Yaddo

Artists, Apply

Yaddo has been a haven for artists for a century. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment for individual artists, giving you the time, space and silence to create your best work.

About Applying

We offer residencies to professional creative artists from all nations and backgrounds working in one or more of the following disciplines: choreography, film, literature, musical composition, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and video. You may apply individually or as members of collaborative teams of up to three artists. Peer review is the keystone of our selection process, with different panelists each season. Residencies last from two weeks to two months and include room, board and a studio. There is no fee to come to Yaddo, and we have access grants to help offset the costs of attending a residency.

All artists are encouraged to apply! Generally, those who qualify for Yaddo residencies are either working at the professional level in their fields or are emerging artists whose work shows great professional promise. An abiding principle at Yaddo is that applications for residency are judged solely on the quality of the work. There are no publication, exhibition or performance requirements if granted a residency.

Not only is Yaddo an equal opportunity employer—we will not discriminate against any individual, employee, or application for residency on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, handicap, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state, or local law—we strongly encourage applicants from backgrounds underrepresented in arts and culture to apply.

Application Guidelines and Instructions

Application Deadlines 

The January 5 deadline is for residencies starting May of the same year, through March of the following year. Applicants receive results by email in mid-March.

The August 1 deadline is for residencies starting November of the same year through June of the following year. Applicants receive results by email in early October.

Late applications are not accepted. All applications must be submitted electronically through the SlideRoom portal, yaddo.slideroom.com. The application portal opens in June for the August 1 deadline and early November for the January 5 deadline.

Eligibility

Artists who are enrolled in graduate or undergraduate programs, or who are engaged in completing work toward an academic degree at the time of application, are not eligible.

Artists may apply once every other calendar year. For example, if you applied in 2022, you will be eligible to apply again in 2024.

Yaddo supports individual artists engaged in the genesis of new, original work. Auxiliary artists such as sound and lighting technicians, musicians, dancers and designers are ineligible to apply.

Reapplication

The criterion for repeat visits is the same as for first visits – the quality of the artist’s work. All artists must submit a complete application, including recent work samples.

Fees

The nonrefundable application fee is $30. Depending on the discipline, an added fee of $5 to $10 for media uploads may apply. Application fees must be paid by credit card. If the fees represent a barrier to application, please contact our Program Department. Artists are responsible for their travel to and from Yaddo. We have access grants available to offset the costs of accepting an invitation. Applications for Access Grants are sent with your invitation.

Length of Stay 

Residencies vary in length, from two weeks to two months.

Disciplines

Applications are considered by independent Admissions Committees. Membership changes with each application round, and is composed of artists whose work is recognized and esteemed by their peers. Collaborative applications are considered by cross-disciplinary panelists.

Panels consider applications to Yaddo in the following disciplines:

  1. Literature: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, translation, librettos, and graphic novels.
  2. Visual Art: painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, mixed media, and installation art.
  3. Music Composition: instrumental forms, vocal forms, electronic music, music for film, and sound art.
  4. Performance: choreography, performance art, multi-media and/or collaborative works incorporating live performance.
  5. Film & Video: narrative, documentary and experimental films, animation, and screenplays.

Apply to the Admissions Panel that best represents the project you’d like to work on at Yaddo. Apply to only one admissions panel, and in one genre, at a time. Contact the Program Director with any questions.

Collaborations

Small groups (2 to 3 individuals) of artists wishing to work collaboratively are encouraged to apply. Each member of the group will need to submit an individual application under “Collaborative Teams.” Work samples must give a clear representation of the nature of the collaboration, preferably via previous work the applicants have undertaken together. Support personnel or interpretative artists, such as computer programmers, instrumentalists, set and lighting designers, and dancers, may not be included in a residency as part of a collaborative team.

Artists who do not have a collaborative history but who wish to be in residence at the same time should apply to the Admissions Panel in their individual artistic discipline, rather than Collaborative Teams. Concurrent dates of residence may be requested.

References

Artists must have one current reference on file for each application. Rather than a letter of recommendation, applicants provide the name of a colleague who can answer two brief questions regarding artistic work and character. Jurors evaluating your application give more consideration to references from peers in your field. Yaddo does not accept letters of reference on paper or from Interfolio or other reference services. All references must come through SlideRoom.

