MacDowell Fellowship Residency

Iconic artist residency delivering time, space, and interdisciplinary inspiration

MacDowell is one of the oldest and most influential artist residencies in the world, offering creative professionals concentrated time, private studio space, chef-prepared meals, and a supportive interdisciplinary community in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Each fellowship provides an environment where artists can detach from daily obligations and immerse themselves in ambitious projects, from drafting novels and composing symphonies to designing architectural concepts or editing feature films. MacDowell’s legacy includes alumni such as James Baldwin, Leonard Bernstein, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Hilary Mantel, underscoring its role as a launchpad for culturally significant work. Applicants compete for residencies of two to eight weeks, and the selection panel centers the artistic merit and future impact of the proposed work. While the residency itself is free, MacDowell also offers need-based travel reimbursement and fellowship stipends to ensure equitable access for artists from underrepresented communities and low-income backgrounds.

Unlike commercial residencies that require tuition or product deliverables, MacDowell protects artist autonomy. Fellows receive private studios tailored to their discipline—soundproof music cottages with Steinway pianos, editing bays with industry-standard software, daylight-filled painting lofts, and writing cabins tucked into the forest. Meals arrive via the iconic lunch basket, allowing creators to sustain focus without interruption. Each evening, fellows gather for communal dinners that spark cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaborative inspiration. Open studios and artist presentations connect fellows with local audiences, expanding networks and building momentum that often translates into publishing deals, commissions, gallery representation, or awards long after the residency concludes.

Key program facts

Timeline planning roadmap

To maximize competitiveness, plan your application timeline six months before the desired residency session:

1. Six months out – Audit your creative portfolio and determine which works-in-progress would benefit most from uninterrupted time at MacDowell. Draft a residency goal statement that clarifies what you plan to accomplish (e.g., finish a manuscript draft, mix an album, storyboard a film). Begin tracking prospective recommenders who can articulate your vision and collaborative strengths.
2. Five months out – Schedule professional documentation of current work: high-resolution images for visual art, polished audio recordings for composers, or secure links for film excerpts. Update your CV with exhibitions, publications, residencies, teaching experience, and community-engaged projects. Research MacDowell’s historical fellows in your discipline to benchmark the caliber of work typically funded.
3. Four months out – Outline your project description and work plan, highlighting specific milestones achievable during the residency. Draft an artist statement that summarizes your creative philosophy and situates your practice within broader cultural conversations. Request recommendation letters, providing each writer with a personal narrative, recent achievements, and the MacDowell mission statement so they can connect your work to the residency’s values.
4. Three months out – Upload work samples to a cloud storage platform with clear labeling. For time-based media, prepare clips no longer than the stated limits, ensuring strong openings and accurate captions. Draft your answers to application prompts offline so you can refine tone and clarity before submission. If you require a fee waiver, submit the request early and provide documentation per the instructions.
5. Two months out – Polish your statements, focusing on vivid language that communicates sensory details, conceptual depth, and urgency. Double-check your work plan to ensure it demonstrates feasibility within a 4–8 week residency. Confirm that recommenders have submitted their letters. If applying as a collaborative team, allocate narrative space to each member’s contributions and the synergy of the group.
6. One month out – Conduct final proofreading, verifying that links function, file sizes meet requirements, and metadata (titles, dates, mediums) is consistent. Submit the application at least one week before the deadline to avoid portal congestion. Prepare for potential finalist interviews by practicing concise answers about your project’s impact, access needs, and community engagement goals.

Eligibility nuances and competitive profile

MacDowell welcomes artists at all career stages, but fellowships typically go to applicants who demonstrate mature craft, consistent output, and a compelling vision for the residency period. Early-career artists should highlight mentorships, residencies, or exhibitions that validate their trajectory. Mid-career applicants should emphasize the broader significance of their work—how it advances their field, elevates underrepresented narratives, or experiments with form. Collaborative applications must prove that the residency will be fully utilized by each participant, with a unified project plan that leverages individual strengths.

International artists are eligible and frequently selected. However, the application and residency environment operate in English, so your materials should showcase proficiency in communicating complex ideas and engaging with peers. MacDowell can provide invitation letters to support visa applications, but artists are responsible for securing travel documents. Highlight any logistical considerations, such as childcare or accessibility accommodations, in the access needs section so staff can prepare supportive resources.

Application components and storytelling strategy

The MacDowell application requires thoughtful storytelling across several components:

• Project Description (up to 750 words) – Provide a concise narrative of the work you intend to pursue, situating it within your broader practice. Explain why MacDowell’s environment is critical—mention how the quiet rural setting, specialized studios, or interdisciplinary community will accelerate specific project milestones. Outline tangible outputs, such as a draft chapter, choreography sequences, or completed canvases.
• Artist Statement (500 words) – Articulate your creative philosophy, thematic obsessions, and influences. Connect your background to the work, especially if your lived experience informs the content or methodology. Discuss research, community collaborations, or social justice commitments that give your practice urgency.
• Work Samples – Curate samples that demonstrate technical mastery and conceptual coherence. Sequence visual art images to show progression and scale. For writers, include excerpts that begin with gripping openings and provide context. For composers or filmmakers, lead with your strongest segment and add time stamps. Provide clear credits and production notes, especially if the work involves collaborators.
• Resume/CV – Highlight exhibitions, residencies, grants, publications, performances, or commissions from the last five years. Include teaching, community workshops, or public art engagements that show leadership. Use formatting that allows jurors to quickly scan achievements.
• Recommendations – Choose recommenders who know your practice intimately and can speak to your working style, dedication, and collaborative spirit. Provide them with talking points about how the residency will catalyze your project.

