Vashon Artist Residency supports artists by offering time, space, and resources to reflect, create and connect.
Located on Vashon Island, in the heart of the Salish Sea, Vashon Artist Residency offers a peaceful waterfront retreat with comfortable, thoughtfully designed living and working spaces for visual, literary, performing, media and interdisciplinary artists.
Founded by visual artist Cathy Sarkowsky in 2021, this intimate residency was created from her desire to support artists in developing new work by offering a space that nurtures exploration—of practices, relationships and the opportunity to recharge physically, spiritually, and creatively.
Each year, we host more than 40 artists in small cohorts throughout the year, with 2 and 4 week sessions. To support accessibility, artists are invited to pay on a self-determined sliding scale from $0 to the full fee, based on their individual financial circumstances.
Artists of all backgrounds, identities and disciplines, including those of diverse races, gender identities, sexual orientations and geographic origins, are welcome at Vashon Artist Residency.
Seeing other artists sinking into their own work was inspiring for my own. There was a level of focus and relaxation that I haven’t experienced at any other residency. The need to make work was there for some, for others the experience of the place itself was the accomplishment that will feed future work. it was casual and grounding.
Cathy McClure, Visual Artist
Being at Vashon Artist Residency …surpassed my expectations, which were not very detailed. I’d never been to this part of the country, and while it looked beautiful and like a sweet deal, I really didn’t know what to expect. But this has been a transformative month for my work and for me personally. I thank the natural world, the special space, and the wonderful people for that. I also really appreciated that there were no strings attached and little scheduled programming (but enough options to opt-into so as not to feel totally adrift).
Lucy McKeon, Writer
I felt safer and more at rest than I may have ever felt—moving through the trees, the backroads, meadow, lagoon. I loved it and am intrigued by how connected I was to it.