Sending a Reference Request
Provide an e-mail address for your reference provider within your SlideRoom application. Reference requests must be made before submitting your application. You may request two references – only one is required. Once you have sent the request, SlideRoom sends an e-mail to your reference with a form linked to your application. Alert your reference to look for an e-mail from SlideRoom, not Yaddo. They should check junk or spam folders if the email does not appear in their inbox. Please follow this detailed support guide if your reference is not receiving SlideRoom’s email requests.

Previously Submitted References
References are considered current for a five-year cycle, starting from the application deadline for which the references were initially submitted. Please confirm with the Yaddo admissions staff by sending an email to admissions@yaddo.org before you submit your application to ensure that your reference is current.

Application Instructions

All application materials, including contact information, resume, work sample, and reference must be submitted through yaddo.slideroom.com. Complete instructions are offered on the SlideRoom website.

Submit a work sample(s) that reflects the project you will pursue during your residency, and that represents recent, finished work. Work samples may be visual images, video, PDF files or MP3 files, depending on the requirements for your discipline.

Address questions to Christin Williams, Program Director, at 518-584-0746 or cwilliams@yaddo.org. Include your name and discipline in all correspondence. For technical assistance during the application process, contact support@slideroom.com.

Please note: Follow the instructions in Slideroom for your specific discipline, outlined below.

Instructions by Discipline

Literature 

Submit a writing sample (PDF) in manuscript format, double-spaced, and easily readable. Include a full work sample in addition to a two-page excerpt of the same or a different sample.

Fiction and Nonfiction: Sample, no more than 20 pages, about 5,000 words. Plus: Two-page excerpt.

Drama and Libretto: Sample, no more than 30 pages, about 5,000 words. Plus: Two-page excerpt.

Poetry: Sample, no more than 10 pages. Plus: Two-page excerpt.

Translation: Following requirements for your genre, submit both your translation and the original text. Plus: Two-page excerpt.

Graphic novel: Synopsis of proposed or previous work as well as up to 10 pages of script or sequential narrative art. Plus: Two-page excerpt.

Visual Art

Submit images of visual artwork. Note: Images are viewed by the Admissions Committee both on personal computer screens and on a large screen via projection.

Required: Seven digital images (JPG).

Optional: Documentary or elemental video of an installation.

Music Composition

Submit samples of your work in addition to a preview excerpt.

Two separate musical scores (PDF, 10 MB each). Recordings of one or both scores (MP3, 30 MB each). Audio samples should be not exceed 10 minutes. For works created without a score, a brief statement (PDF) should be included. Plus: Two-minute excerpt.

Performance

Submit samples of your performance work in addition to a preview excerpt.

Include video documentation of up to three excerpts totaling 10 minutes in length. Submit continuous excerpts, as opposed to a trailer. Video links or direct uploads may be included. Each video must be under 250MB, saved as .m4v, .mov, .mp4, .wmv, .flv, .asf, .mpeg, .mpg, or .mkv. The recommended dimension is 640 x 480px. If submitting a link, please ensure that it will be available through application notification. The admissions panel cannot access links set with privacy settings. Plus: Include a two-minute continuous excerpt.

Optional: Brief description (PDF) of the performance(s), 250 words or less, including date, location, and major collaborators.

Film & Video

Submit a sample of your work in addition to an excerpt.

Filmmakers

Video or film segment, no longer than 10 minutes, links permitted. Videos files must be no larger than 250MB and submitted as .m4v, .mov, .mp4, .wmv, .flv, .asf, .mpeg, .mpg, .mkv. The recommended dimensions are 640 X 480px. Plus: Two-minute excerpt, must be a direct upload.

Optional: Brief description (PDF) of the sample, 250 words or less.

Screenwriters

Screenplay (PDF), no more than 10,000 words or 30 pages. May include a brief synopsis if necessary. Plus: Two-page excerpt.

FAQs

Is Yaddo open year-round?

Yes, with the exception of a winter hiatus from mid-December through mid-January.

How many artists are in residence?

May through September comprises the larger season, with about 25-30 artists at any given time. The smaller season runs from October through April, with about 18 artists in residence.

Does Yaddo accept international artists?

Yes! Yaddo has a strong tradition of internationalism. A working knowledge of English is helpful. Yaddo does not provide an interpreter.

May I defer my residency?

If alternative dates cannot be arranged, you will need to reapply. Residencies may not be deferred beyond the eligibility period established by the deadline under which you applied.

