With new safety precautions in place, Yaddo takes the first step toward a full reopening
Yaddo will reopen its doors to artists in mid-February.
“We’re so thrilled to be able to welcome artists back to Yaddo,” said Yaddo President Elaina Richardson. “We’re still a long way from ‘back-to-normal,’ but we’re just delighted to take this first step toward a full re-opening while doing all we can to continue to protect and support our guest artists, staff and community.”
After much deliberation, research and consultation with health authorities, Yaddo leadership developed new policies and guidelines to help ensure the reopening will happen safely.
The Yaddo grounds, including the gardens, will remain closed to the public at this time. The public portion of Yaddo will reopen when it is safe to do so.
Based on a survey of artist availability, the first residency invitations were issued to those whose residencies were postponed due to the pandemic last year. An application cycle was suspended to accommodate scheduling, but the next application cycle will soon resume. For updated information on applying to Yaddo, please view our guidelines.
This is not the first time Yaddo has weathered crisis. The original mansion burned to the ground and was replaced by the current iteration in 1893, with the Tiffany phoenix emblazoned above the fireplace: “Flammis invicta per ignem Yaddo resurgo ad pacem” or Unconquered by flame, Yaddo, is reborn for peace. During WWI Yaddo co-founder Katrina Trask closed the main house to save money so that Yaddo as we know it could be sustained for future generations.
In 1918, the influenza pandemic ravaged the world, with some 675,000 deaths occurring in the United States alone. Midway through the Great Depression, Yaddo opened late and held only a short summer season. The Yaddo Mansion closed in 1944 during WWII, with only a handful of guests remaining. All of this is to say that Yaddo has grit in its soul and this time, too, will prevail.
Yaddo has been a haven for artists for a century. Though, globally, we’ve still a long way to go before the current pandemic is in our rearview mirror, Yaddo is committed to doing everything under the sun to continue to offer sanctuary to artists. And we warmly welcome all those who will come through our gates this year!
