Yaddo to Expand Reach in Eight Cities with Support from Knight Foundation

Saratoga Springs, NY ( January 4, 2012) - Yaddo will expand the geographic reach of its artists’ residency program, and strengthen its depth in particular genres, with a $125,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The grant will fund residencies of four to eight weeks for eight artists, working in a variety of mediums, and drawn from eight cities where Knight Foundation invests: Akron, Ohio; Charlotte, N.C.; Macon, Ga. San Jose, Calif.; St. Paul, Minn.; Detroit, Mich., Miami, Fla. and Philadelphia, Pa. The artists will be given private living and studio space at Yaddo, and, if needed, financial aid to help cover costs such as lost income, transportation, and childcare – expenses that might otherwise prevent an artist from accepting the offer of a residency.

This newly forged partnership with the foundation will allow Yaddo both to extend its reach across the country and reaffirm its commitment to serve artists working in a range of disciplines, in addition to long-established forms, such as painting and literary non-fiction, said Yaddo President Elaina Richardson.

“The energy of the art and writing worlds is beating strongly in communities across the United States, and we’re excited to be able to expand our residencies to more geographic areas,” Richardson explained. “We are also aware that certain emerging art forms, such as electronic media and ambient sound composition, have their roots in communities where we lack depth.”

“The Knight communities have a wealth of creative artists who will greatly benefit from the time to live at Yaddo, interact with other artists and further develop their work,” said Dennis Scholl, Knight Foundation’s vice president/arts.

With support from Knight Foundation, Yaddo will embark on a series of information sessions across the country, often with the help of artists who have spent time at its Saratoga Springs, N.Y. campus. It will also work with other institutions, to encourage applications from individuals working in forms and regions currently underrepresented in the Yaddo community.

Yaddo’s commitment to outreach includes a pledge to support artists post-residency with opportunities for them to engage with audiences at appropriate and useful points in their careers.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. Similar to Yaddo’s founders, the Foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged.