ELIGIBILITY: A residency is open to women visual artists, writers, composers, and interdisciplinary artists. Applicants must be over the age of 18, mature, self-motivated and directed. Project proposals must be compatible with available working spaces, facilities and resources. In the words of Ann Stokes, Welcome Hill Studios was “built by women, for women”. Retreats are open to those who are women. We welcome all expressions, including trans women and non-binary people who respect the history of Welcome Hill Studios and the legacy that Ann left behind.
ADMISSIONS: A reading committee of professionals in the arts and humanities chooses residents. Acceptance and scheduling are at the discretion of Welcome Hill Studios.
APPLICATION: Applications are accepted year-round, and may be submitted by USPS mail, or emailed to info@welcomehillstudios.org. Please click on one of the links provided for a printable application or an online-fillable PDF:
[Printable Application.doc] [Fillable Application.pdf]
SESSION SCHEDULE: Residency requests may be from one weekend to three months. While every effort is made to accommodate applicant's scheduling requests, we are not always able to grant first choices. Please indicate flexibility and restrictions on your application. Elissa will work with your request and let you know the availability.
REFERENCES: Each applicant is responsible for requesting two letters of reference from qualified individuals who are familiar with her work. Reference letters may be included with the application or posted under separate cover. Reference letters will also be accepted as a scanned letter in PDF form emailed to info@welcomehillstudios.org.
REAPPLICATION: Previous residents are not required to submit a new application to be considered for another residency. They may be asked to update their contact information or sign an updated waiver form. Returning residents are required to send in a $50 deposit which will be applied to the residency cost. It is non refundable unless we are given a 14 day notice of cancelation.
APPLICATION FEE AND DEPOSIT: Your application must be accompanied by a $50.00 application fee which will be applied to the residency costs. It is non refundable unless we are given a 14 day notice of cancelation.
RESIDENCY FEE: The residency fee is on a sliding scale. You are able to determine your own fee and we ask you to base it on your tax bracket.
$80-160 / weekend
$140-280 / 1 week
$275-475 / 2 weeks
$400-600 / 3 weeks
$475-800 / month.
Fees are payable by check once you arrive. If you would like help determining the fee, please contact Elissa.
PETS: If you wish to bring a pet, we charge a fee of $5 per night or $30 whichever is less. Please be considerate of others staying in residency when deciding to bring a pet that sheds considerably or a dog that barks.
SMOKING: Smoking is not permitted inside the studios.
FACILITIES: Each selected resident is provided a private studio. There are three to choose from; the Studio of One’s Own, the Guesthouse or the Lean-To. Each studio has a full kitchen, bathroom, full-size bed, and wifi. Towels and linens are provided and there is a washer and dryer on premises. Each kitchen is stocked with cookware, utensils, and a coffee maker. The very basics such as oil, sugar, salt, and pepper are provided but it is expected that you will bring your food to cook. A variety of supermarkets, a co-op and seasonal farm stands are all within a 10 minute drive. A thorough description of each studio is found on the tab Our Studios.
GROUNDS: Enjoyable in all four seasons, there are walking paths throughout the 120 wooded acres. There are open areas with benches, and a sculpture garden. Consider bringing appropriate footwear and a flashlight. A rain jacket, trail map, walking stick, and bug spray are provided in each studio. It’s not uncommon to see deer, turkeys, and rabbits on the property, and if you’re lucky you’ll see a fox, or a porcupine. While each cabin has privacy and feels remote it’s reassuring to know that the cabins are actually quite close to each other and there is someone available to help at the main house should any problem arise.
TRANSPORTATION: Brattleboro is serviced by Amtrak and Greyhound. The closest airports include Bradley in Connecticut and Manchester in New Hampshire. If possible, we will provide transportation to and from locations in Brattleboro (bus/train stations). If we are unable to do it, there is taxi service available. We encourage air travelers to rent a vehicle. During your stay, if you are without a vehicle, we will provide transportation to town twice a week. Over the years, we have found that staying alone in the studios can be challenging for some, especially from urban communities. If you arrive and discover you would be more comfortable with a vehicle, there are two car rental companies in town who offer weekly rates.