In 2025, artists & creative researchers can apply for a self-directed residency retreat on the Hartley Hill commons in Westminster, VT. Between 2-6 artists will live and work on-site at a time; 2-3 if the visiting artists require or prefer private accommodations, and up to 6 residents are interested in having roommates or tent-camping. Local artists who live in the SE Vermont region are also encouraged to apply as a commuter— come work in the studio and be on the land with other resident artists, but go home to sleep in your own bed!
On-site facilities for collaborative retreats include: live-work space in two yurts, ample tenting and camping space in the meadows and woods, and access to both private and shared studio spaces in our 2000 square foot renovated art-barn. A guest kitchen is fully outfitted for self-catering, and there are both an indoor guest bathroom, and an outdoor shower.
Focus and work at your own pace, rest in the peaceful rural setting, and enjoy meeting new colleagues in your creative cohort with access to the beautiful land and wonderful local community.
Visual artists, creative researchers, writers, dancers, poets, deep-ecologists, pigment-collaborators, philosophers, experimental archaeologists, ancestral skills folk, scientists interested in developed relationships with artists and cultural producers, activists with a creative practice, etc.
• ^ Any of the above who have a new project that needs space and time and focus
• ^ Any of the above with a desire to be in company with other creative folk in a supportive environment while they work independently.
• ^ Any of the above who simply need rest, permission to rest and the space to be in!
These self-directed residencies will be scheduled in flexible session windows in June-September, and 2 long-weekend sessions in October. Actual residency dates will be flexible for resident awardees, but must take place during the awarded session window.
Solstice Session: Friday, June 20th – Monday July 7th
Session 1: Friday, August 1st – Sunday, August 17th
Abundant Harvest Session: Wednesday, August 27th – Wednesday, September 3rd
Session 2: Thursday, September 11th – Sunday, September 21st
Session 3: Wednesday, October 1st – Monday, October 6th
Session 4: Wednesday, October 8th – Monday, October 13th
Media that fare well at In Situ Polyculture: Installation, painting, drawing, dancing, curatorial, writing, performance, acoustic music, found sculpture, clay (no firing facilities but pit-fire and self-made garden kilns are welcome), “kitchen-table” printmaking, cyanotype, photography, research, navigation, social practice, botanical & earth mineral based practice, pigment work…
The Art Barn & The Commons
Approx. 800’ square feet of flexible studio space with garden access includes 10’-high moveable studio walls, studio sink and composting toilet. Studio has concrete floors.
A spacious 600 sq ft hayloft salon with pine floors, tea and coffee and comfortable tables and chairs for writing, reading, planning and napping.
Air conditioned / heated space. Yoga mats and blocks, loads of cool books, a guitar and Adirondack chairs compliment the space.
Also: 10 acres of meadow and woodland to explore, move, make artwork in and rest in, in a bucolic setting. We have a campfire ring, gorgeous stars, and a beautiful viewing deck from which to sunbathe, work, or enjoy the view!
Media is not limited in the Art Barn, however we do not have appropriate facilities or infrastructure for hot-metal working or an established wood shop. We encourage the use of ecologically mindful materials, reduction or elimination of plastics and polymers, etc, as well as foraging with reciprocal, responsible practices, and the use of found objects.
In Situ cofounder Owen Schuh is available to support in any small woodworking needs, or to help make occasional saw cuts. We have some hand tools as well.
Yurts
provide a serene live-work space with comfortable bed (all linens included). 1-2 people per yurt, roommates will only be assigned A) if requested, or B) if opted-into
Folks should be comfortable walking on woodland and grassy pathways that are maintained but may have some uneven footing. Yurts are not wheelchair accessible but are navigable for folx with canes or similar walking aids.
Art media in yurts are limited to “no-mess” — Watercolor, pencil, fiber-work and small non-heated metal, basketry. Anything that can be swept up with simple broom and dustpan, or wiped down with a moist rag.
Offsite / Collaborators:
While we do not have dark-room or printmaking facilities, we do have local resources & partners that can enable these media. We would be happy to help our residents make the connections to access these:
Vermont Center for Photography: https://vcphoto.org/
First Proof Press community printshop: https://www.firstproofpress.com/
-Up to 10 images AND caption list (urls for videos / links / files of your work also accepted)
– a statement of interest for the residency
-a professional bio / artist statement
-any websites or links to professional portfolios
-2 references (not letters, just names and contact)
-optional CV
There is no fee to apply.
Residency fees are on a sliding-scale, with 3 suggested rates (per person per day). We will always work with artists to make residencies accessible— it is our goal to invest in artists and resource artists!
Suggested fees are:
• $100+ daily for those who wish to invest in opportunities for other artists
• $50-$60 daily for those who can afford a reasonable rate
• $15-25 local artist / commuter rate, & subsidized for those in economic need
Our residency fees go towards our artist stipend and scholarship funds, mutual-aid investment in other art and ecology organizations, and to cover programming costs.
**Applications are decided upon based on merit, community and alignment with our mission, economic need does not “count against” an applicant.
