The Studios is MASS MoCA’s artist and writers residency program situated within the museum’s factory campus and surrounded by the beautiful Berkshire Mountains. The residency runs year-round and hosts up to 10 artists at a time. Artists of any nationality can apply for stays of 2-4 weeks.
We offer great studio space and housing (private rooms in shared apartments), one meal per day, member-access to MASS MoCA's galleries, and access to professional development webinars though the "Assets for Artists" program.
The special “early application” opportunity (offered twice per year, Dec. 1 – Feb. 1 and June 1 – Aug. 1) is strictly for artists who could benefit from additional lead time to plan their stay, with announcements typically made 9 months – 15 months before the session being awarded, making it easier to apply for outside funding from sources such as a university employer or an international or regional arts council.
Artists applying via the Early Application will NOT be considered for MASS MoCA’s financial aid budget or fellowships, so you should only use the Early Application if you are confident of being able to secure the funds to pay at our full rate of $650 per week. If you are looking to be considered for financial aid or fellowship, please apply through the General Application (offered twice per year, Mar. 1–May 1 and Sept. 1–Nov. 1).
If offered a residency from the Early Application process, you will receive a formal letter of invitation to support any grant-writing efforts. A 50% deposit is due no later than 6 months prior to the start of your residency session, so select your preferred dates accordingly. If you are unsuccessful in securing the necessary funds to attend, then you can give up the slot without penalty up until 6 months prior to the start of your residency while there is still time for us to award the slot to someone on our waitlist.
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR APPLICATION PROCESS HERE
EARLY APPLICATION
The “Early Application” is for artists who could benefit from additional lead time (announcements made 9 to 15 months ahead of residency dates) to plan their stay and to apply for outside funding from sources such as their university or international or regional arts councils. Artists applying with the Early Application will NOT be considered for MASS MoCA’s financial aid budget OR fellowships, applicants should only use this particular application if you are planning to fully fund your stay through outside grants or personal funds at the already subsidized rate of $650 per week.
Deadlines for Early Applications are February 1 and August 1.
Applications will open two months prior to the deadline.
Click on the link below to find more information and to view the application.
massmoca.org/studios
Artists applying via the Early Application will NOT be considered for MASS MoCA’s financial aid budget or fellowships, so you should only use the Early Application if you are confident of being able to secure the funds to pay at our full rate of $650 per week. A limited number of Early Application slots are available each season, so this is also a highly competitive process, even though the overall number of early applicants is much lower. Having an appropriate and likely-to-be-successful funding plan is critical.
If offered a residency from the early application process, you will receive a formal letter of invitation to support any grant-writing efforts. A 50% deposit is due no later than 6 months prior to the start of your residency session, so select your preferred dates accordingly. If you are unsuccessful in securing the necessary funds to attend, then you can give up the slot without penalty up until 6 months prior to the start of your residency while there is still time for us to award the slot to someone on our waitlist.