS :
CV or creative resume (.doc, .docx, .pdf)
work samples*
OPTIONAL UPLOAD:
If you have not yet had a Byrdcliffe residency, a letter of recommendation from a trusted mentor, peer, or arts administrator is strongly suggested, but not required.
FILE NAMING:
last name_first name_file name
~~~~~~
*WORK SAMPLE SPECIFICATIONS:
WRITING: fiction, nonfiction, academic, prose, poetry: up to 15 pages. (pdf, doc, or docx)
WRITING: screenplay, stage play, graphic novel, or treatment: up to 20 pages. (pdf, doc, or docx)
MUSIC, VIDEO, & FILM: recordings up to 15 minutes running time: up to 20MB. (.m4a, .mp4, .avi, .mov, or .m4v). For time-based work - if preferred you can include a document with audio or video links (15 min max).
VISUAL ARTS & CRAFTS: painting, sculpture, ceramics, woodworking, photography: up to 15 images of works. (.jpg or tiff)
More information about Byrdcliffe's artists-in-residence programs may be found here: http://www.woodstockguild.org
More questions about Byrdcliffe’s AIR program or required materials? Email AiR@woodstockguild.org
Fees
All Historic Cottages are priced differently. Smaller cottages are priced around $4,500 for the full 5 month Residency duration. Our largest, co-applicant cottage is priced at $13,000.
Please visit our website for specific cottage fees.
All Historic Cottage Artists are also required to set up and pay for their own utilities while in residence (Propane, Electric, Wifi). Utilities fluctuate depending on personal usage. Information on set up and relative utility companies can be found in the accepted artist's Residency Agreement.
Limited merit and need-based fellowships and Grants are assigned to select artists each year. Artists in need of financial assistance are requested to fill out the free Supplemental Grant Application linked to our Submittable + Website.
For more information on the fellowships and grants offered in 2027, please click the link below
Byrdcliffe offers a number of fellowships each year based on a combination of artistic merit and financial need, ranging from partial to full coverage of residency fees.