What’s a typical day like at Yaddo?

Traditionally, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and after 10 p.m. are designated “quiet hours.” Artists are asked to be mindful of the working time of their peers and to respect studio time, avoiding intrusion without invitation. Communal dinners are the hallmark of the Yaddo experience, and guests are expected to attend. Otherwise, the time is yours! Yaddo places no requirements on guests to report on their work, nor to participate in public programming or group activities.

Does Yaddo offer any other programs?

The main focus is the residency program. Unlike other residency programs, Yaddo does not organize readings, recitals, performances, exhibitions, or other such activities for artists in residence, nor do we place expectations on artists in residence that they will participate in public or private programming.

Does Yaddo offer barrier-free access?

Though the main buildings at Yaddo were built around the turn of the century, improvements in accessibility have been made in recent years. There are year-round, wheelchair-accessible bedrooms, bathrooms, and studios. In addition, the dining room, the Yaddo Authors Library, and the video room are now barrier-free. Reach out to our program director with any questions or concerns about access.

Does Yaddo provide room and board?

Yes. Each artist has a private bedroom and workspace in one of several buildings on the estate. Weekly room cleanings, plus linens and fresh towels are provided, and laundry facilities are available. Dinners are served communally in our dining room, while breakfast offerings and lunch are packed up for each artist to carry away. The kitchen cannot offer meals for special diets, but vegetarian alternatives are provided.

Does Yaddo provide supplies?

Other than the specialized equipment in the photo, printmaking, and welding studios, Yaddo does not provide supplies or equipment such as printers, paper, typewriters, paint, power tools, or personal computers. A few computers, along with wireless Internet, are available for guest use in a central location. Saratoga Springs has an art supply store, and Yaddo office staff members can refer artists to computer rental agencies.

Does each artist have a studio?

Each guest is assigned a private studio. There are studios for painting and drawing, printmaking, sculpture, welding, and choreography, as well as a black and white photography darkroom. Because the studios vary in size, it is important that visual artists make clear the dimensions of the work they propose to do. There is no equipment for editing film or video. Composers’ studios are equipped with pianos. Some of the larger bedrooms serve as both living and working spaces for writers. Appropriate table space is supplied for writers using computers.

Does Yaddo accommodate family or pets?

No. Yaddo prioritizes good working conditions for artists. We can’t accommodate family members or friends for overnight stays or meals. Except for service animals, pets may not accompany artists.

Can Yaddo accommodate special medical needs?

Yaddo has no medical facilities or medical personnel on site. Applicants with special medical needs should contact the Program Director before applying. Complete medical care facilities, including a local, full-service hospital, day clinics, and a regional trauma center, are located within driving distance from Yaddo. Yaddo does not provide insurance for medical needs.

What can artists do when they’re not working?

We offer no formal programming. But Yaddo has common areas available for guests, several paths through the woods, a swimming pool, a pool table, a ping-pong table, and bicycles in addition to small libraries, including one of books by Yaddo authors. Off the grounds, Saratoga Springs offers many amenities. Guests may borrow books from the public library and the library at nearby Skidmore College. For a fee, you may use the athletic facilities at the YMCA or a local private gym.

Does Yaddo publicize artists while they are in residence?

Our approach is that your time at Yaddo is a retreat from everyday concerns, including publicity and promotion. As such, we value and protect your privacy. Yaddo does not share the names of artists while they are in residence. However, if you are posting on social media and you tag Yaddo, we may share your post. If you record another guest and/or their creative work, please be sure that all parties have granted permission, including Yaddo President Elaina Richardson. After you have departed, your name will appear on our posted list of former guests and we encourage you to keep in touch and share news of your creative work.

What other policies are important to know?

The use or possession of drugs prohibited by law is prohibited at Yaddo. Yaddo reserves the right to end a guest’s visit when responsible officials judge it necessary to do so for the good of the community.

Artists, Apply!

Come to Yaddo: Residencies include room, board, a studio and more, granting you the opportunity to work without interruption in a supportive environment. Image by Adama Delphine Fawundu

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Explore Further

Collectively, Yaddo artists have won 82 Pulitzer Prizes, 34 MacArthur Fellowships, 70 National Book Awards and a Nobel Prize in Literature. Learn more about the impact of Yaddo.

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