About the Open Call

Each year, the Saltonstall Foundation awards free, stipend-supported, accessible residencies to artists and writers who are residents of New York State and Indian Nations therein. Disciplines supported include Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, Photography (film or digital) & Filmmaking, Painting, Sculpture, and Visual Arts. The program provides a quiet, inviting, respectful, and nurturing community for creative individuals, structured as cohort-based residencies with five individuals at a time (one poet, one prose writer, one photographer or filmmaker, and two visual artists). Saltonstall features a wheelchair-friendly accessible addition with a private living space, roll-in shower, private studio, shared accessible kitchen/dining, laundry facilities, and an adjoining private one-bedroom suite for a personal care assistant if needed. The Foundation is committed to inclusivity, welcoming applicants regardless of education, experience, race, ethnicity, age, sex, religious belief, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or national origin, and does not use AI in any aspect of its work or jurying process. Located eight miles east of Ithaca, New York, on Gayogo̱hó:nǫ' Nation land, residencies cannot be deferred. Specific dates for 2026 include 7-night sessions for artist/writer parents and full-time caregivers (May 29–June 5, October 22–October 29), 4-week residencies (June 8–July 6, July 13–August 10), a 3-week residency (September 10–October 1), and 2-week residencies (August 17–31, October 5–19). Participants in 2- to 4-week residencies are expected to attend Open House events.

What is Offered

Free residency including private living and studio space, shared kitchen/dining, and laundry facilities. Stipends of $100/week are provided, with additional financial need-based support up to $1,000, and $500 for artist- and writer-parents/full-time caregivers. Travel expenses up to $100 may be reimbursed for a related specific residency.

Requirements

Applicants must be residents of New York State or Indian Nations therein, currently living full-time in NY State, and at least twenty-one (21) years of age. Residency is for individual artists and writers only; groups or pairs are not accommodated. Successful applicants are expected to live at Saltonstall for the entire residency duration and participate in Open House events for 2-4 week sessions. Alumni are eligible to re-apply two years after their last residency, provided new work samples are submitted. Application materials must be anonymous, without self-identification or credentialing.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted via Submittable. Applicants should create a free account if they don't have one. The application process involves preparing basic personal information, a project synopsis (50 words or less), an artist's statement (400 words or less) about their work, a work plan (400 words or less) outlining intentions and needs, up to three work samples (photo, video, PDF, link), an optional description of limitations, technical requirements, contact information for two personal references, and any access needs. Applicants must not identify themselves within their statement or work samples, nor credential themselves. Errors will lead to disqualification. Careful review of discipline-specific instructions is essential.