How and when can I apply?

We post our application and guidelines here on our website when we have an open call to artists. Our 2024 Residency Application has closed. We will open our 2025 Residency Application in the early summer of 2024. Please provide us with your contact information if you would like to receive notification about our open calls.

What is the selection criteria and process?

Applications are not evaluated for selection by staff. They are reviewed and prioritized by a panel of artists, which changes each year.

Some of the panelists are alumni of Vashon Artist Residency and bring knowledge of the facility and location to the review process.

Invitation to Vashon Artist Residency is based on demonstrated commitment to your artistic practice, strength of past artwork, feasibility of residency goals and the ability to co-create a positive communal live and work environment in a rural setting.

Is there an age requirement?

Applicants must be 21 years of age or older.

Do you accept students currently enrolled in a matriculated program?

No.

How many artists attend the Residency at one time?

There are four artists, from two or more different disciplines, participating in each residency session.

How long are the sessions?

Each session runs for 3.5 weeks. In 2024, Session 1 and Session 8 will run for 2 weeks.

What is the cost of Vashon Artist Residency?

We require a $100 nonrefundable deposit which is due upon your acceptance to Vashon Artist Residency, along with your signed Resident Artist Agreement. This fee cannot be waived.

We offer a sliding scale fee to all accepted residents. It is our hope that offering a sliding scale will enable accepted artists of most income levels to attend Vashon Artist Residency. Residency fees help to defray overhead and staffing costs.

The cost to attend a residency is $1,875 for a 3.5 week session and $1,125 for a two week session.

If you are unable to pay the full residency fee, you may opt to waive a portion or all of the cost in your application. We trust you to pay what you are able. Jurors do not have access to this information. Acceptance is need blind. Your fee, whatever size, is an investment in the mission and longevity of our program and will help make the Residency accessible for others.

Food, supplies, shipping and travel are the artist’s responsibility.

What kind of studio facilities are provided?

There are three basic, private, well-lit, multi-purpose workspaces. Each studio is approximately 250 square feet, with heat, air-conditioning, high ceilings and natural light. We will attempt to accommodate basic equipment needs, within reason. Such requests should be made clear in your application. Visit the workspace page on our website for additional information.

Does Vashon Artist Residency provide any studio equipment?

We have a limited selection of tables, stools, desk chairs, carts, etc. Please indicate in your application what equipment you require and we will try to accommodate.

How accessible is Vashon Artist Residency?

Vashon Artist Residency seeks to support artists of diverse abilities, both visible and invisible. Prior to applying, artists that have specific questions or concerns about accessibility or how to manage movement, medication, or any other physical or emotional concerns, should contact us so that staff may determine if we are able to accommodate your needs. Staff will keep personal matters confidential except in an emergency situation.

Three studio spaces at Vashon Artist Residency are ADA accessible, however, our housing and sound studio are not. The Residency is situated on a slope that impacts accessibility at our facility. Parking and studios are accessed from a gravel driveway. Housing is down a concrete pathway and three sets of stairs from the parking area. Each bedroom must be accessed by stairs. The sound studio is located up the gravel driveway from the parking area and has a small path and three stairs at the entry.

If you require a certified service animal, please disclose this information in your application so we can accommodate you appropriately.

Do you allow pets?

Vashon Artist Residency is unable to accommodate residents’ pets. If you require a certified service animal, please disclose this information in your application so we can accommodate you appropriately.

Can I apply as a collaborative team?

You may apply as a collaborative team. To do so, you must apply individually and indicate that you are working as a collaborative time on your application. The application will also request you to outline how you plan to work as a collaborative team and what your needs are of the facility.

Can I apply as an International Artist?

We welcome artists from around the globe. We are happy to send a letter of acceptance for any visa or grant purposes. You must arrange your own visa. We strongly recommend that artists have a working knowledge of English. Vashon Artist Residency does not provides interpreters.

Can I choose which dates I come?

When you apply, you will select which sessions you are available to attend. In 2024, all Vashon Artist Residency sessions are 3.5 weeks except Session 1 and Session 8, which are 2 weeks. The applicant’s availability to use the session awarded is a critical factor in finalizing residency invitations. If selected, artists must commit to the arrival and departure dates of their agreed upon session. We are not able to provide exceptions other than for emergencies. Agreements will be formalized in a written contract.

Do you require letters of reference?

One reference is required as part of the application process. You will be asked to add the name and email address of your references and our application system will automatically email them with a form to complete. They will be asked to respond to a series of questions about you and your work on your behalf.

What sizes and formats of work samples are accepted for my application?

Images (up to 5MB each), Video (up to 250MB each), Audio (up to 30MB each), PDFs (up to 10MB each) or External media from YouTube, Vimeo and SoundCloud

Work samples can be finished or work in progress. You will have an opportunity to describe each work sample within the application.

If I was not accepted for the residency in this round, should I apply again?

Absolutely! Your application will be seen by a different panel at every deadline. We welcome return applicants. Please note that even if you were on the waitlist and did not receive a residency, you will still need to reapply.

