Residencies Paused
We are taking a year off to reflect, strategize and establish long term goals that will sustain the residency for years to come.
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Fall Residency
Dates : October 8-29, 2026
Winter Residency
Dates : January 8-29, 2027
WiFi is extremely limited to one building in a communal area. Attendance is required from day 1 to the end. No guests are allowed on site during residency.
Cohort Specific
There are currently no Cohort Specific Residencies scheduled at this time. Join our newsletter for updated information.
Application Qualifications
We are proud to consistently assemble diverse selection committees for each application review period, made up of past-residents and non-affiliated professionals in the fields of music, writing, performance and visual art.
We do not require applicants to submit a formal resume, with awareness that the institutionalization of the art space can perpetuate inequitable access. Instead, we simply look at the work itself to guide the decision making process. We are committed to offering opportunities to dedicated artists with competitive work samples at any stage in their career.
Our programs are open to anyone 25 years and older from anywhere in the world. We do not accept current students. Collaborative teams of 2-3 (max) are welcome to apply. Due to limited space, we ask that collaborative teams share their live/work space. We expect residents to arrive on the first day and remain until the final day to receive the full benefit of this opportunity and avoid disrupting the group dynamic.
Residency Structure
January & October
Our application window for both Fall & Winter Residencies is January 15-March 31.
Rockland hosts two annual residencies, 3-weeks long, taking place in January and October. There are 6-8 residents in January and 8-10 residents in October, in addition to 2-3 support staff on site. 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 a chef who prepares lunch and dinner served buffet style, 6 days per week. We ask that each resident contribute $300 towards the budget for food (this does not include alcohol) and participate in kitchen clean up after meals.
Accommodations are typically personal live/work spaces. There may be situations when sharing space is necessary. 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 an en suite bathroom. 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, though residents can define this for themselves - whether 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.
Beyond this structure, each residency culture is co-created by the group of residents 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. 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.
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."
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.
Residency Life
