Artists, Apply

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 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.

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.