How often can I apply?

Applicants who have not attended the residency can apply annually. If you have attended the residency, we ask that you wait at least a full calendar year before applying again.

If I was on the waiting list from last year or was accepted for a residency last year but was unable to attend, do I need to reapply?

Yes, you will need to reapply and we encourage you to do so. Our selection panel changes with each application round.

Are you open to the public?

Vashon Artist Residency is not open to the general public. We strive to maintain a private environment for our artists-in-residence to work, minimizing distractions and disruptions. Please make prior arrangements with the Residency Director if you’d like to visit the facility.

Do you have any advice for an artist who has never participated in a residency program before? 

Vashon Artist Residency is a self-directed residency. You need to set your own goals and organize your daily routine accordingly to achieve these goals. We impose very little organizational structure. Not everyone is successful in this environment. It can be challenging to find a balance between the camaraderie which develops between residents while respecting each other’s privacy when living and working together. However, because we are a small residency, we can be a great introduction to the benefits of the artist residencies.

Do I need to confirm attendance after I’ve been accepted? 

We will contact you to confirm dates you are being offered. You will need to sign and return the Resident Artist Agreement and Media Release Form as your confirmation by the deadline set forth in your acceptance letter.  

How do I get there? 

There is a passenger/vehicle ferry that leaves from Tacoma to the south end of the island and a ferry that leaves from Seattle to the north end of the island. You may use the Washington State Ferry Schedule to plan your trip. If you require a ride, let the Residency Director know and we would be happy to pick you up from either ferry terminal. There are buses from both terminals but the closest drop off is a few blocks away. 

Is there any public transportation on Vashon Island?

King County Metro operates public transportation (Routes 118 and 119) on Vashon Island and offers weekday service (Route 119) to Vashon Artist Residency. It is important to note that the residency is not walking distance to the nearest grocery/pharmacy/post office, etc. and we have a lot of hills. We do have bikes, helmets and neon vests for residents to use.

Is parking available?

Yes, we have parking available for one car per resident. 

Can I have visitors? 

In the interest of preserving residents’ time and space to create, we cannot accommodate any partners, family or pets for overnight stays. If you would like to have a visitor, it must be approved ahead of time by the Residency Director. 

Do you have any COVID-19 Protocols?

Yes! Please carefully review our COVID-19 Page to learn more about our requirements and considerations.

Are perfumes, oils, incense or smoking allowed?

We ask that all residents and staff refrain from using or wearing scents or scented products. We have learned many Residents have sensitivities. Smoking is prohibited on the premises.

How do I ship materials to Vashon Artist Residency? 

Although there are no art supply stores on the island, Vashon does have a drug store and hardware store with limited selections. If you need specific materials or tools, please bring them with you or mail them directly to the residency.  

We have limited storage so please plan to have your materials arrive no more than a week in advance of the start of your residency. There is a USPS Post Office as well as UPS and Fedex service through the Country Store on the island where you can mail finished work or supplies back. 

What if I have to cancel my residency? 

Please do not accept the residency if the prospects for your attendance are at all in question. Before you commit, check that your personal, financial, professional and visa-related affairs are in order. If an unexpected emergency or other circumstance makes attendance impossible, please let us know immediately so that we may attempt to schedule someone from the waiting list into your slot.

Be aware that any notification of cancellation less than 60 days prior to your scheduled arrival date will likely create an inconvenience for the program and the potential of wasted space. We cannot offer refunds for your application fee. We cannot defer your residency. If you cancel less than 30 days prior to your arrival date, we cannot refund your residency fee.

Is there a written agreement for my residency? 

Yes, there is a Resident Artist Agreement that defines the obligations of the parties and limits the legal exposure of Vashon Artist Residency. As part of this agreement, residents agree to abide by the program’s rules and procedures as set forth in the Residency Handbook provided to all selected residents. The completed and signed agreement must be received within 30 days of acceptance into Vashon Artist Residency.

Is it possible to create installations on the property?

Yes, with the approval of the Executive Director and Residency Director. Please provide a proposal prior to your arrival. If you become inspired to create site-specific work while you are here, you must still provide a proposal and be approved before installation. There is also the possibility of creating installation work off-site in collaboration with the Vashon community.  

What do I need to bring?

After you sign your Residency Agreement we will provide you with our Residency Handbook, which outlines what we provide and what we recommend you bring to the residency for a comfortable stay.

What kind of storage space is available? 

The living quarters have a fair amount of closet space for clothing and the kitchen offers a pantry shelf for each resident. We have laundry facilities on site. 

What is expected of each resident? 

The residency is a communal living situation. We ask that artists be respectful of our space, staff and each other.

We request that each resident be conscious of our environment in the form of recycling, composting, refraining from using toxic/noxious materials and to conserve resources such as water and electricity. Residents are expected to clean up after themselves and leave their bedroom, bathroom and studio space the way they found it. It is our hope that residents will balance focused work time with investing in shared experience, conversation with each other and the community of Vashon. We appreciate it when residents will share their positive experiences at Vashon Artist Residency with others.