Upcoming Residencies

Our application season is January 15-March 31 annually to fill the Fall Residency and following Winter Residency.

Cohort Specific

Black Cohort Residency

January 31- February 11, 2025

This residency is led and run by artists from within the Black community in collaboration with Rockland and its proven residency model. It is funded by the TEW Foundation, Rockland and private donors to hire staff from within the Black community to participate in this unique creative experience. Like all Rockland Residencies, it is free to artists. Rockland strives to provide the base of the pyramid of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for its residents so they can focus on their art and go deeper in their creative process with their time at Rockland Woods.

March 15-June 15, 2024

Application Qualifications

Our Selection Committee is diverse in terms of genre, race and sexual orientation. It is made up of past-residents and non-affiliated professionals in the fields of music, writing, performance and/or visual art. We look at the strength of the work samples as our highest factor. We do not request a resume. We consider need, applicants from traditionally marginalized groups and group dynamic when selecting. Yes, we take straight, white men too!

Our programs are open to anyone 25 years and older from anywhere in the world. We do not accept current students, as we believe the need for an arts community is not as strong. Collaborative teams of 2-3 max are welcome to apply. Due to limited space, we ask that collaborative teams share live/work space. We expect residents to arrive on the first day and stay until the final day to receive the full benefit of this free opportunity and not disrupt the group dynamic.

Residency Structure

January & October

Our application season is January 15-March 31 annually to fill the Fall Residency and following Winter Residency. Rockland offers 3-week residencies in January and October annually. There are 6-8 residents in January and 8-10 residents in October, in addition to 2-3 support staff. Rockland Staff are commonly artists as well, who participate in their studio practice during the residency period alongside residents. One of the staff members is the chef who prepares lunch served buffet style at 12:30-1:30 pm and dinner served family style at 6:30 pm, 6 days per week. Residents create a shopping list for the chef to gather breakfast and snack items beyond the lunch and dinner service. Each resident contributes $300 to the food budget, which includes chef-prepared lunch and dinner, snacks and breakfast, but not alcohol. All residents are responsible for kitchen clean up after meals.

Accommodations are typically personal live/work spaces. There may be situations when sharing space is necessary for live or work. Consider our accommodations to be “glamping,” as we are in the woods with amenities. Hopeful residents need to be flexible about living amongst nature with limited WiFi and sleeping without a bathroom right next door. See our facilities page for more information. Currently, Rockland is not ADA approved.

All residents are expected to utilize the full duration of the program dates by remaining on site and in the mindset of their creative process. Rockland supports its residents to define this for themselves from taking day trips, naps, hikes, reading, relaxing, exercising, etc. During residency, Rockland does not allow guests on site, local side gigs, professional networking outside of the program or family visits. This is a full immersion experience into your creative process. We offer solitude within an intimate community.

Residency Timeline

Day 1: Arrival & Settle In

Day 2: Opening Meeting & Property Tour

Day 5: 1:1Check In with Rockland Staff

Day 20: Packing Day & Clean Up

Day 21: Departure

Anonymous Survey sent within 2 weeks of departure day.

Beyond this structure, each residency culture is co-created by the current group using Circle, adapted and inspired by the Peacemaking Circle Process. Agreed upon residency norms and expectations are established at the Opening Meeting. Items to discuss might include logistical living agreements (cleaning days, quiet hours, dish duty), social norms, consent, and/or sharing artistic feedback. Rockland expects inclusivity. Residents can exercise their right to opt out of any communal/ social activity except Opening Meeting, dinner (with some exceptions) and dish duty.

Rockland reserves the right to remove any person from the premises who threatens the mental or physical safety of any individual, group or property. All participants during residency are expected to act in a respectful nature toward the Rockland community and gain consent when interacting with individuals. We welcome bravery in these diverse spaces and ask for grace toward each human present.

Testimonials

Rockland Residency is a generous place. Because of this generosity, I was able to get a lot of creative work done, and set up a foundation for moving forward upon returning to an overbusy life. I also learned what some of my needs are by being in spaces where I was asked what I needed. All of this is in addition to the beauty of the place, which is peace-making every day, and that’s not even to mention the beautiful people who were in attendance. I learned from every one of them, and was also grown by them in significant ways.

-Meca’Ayo Coleman

The hardest thing about Rockland Residency is leaving the world behind for 3 weeks. The prospect of looking at your work with little to no distractions is scary because then you have no excuse to NOT do it. Rockland allowed me the quiet of the natural world and allowed me to hear my ideas for the first time in a very long time. I was able to get so many things done which I had put off for years. I also was introduced to many different mindsets in the form of my new artist friends. Not only did we all change and grow, but I would like to believe we too, changed ROCKLAND for the better. Rockland Racoons Forever!!

-Aviona Creatrix Rodriguez Brown

My experience at Rockland was a grounding process for my soul and art practice. I had not realized how important taking the time away to have breathing room was for my art. The valuable time and multigenerational connections I met there were life changing. At Rockland, artists are treated like a truly valuable asset to our community, and the freedom to experiment without worry of expectations from an institution was refreshing."

- Coco Spadoni

I did 8 laps in Rockland Woods this afternoon because there are not enough goodbyes, thank you’s and I love you’s that I can say into that forest and to you guys. I have been simultaneously blessed with the most solitude I have ever had in my life, while feeling just encased in love here. My mind has wandered the universe, and reflected so many aspects of myself, without a mirror to be found. I am full up and so very very thankful.  I haven’t even left and I cannot fucking wait to be back.

-Christopher O’Leary

Residency Life