Artist Residencies in Washington State

Bloedel Reserve | Bainbridge Island
Program offering three-week residencies, with housing/studio space set inside an architecturally stunning house in a nature reserve. Funded, but with public engagement component required.

CampBient | Varies
CAMPBIENT is an annual sound art residency that brings together people for 44 hours to conceptualize, produce, and record 44 minutes of sound art compositions all while camping in a state park. Participants are randomly split into groups, each responsible for one portion of the composition with the only caveat being that a continuous field recording base track is audible throughout the piece.

Centrum | Port Townsend
Centrum’s Artist Residency Program was established in 1980 as a resource for artists and creative thinkers of all genres. It is located on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, in the beautiful and inspiring setting of Fort Worden State Park, which is nestled in the Victorian seaport and arts community of Port Townsend. Residency projects can be focused on a single genre or be a multidisciplinary undertaking, and might be the creative work of an individual or encompass the collaborative work of a group. In partnership with Washington State Parks, Centrum is able to offer an opportunity to selected artists to live and work in this breathtaking setting at a significantly reduced cost.

Grunewald Guild | Leavenworth
Residencies in April/May for creative people at an arts center rooted in spirituality; free, but with a required onsite chore commitment (15-20 hours/week). 

Hedgebrook | Freeland
Our mission is to support visionary women writers whose stories shape our culture now and for generations to come. Our core purpose is equality for women’s voices to help achieve a just and peaceful world. Our alumnae carry our mission into the world. Through their books, plays, films, poetry, music, graphic novels, OpEds, essays, blogs and TEDTalks, Hedgebrook alumnae are reaching millions of people, and inspiring change. Our writing residencies, master classes and salons connect a global community of women writers with audiences around the world.

Hypatia-in-the-Woods | Shelton area
Residency for one woman writer/creative/entrepreneur at a time for one to four weeks, by donation, in a secluded and wooded cottage called Holly House. ($35/day suggested). 

Islandwood | Bainbridge Island
The Artist in Residence program gives students multiple ways to learn, make sense of, integrate, and experience the natural and human communities around them in a different way. We believe that by connecting children to artists, introducing them to new art mediums, and integrating arts into science, students will form deeper connections with the natural places in their lives.

Jack Straw Cultural Center | King County
Our artist residency programs – the Jack Straw Artist Support Program, New Media Gallery Program, and Writers Program – offer established and emerging artists in diverse disciplines an opportunity to explore the creative use of sound in a professional atmosphere through residencies in our recording studios, training, and participation in our various presentation programs.

Mineral School | Mineral — near Mt. Rainier
Two-week residencies five months per year in a rural 1940s schoolhouse. Fellowships available for NW-based writers and shorter parent artists sessions; 2-week fee is otherwise $425. 3 meals/day, plus 2 community events (visiting artist, residents’ presentation) per session. 

Pilchuck Glass School | Stanwood
Pilchuck Glass School is an international center for glass art education. From May through September every year, Pilchuck’s program offers a series of courses as well as residencies for established artists in all media. Summer sessions vary in length and offer concurrent courses in a variety of glassworking processes for artists of all skill levels. Small classes taught by world-renowned artists and instructors emphasize experimentation and teamwork while fostering individual initiative and expression. Pilchuck also offers residences for both emerging and established artists during the fall and spring.

Recology King County | King County
The Artist in Residence (AIR) Program at Recology is a unique art and education program that provides King County artists with access to discarded materials, a stipend, and an exhibition and reception at the end of the residency. Modeled after the Artist in Residence Program at Recology San Francisco, Recology hopes to encourage people to conserve natural resources and promote new ways of thinking about art and the environment, by supporting artists who work with recycled materials. During their residencies, artists have scavenging privileges at the Recology MRF.  At the conclusion of their residency, Recology hosts a public exhibition and reception for the artists featuring the artwork made during their residency.  When the residency ends, artists contribute artwork to the program’s permanent collection and these pieces continue to be shown in off-site exhibitions that promote recycling and reuse.

Rockland Woods | near Bremerton
Rockland Residency hosts individuals or small groups (up to 3) during spring in a refurbished Seattle midcentury home owned by two artists; Rockland Woods is a residency for a total of 10 writers and visual artists at a time on a wooded property with lake access outside Bremerton.

Sou’wester | Seaview
The Sou’wester is a Historic Lodge and Vintage Travel Trailer Resort in Seaview, WA on the Long Beach Peninsula. During winter months, they offer reduced weekly rates for artists wishing to devote themselves to their creative pursuits. To apply, send a description of the project you would like to work on while there and what your space/technical need are to Souwesterlodge@gmail.com. They will review it and be in touch to work out logistics and scheduling. They ask that you ‘leave something for the Sou’wester’ – and they are flexible about what that is – a donation of some work, or some other contribution- a small token of your time there. They also request that you write a short description of your project and include some photos or other content files which they can use to document their residency program. You are also welcome to produce a product to sell in their small honor system store.

Helen R. Whiteley Center | Friday Harbor
DIY residencies in 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom cottages available for nominal fees ($50-90/night) at this UW-owned retreat, good for people seeking space on short notice. 

Vashon Artist Residency | Vashon Island
Vashon Artist Residency offers artists space and time to create, connect and live in a community of artists on spectacular Vashon Island in the Salish Sea in Washington State. The residency is located on the shore of Quartermaster Harbor and provides comfortable living accommodations and work space for artists working in the disciplines of visual, dance, theater, music, media, literary and interdisciplinary arts.

Willapa Bay AiR | Oysterville
Fully funded month-long residencies for 40 writers/creatives annually, offered nine to ten months per year, with residents living in charming cottages in a coastal setting.