About Our Residencies
WHEN
From March through November, Millay Arts hosts 6-7 multidisciplinary artists for either two-week or month-long stays at Steepletop, the historic estate of poet/activist Edna St. Vincent Millay. With the gift of time and space, Artists-in-Residence dive deeply into their creative process and projects; works made possible by a residency enrich lives and communities globally.
WHY
As an Artist-in-Residence, it is our hope that your participation as an integral member of a small, supportive and inspirational cohort will forge lifelong friendships as well as professional relationships and future collaborations.
WHERE
Located in the Hudson Valley, nestled against the Berkshires, our sylvan and secluded hilltop offers idyllic meadows and woods and is situated close to various world-renowned cultural institutions. We are 2-1/2 hours from both Boston and NYC; transportation to/from train, bus, airports is easily arranged.
WHAT
For our historic fully-subsidized Core Residency, annual application deadlines are March 1st and October 1st. In addition, the March 1st deadline is also for applications for group/collective residencies.
~
For our partially-subsidized Steepletop Residency, we accept applications year-round.
~
For our self-directed non-juried residency, the Wintertide Rustic Retreat (offered annually from mid-December — February), we accept reservations year-round.
Core Residency
FULLY SUBSIDIZED
Our historic Core Residency, offered to those selected by our blind jury process, is fully-subsidized. If invited to participate, the only fee is a $100 nonrefundable deposit.
TWO-WEEK to MONTH-LONG STAYS:
March through November
WEEK-LONG STAYS: GROUPS/COLLECTIVES
December
(3-7 PARTICIPANTS*)
We provide a stipend to offset costs for groceries; we do not offer chef-prepared communal suppers.
*Our seven bedrooms each have a queen mattress; therefore, if couples are sharing a bedroom, the number of participants may be increased accordingly.
Steepletop Residency
PARTIALLY-SUBSIDIZED
Our Steepletop Residency is for those who prefer to schedule their residency in advance, foregoing our blind jury; applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
TWO-WEEK ($2000) TO MONTH-LONG ($4000) STAYS:
March through November
Wintertide Rustic Retreat
SELF-DIRECTED
A retreat for those in need of a quiet space and inspiring surroundings, whether to rest and refuel or work on a creative project.
4 DAYS/3 NIGHTS to MONTH-LONG STAYS:
Late December through February
What People Are Saying
“For the last couple of years, a number of writers we call the FUEGO group has gathered at Millay for a few precious days of writing retreat and fellowship. What a privilege to work in such idyllic surroundings. Millay has been a feast and a sanctuary for us all. For a few days, we are able to be completely absorbed in our craft and leave feeling refreshed and emboldened toward what we need to accomplish as writers. Thank you for this golden raft of paradise.”
~ Sarah Gambito
“In the months before my June 2020 residency, Covid-19 had shut down schools, and my seven-year-old was home with me full time. My partner was working in the ICU in one of the hospitals hardest hit by Covid-19. Any time that I might have had to write was devoted to negotiating the complicated new reality. I’d been so looking forward to the residency, and now it seemed unlikely I’d be able to go. When I heard that Millay was making plans to open for a small group in June, I decided I had to find a way to make it. My novel had been neglected for months; this might be the only chance I had to resurrect it for a very long time. The experience did not disappoint. It was such a relief to put aside the mundane concerns of everyday life, as well as the fears and stress that came with the virus, and allow myself the space and time to create. My fellow residents and I watched a documentary about Edna St. Vincent Millay on one of our first nights, and it gave me much insight into the historical significance of the location. Every walk I took around the grounds inspired me. We were two writers and two composers during my stay, and the small group meant we were thrown together in quite an intense way every evening for dinner. Especially helpful to my process at Millay was hearing the composers describe their process. Inspired by them, I allowed myself to write in a way less constricted by the demands of plot. Back at home now, the experience at Millay continues to resonate. Writing can be very lonely, and it's heartening to know there are organizations like Millay whose purpose is to support artists at all points in their process.”
~ Basia Winograd