Competitive review criteria

Selection panels evaluate applications through the lens of artistic excellence, project clarity, and potential impact. To stand out:

1. Showcase originality – Emphasize how your work disrupts conventional narratives or expands disciplinary boundaries. Provide evidence of experimentation, whether through innovative materials, hybrid storytelling forms, or community co-creation.
2. Demonstrate readiness – Convey that you have already laid the groundwork and can immediately dive into focused production. Share progress metrics, such as completed chapters or previous iterations, so reviewers trust your ability to deliver.
3. Highlight broader resonance – Connect your project to pressing cultural conversations—equity, climate, technology, or community resilience. Illustrate how your residency outcomes will reach audiences through publication, exhibitions, performances, or digital distribution.
4. Clarify resource alignment – Explain why MacDowell’s specific assets (e.g., Steinway piano, editing suite, 24/7 studio access) are essential. If you need quiet solitude or cross-disciplinary critique sessions, state how those features will accelerate your work.

Budgeting, logistics, and access support

While MacDowell covers housing, meals, and studio space, you may incur costs for travel, materials, childcare, or lost wages. Budget proactively:

• Travel – Estimate airfare or mileage to New Hampshire. Apply for MacDowell’s need-based travel reimbursement by submitting documentation within the portal. Supplement with regional arts council grants or national funds such as the Foundation for Contemporary Arts’ emergency grants.
• Materials – Identify supplies you must bring (e.g., specialty pigments, instruments, camera equipment). MacDowell provides basic studio furnishings but limited consumables. Factor shipping costs if you plan to transport large works.
• Access Needs – Request accommodations such as accessible studio assignments, dietary requirements, or medical support ahead of arrival. MacDowell can provide ADA-compliant studios and can coordinate with local providers as needed.
• Family Considerations – MacDowell generally cannot host partners or children overnight, so arrange caretaking support at home. If separation is a barrier, articulate your plan in the application and request a residency length that aligns with your support network’s capacity.

Tips to maximize competitiveness

• Lead with a breakthrough goal – Frame your residency as the key to completing a high-stakes milestone (book launch, major exhibition, album release) with clear dissemination pathways.
• Pair macro and micro impact – Balance conceptual statements with specific outcomes. Describe how you will structure your daily schedule, track progress, and integrate feedback from fellow residents.
• Address equity and inclusion – If your work centers marginalized communities, explain how you compensate collaborators, honor cultural protocols, and sustain relationships post-residency. Reviewers value artists who engage responsibly.
• Use data to quantify reach – Mention audience numbers, streaming statistics, press coverage, or educational partnerships from previous projects to prove your capacity to deliver impact.
• Submit early – Technical issues often arise near deadlines. Early submission allows staff to flag formatting errors or missing components before jurors review your file.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Generic statements – Avoid copy-pasting artist bios that could apply to any residency. Tailor language to MacDowell’s wooded campus, interdisciplinary community, and history of supporting socially resonant work.
• Overambitious scope – Proposing to finish an entire novel draft in two weeks reads as unrealistic. Present a focused, achievable plan with measurable benchmarks.
• Unclear work samples – Files without titles, dimensions, or medium descriptions frustrate jurors. Ensure metadata and captions are complete.
• Ignoring community context – Failing to mention how you will engage with fellow residents or the local community can signal that you do not value MacDowell’s collaborative culture. Describe how you plan to participate in dinners, share work, or offer critiques.

Strategic follow-through after acceptance

If awarded a fellowship:

• Confirm logistics immediately – Accept or negotiate dates quickly. Arrange travel, insurance, and materials shipping early to lock in favorable rates.
• Set micro-goals – Divide your residency period into weekly milestones and build in reflection time to track progress. Use the quiet mornings for deep work and afternoons for experimentation or peer feedback.
• Engage the cohort – Attend presentations, volunteer to host informal critiques, and exchange contact information. Many MacDowell fellows form lifelong collaborators and cross-promotional partners.
• Document the process – Capture photos, audio notes, or time-lapse footage (without disrupting others) to support future grant applications or marketing campaigns. Keep a daily journal to capture breakthroughs.
• Plan for dissemination – Before leaving, outline how you will share residency outcomes with supporters—newsletter updates, preview performances, or open studio recordings. MacDowell alumni networks often promote fellow news, so provide them with clear, polished updates.

Alternative pathways if not selected

Rejection rates are high, so build resilience into your funding strategy:

• Request feedback – MacDowell cannot provide detailed juror notes, but you can email staff for general guidance on strengthening future submissions.
• Pursue regional residencies – Apply to Vermont Studio Center, Yaddo, or the Wassaic Project to gain additional experience and bolster your CV.
• Iterate and resubmit – Many fellows were accepted after multiple attempts. Update your portfolio, refine your project plan, and apply again the following cycle.
• Leverage peer review – Join grant writing circles or artist collectives to exchange critique on work samples and statements.

Additional resources

• MacDowell application FAQ – Review the residency FAQ for detailed guidance on eligibility, accommodations, and travel support.
• Artist communities alliance – Use the Alliance of Artists Communities database to benchmark competitive residencies and identify complementary opportunities.
• Professional development webinars – Attend MacDowell’s virtual info sessions and recorded webinars that demystify the selection process and highlight recently funded projects.

By approaching the MacDowell Fellowship Residency with a strategic plan, polished materials, and a clear articulation of impact, artists can demonstrate that they will honor the residency’s legacy while advancing urgent creative work. The most competitive applicants pair visionary ideas with practical execution plans, ensuring the review panel can visualize transformative outcomes that ripple far beyond the studio walls.